Free Plants
Cuttings
Softwood cuttings are the lifeblood of obtaining new plants such as geraniums or perennials for our gardens. There are two major concerns for success and here they are.
Growing roses from cuttings is something I get asked all the time. Here's the deal.
Hardwood cuttings are one way to propagate trees, shrubs and evergreens that doesn't require a lot of specialized equipment.
Seeding Annuals
Sowing Annual Seeds is fun, easy and a great way to get scads of low-cost plants for your garden. Here's how to do it indoors.
Damping off of seedlings I include this here because this is the most common problem of young seedlings.
Seeding Perennials
There are generally two distinct systems for home gardeners to sow perennial seeds.
Outdoor method of sowing perennial seeds and then there are the indoor systems.
Indoor system of sowing perennial seed is relatively simple if you have a few basic tools. Here's how to do it. Mind you, before you can sow 'em you have to harvest 'em.
Harvesting perennial seed.
Root cuttings
Taking root cuttings is a fairly simple method of propagating some perennials. Here are the basics of this method.
Layering
Layering is an old and time-honored system of easily producing a wide range of plants. It is no longer used commercially because it is slow but it is easy. Here's how.
Division
Dividing Perennial Plants is an easy way to get free plants and is an essential gardening skill and here are the basics.
Grafting
Quite frankly, in over 30 years of home-scale gardening, I've never needed to graft anything. If you find yourself interested in this skill, let me suggest you check your local library for some good books. Or, better yet - take a gardening course in plant propagation at a local "hands-on" school. Grafting is not something you can easily learn from books.
Propagating Evergreens
Here are the two methods commonly used in propagating evergreens.
Shrubs
Shrub propagation. need not be a problem so if you have a favorite shrub in the backyard, here's how to get more of them using the flower gardening systems
Trees
Here are two good methods of propagating trees in the home garden.
Propagating Roses
Growing roses from cuttings So while this page of free plants isn’t a giveaway, it does tell you how to get more plants at no cost in your own gardens.
Got a Question about Plant Propagation?
If you have a question about plant propagation, this is a good place to ask it.
Please understand that I get hundreds of questions every week from readers and I simply can't answer them all. I do my best and print quite a few in my free newsletter
Do give me as many details as possible.
What Other Visitors Have Asked About Plant Propagation
Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...
Dividing Lavender I have a very large bed to fill and was wondering if I can divide lavender? I planted a lot of it last year and now I have about 10 very large "clumps"...
tomato volunteer plants
can a volunteer tomato plant bear fruit?
Doug says that if it starts growing early enough in the season to produce flowers - and those flowers have ...
Perennial Hibiscus
Hello.... would you please explain to me the correct way to propagate hibiscus...? Thx!
Doug says it's easily done from seed, division or tip cuttings....
Banana Tree I have new shoots coming from my banana tree. It is planted in a large pot. The new shoots are not attached at the stalk. (it doesn't look like it anyway)...
Bleeding Heart Propagation
Hello,
Is it possible to take a cutting from a Bleeding Heart bush, and how would I do it to get to grow successfully?
Do you recommend doing this?...
overwintering blueberry cuttings started hardwood cuttings 03/09 some of which developed roots by 08/09 and put on new growth. 18 out of 30 cuttings. Since I need to leave in propagation ...
Trumpet Vine Propagation
I have a Trumpet Vine and would like to give some to a friend.
What method of propagation should be used for this plant?
Doug says 1) make sure ...
powdery mildew on seedling
How do I get rid of powdery mildew that has appeared on my seedlings? Will it affect it growth when I transplant? or the soil there?
Doug says that ...
Bllueberry propagation
I have 55 year high bush blueberries. Can I divide the plants, roots and all to start at an additonal site?
Doug says that the easiest system is to ...
hibiscus
When to prune and can pieces be propagated?
Doug says that hibiscus propagate very easily from tender tip cuttings. Take them about 3-5 inches long ...
Amaryllis Can the bulb-like part that sometimes produces just below the Amaryllis bloom be planted to start another plant? Or does it have seeds? If either, at ...
forget me nots germination hi doug - you are so helpful - i have a question about seeds in packages - i ususally place them on a paper towel on a side plate and cover them with another ...
Pussy Willows Propagation
Can a "new" Pussy Willow be started by cutting a peice from an existing tree? How?
Thank you, Debbie
Doug says that indeed, a pussy willow branch ...
Propagating Mums
Can you start mums from last years plants in the spring.
Doug says that first thing in the spring you dig up the mums and divide them (you'll see ...
sweet pea trouble I have been trying to start sweet peas for several summers to no avail. Started in peat pots. they germinate but are very hard to transplant -- they collapse ...
blueberry propagation
Is there a way to propagate blueberries without rooting hormone powder?
Doug says that rooting hormone powder hasn't been shown to be all that useful ...
Rose seeds
I planted my rose seeds after 3 Mos in fridge. Do I put the flat inside or out? It is -4 out there?
Thanks Janet Indiana
Doug says that ...
New Tubers from begonia
If I take a leaf cutting from a tuberous begonia and successfully start a new plant(s), will it produce a new tuber in the first year?
Doug says yes ...
Starting hazel nut trees, from the nut.
Does one have to score the shell?
Do you have to soak them? How long?
I live in Rapid City South Dakota, is there any special requirements I need ...
Seed collecting Trumpet Vine Your article on Trumpet Vines was very good. My friend has the red variety and I would like to collect the seed and start my own 'thug'. It is very pretty....
perennial seeds in fall or spring I've been collecting seeds from wildflowers(blackeyed susan) What is best to do with them,should I spread them now and if not how should I store them for ...
butterfly weed moving from wild I'd saw a cluster of these years ago by an old railroad track. When I saw them in our local news paper of a plant in bloom at a sanctuary or 300 acres ...
barberry propagatioin
How do you propagate a barberry bush?
Doug says that tip cuttings in early spring (tender tip cuttings) work nicely in the home garden.
Propagating Lavender
Can you help me with a step by step method of propagating cuttings of lavender?
Doug says that lavender takes from cuttings easily. And yes, all the ...
peonies in the South When I pruned my father's peonies, I saved "pods" that were left from some of the bloons on what I believe were double peonies. I have not been successful ...
Ever-blooming Cyclamen I have a Cyclamen that has been blooming continuously for years - at least six that I can remember. It just never stops. Moved from Arizona, to California,...
propagate trumpet vine
can I propagate it from cuttings by rooting them in water first or putting (0.1 % IBA)rooting powder on them and sticking cuttings back in soil?
Doug ...
Propergating Lavender cuttings
What time of the year is the best time to take cuttings and start lavender plants?
Doug says: They can be done when new growth is 2-3 inches long for ...
