Definitely by best perennial, I'd like to make more of them. Searches give me information on propagation of pelargonium but I want to know about cranesbills. Other than by tissue culture how to propagate them? I don't have, or want, a cloner.

I've read that they should be divided every few years but many sites say that don't divide well. I also read that they don't do well with traditional cutting methods. Have any of you done it? How about layering in place?

Karen

From what I can see of my Geranium sanguineum (sp?) they slowly spread by roots offsetting. I haven't had Roxanne long enough to see her do that, but I assume she will. With my other plant I thought I'd just detach the plantlet with as much root as seems necessary and replant where I want it.... but that means I don't have to dig the whole plant up, either.

Hope this helps some!

I would try to take one of the longer stems and wound it slightly but don't remove from the plant. Add some rooting powder to that and then make sure that part is in contact with the soil. I've had luck doing this method with lots of plants. You can sit a pot with soil in it near the mother plant and do it that way. You can tug it slightly to see if it has taken root. This is a good way to do this because the cutting is still being supported by the mother plant. Look up air layering. It is similar to that, but you won't be scraping bark off...just a small amount of the outer layer of the stem. Try to do it right below one of the nodes.

Clint, I've done that many times with hydrangeas and it works like a charm. But the geranium stems tend to be soft, green, skinny things, wasn't sure if it was a good choice of methods, or if there might be a better way.

Sheryl, I've used your method, too, chopping off a little piece of plant without digging up the whole plant, then just transplanting to another spot. That has worked with several of my perennials, but again, I never tried a geranium.

I was really impressed by Rozanne. I bought it as a tiny little thing from Bluestone in fall of 2010. This was a year later in Sept 2011. That thing bloomed heavily from late may or early June through October. This was Oct 4


November 2


Thanks for the suggestions. I'll watch it as it breaks dormancy and give it a shot.

Karen

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I'm going to try it too. I have another Geranium called Dragon Heart that I want more of. That one is good too by the way!

Can't keep it going here without more water than fits in my plan, but I love Rozanne. Good luck with it!

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Karen

Karen, Check with Token's. He made one and also Jeanne-Tx(the clematis Queen from Texas)made her own and showed it on their blog or responding to the forums.

I have Rozanne on my wish list this year too..I have admired it from afar on many gardener's photos.
I will be looking for it at my garden center/nursery. Do you think it is still a bit early for them to have it in stock? What about ordering it from Bluestone Nursery? I just rec'd their catalog last week and was thinking I would bite the bullet and order but the S&H charges is what throws the cost up. If I can't find it locally, I'll just have to order it online.

I got mine from Bluestone's sale last Spring. They should look great this year.

Pippi, you should be able to find it locally as it was Perennial Plant of the year in 2008. Scroll down here.
http://www.canningperennials.c...
It's popular, tends to sell out fast, so it's definitely time to look for it now locally.
You can also get it from Santa Rosa Gardens on sale now, (half the price of Bluestone), and highly recommended Watchdog top 5 company
http://www.santarosagardens.co...

Karen

Thanks for the tips on the sale..Did you order more of the Rozanne this year? PGT on the cottage garden forum always had Rozanne and Johnson's Blue and it was so pretty in her flower beds. That's where I first heard about Hardy Geraniums.

I bought my first Rozanne from Bluestone in fall 2010. But their prices skyrocketed after that. I wanted more last year, so in fall 2011 I ordered another from Santa Rosa.

I've ordered from Santa Rosa several times and always been happy with the plants. Generally much cheaper than Bluestone now for comparable sized plants in 4" pots. $7.95 flat rate shipping. And after your initial purchase, they send lots of discount coupons, so it's real easy to keep ordering.

Karen

Karen, I just realized I hadn't read your first message correctly. I had read that you wanted a cloner but I realized you wrote that you did not have or want a cloner. You know what is so nice about these message forums is that there's always somebody out there that is always willing to help or has had experience in propagation or growing from seeds,etc and willing to share their knowledge and experience with other gardeners.

Clint, what other plants have you had success in layering?
What about clematis?

Yes, Pippi, we're lucky to have such a friendly, helpful group of members here. Many of us have settled into ATP nicely and it feels like "home" now.

Karen

I haven't done the Clematis, but I heard serpentine layering is the way to go for them.

Last year I layered roses and Harry Lauder's Walking Stick. It always works for me. I'm trying the Geraniums this year. They aren't large enough yet, but I think it will work.

I was at a very reputable local nursery yesterday and asked a nurseryman about propagating Rozanne. He said it's very difficult. Said you have to split the eyes, and he said it's very easy to kill it that way. For that reason, he buys the plant and grows it on for sale.

Karen

This is funny but I thought Rozanne rooted easy. I just cut piece and put it in the ground. It was a moist shady area but it took off. Sounds like I just got lucky.

Thanks, Cinta. Maybe I'll give it a try if our weather ever improves. This heat and drought and killing my plants (and me!)

Karen

Karen, a lovely gardener in Oregon sent me a good size piece of Rozanne and also a daylily that I wanted. Boy, that Rozanne grows fast. It only had 2 small leaves on it when it came.. I potted it up temporary till I could get it planted into the flowerbed. In one weeks's time, I couldn't believe how much foliage that had grown. I planted it out into the flowerbed one day this week. She even sent some extra Rozanne seeds for me to plant more. plus other seeds she had. .I sent her a check for shipping cost. It felt like Christmas when I got that package! Can't wait to see it bloom in the Spring. I also asked my new beautician for some cuttings from her fuschia color ice plant and she gave me enough to fill 3 (4 in. pots)..