I've got one cutting already rooting, my question is that since this thing, see photos, is growing so out of control where should I take the cuttings from and how would I make it thicker like my Zonal Geraniums are?

Hi Chris,

I propagate them occasionally, I cut about 3-4 inches off the stems that are actively growing (not woody material), take the bottom leaves off and stick them in some potting soil than put them in a partial shaded area until they root. Than full sun. When you say thicker I think bushier....again just prune the stems back and the plant will fill in.

RJ

That's RJ, yes, I meant bushier, I'll do then. Thanks, I appreciate the information.

http://garden.org/ideas/view/s...
This might help you.

Thanks so much for that Julia. I've bookmarked it so I can refer back later today.

Hope you have success with the cuttings.

springcolor said:Hope you have success with the cuttings.

Thanks, I have no problems with the Zonals, every time I stick a cutting into some potting soil it takes off.

I have never propagated a scented, just thought they would be the same. Have you tried just scraping the underside of one of the stems, still attached to the plant, and laying that in a container with soil?

Hmm, no I haven't tried that Julia. Didn't even know that was possible.

I have done this with rhododendrons.

Also works with hydrangeas

Layering stems works for several kinds of plants.
Try it!

Thanks Caroline, I'll give that a try. Appreciate the tip.

So how did your scented pelargonium propagation work out?
Do you have a progress report?

Hi Caroline, not good I'm afraid. Besides that it died inside the greenhouse during the winter while my plain old red geraniums thrived. Go figure.

We gardeners have failures all the time!
We learn and we try again!
Better luck next time!

Chris,

I've had good luck with cuttings of scented geranium—which was a surprise, as I'd not had much success with cuttings before.
What worked for me:

The cuttings were rooted in moist soilless mix, not plain water.

Cuttings treated with rooting hormone rotted and died. Untreated cuttings rooted fine on their own.

Bottom heat definitely helped. I removed the fabric cover from a heating pad for pets and put a thick piece of glass on the heating pad. The surface of the glass stayed at around 84°F.

I've learned that cuttings should contain more than one node, so that at least one will sit above the rooting medium. Otherwise, the new growth will have to emerge from below the soil surface. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but you have to wait longer to see evidence that the cutting is growing. The cuttings with a node above the soil line developed faster.

Thank you for the information. Unfortunately the one scented geranium I had died however my other geraniums are going crazy in this Texas heat.