How to Plant Lantana From Cuttings

The brightly colored masses of flowers on Lantana plants, also known as Spanish Flag, are difficult to resist. Why have one or two Lantanas, when you can have an entire array of their showy blooms. You only need a few basic gardening tools and some time to propagate any variety or color of Lantana from cuttings. Planting Lantana from cuttings also ensures that you will grow a plant identical to the original, which is not always true with Lantana seeds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lantana plant
• Peat moss
• Coarse sand
• Planting container with drainage holes
• Gravel
• Sharp knife or shears
• Root growth hormone
• Water
• Plastic wrap

1. Mix peat moss and coarse, clean sand in a 50/50 blend.

2. Place a thin layer of pea-sized gravel on the bottom of the planting container.

3. Cover the gravel with the peat moss and sand mixture, making sure the soil mixture is at least 2 inches deep.

4. Take cuttings from the new growth of a Lantana plant. Choose stems that are not flowering and are still green. The cuttings should be about 3 inches long. Make a clean cut at a slight angle.

5. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the cuttings.

6. Coat the ends of the cuttings with root growth hormone by dipping them into the hormone mixture.

7. Push the ends of the cuttings into the soil mixture so that they are standing upright.

8. Water thoroughly. Make sure water is draining from the bottom of the container. The cuttings may not root if left in soggy soil.

9. Cover the container and cuttings with plastic wrap.

10. Place the container in a location that receives filtered sunlight and maintains a consistent temperature.

11. Water the cuttings when the soil begins to dry out. Be careful not to over-water. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.

12. Remove the plastic wrap after about 3 weeks, or when new leaves begin to appear on the cuttings.

13. Plant individual cuttings in pots when they have grown 4 to 5 inches from their original size.

Tips & Warnings

• Gravel designed for fish tanks works well for creating drainage at the bottom of the container.
• Take your cuttings from mid-July to mid-August, when conditions are best for Lantana cuttings to root.
• Don't plant your new Lantana plants outside until spring if you started the cuttings in the fall. Give them a chance to grow strong and healthy in a protected environment before putting them outside.

References

• Hortchat: Propagating Lantana
• Plant Care: Rooting Lantana Cuttings