The Cut Flower Podcast

Methods of Plant Propagation

• Roz Chandler • Season 1 • Episode 153

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0:00 | 7:47

Text Agony Aunt Roz with your Cutflower Questions.

Roz Chandler demystifies propagation, emphasising its simplicity and benefits. She covers core methods like seed, cuttings, and division, highlighting practical tips on timing, light, and moisture, and encourages beginners to start propagating for cost savings, confidence, and joy.

Takeaways

  • Propagation is simple and accessible to everyone.
  • Timing and understanding plant needs are key.
  • You don't need fancy equipment to start.
  • Propagation can save money and increase joy.

To join our masterclasses at 8pm BST on the 27th and 28th April click here


Rosalind Chandler (00:00)
Welcome back to the Cut Flower podcast. We're going to be talking, doing a little mini series. So we've got three parts. We had one part last week and another part now about propagation. Now I don't like that word. And those of you who know me know I don't like the word propagation because it makes it sound complicated and it really isn't.

So hello, welcome back to the podcast. It's nice to have you here. So we're going today to be talking about propagation. I'm going to say this straight away. People massively overcomplicate this. Big words, fancy terms, semi-ripe, hardwood, basil cuttings.

It all sounds a bit, but actually propagation is just making more plants for free from plants you already have or neighbors have or friends have and that's about it. And once you get this, it just changes everything. It saves you money. it builds your confidence. It gives you control. And honestly, it's one of the most satisfying things you can do. love it. because you go from, hope this grows to, I made that.

Right, so let's strip it right back. There are really just a few core ways to propagate. The difficult bit is about timing and when.

and which is the best method for using for each type of plant. And that comes with experience. But first of all, from seed, you either buy the seed or even better, you save your own. Seed is where most people start and it's a brilliant place to begin with. Second, cuttings, taking a piece of a plant and turning it into a new one.

Third, division, splitting one plant into several and that's it. We could talk about layering and we could talk about grafting but let's stick with from seed, cuttings and division. Three simple roots. Now within these there are loads of variations of course but you don't need to go everything to get started you just need to start.

because this is where people get stuck. think they need a greenhouse, they need a heated benches, they need all the kit. You don't. You need a few basics, you need light, you need warmth some of the time, you need moisture, and it's all about timing. That's it. So let's break that down even further.

Seedlings need light, not a dark windowsill tucked behind the curtain. Cuttings often prefer a bit more shelter and not the scorching sun. And so already you're just learning to read what the plant actually needs in terms of light. Water, this is the biggest one. Most people overwater. Seeds do need moisture, but they definitely don't need to be soaking. They don't need soggy bottoms. Cuttings need damp and they definitely don't need to drown. And if in doubt, leave it.

timing. This is where people panic, have I missed it? No, there is always something you can propagate in every single month of the year but different plants have their moment, they have their moment of fame. Soft growth in the spring, stronger stems in the summer, woody cuttings later on. There must be some sort of rhyme or riddle I could make out of that to go soft growth in the spring, stronger stems in summer, woody cuts later on. Anyone who could come up with something for that or some sort of anagram

or something SSW that will be good so then people will know there's soft growth in spring, softer stems in the summer and woody cuttings later on. We do cover all of this properly in the master classes which we are running on the 27th and 28th within a Facebook group and I will put the Facebook group down below in the show notes so you can join us. There are eight o'clock in the evening GMT time or British summer time now and they're streamed into a live Facebook group all about proper

There's lots going on there in propagation, lots of resources anyway. So do come and join us. But first of all, and here's the bit you really do want to hear, you do not need to be perfect. You will lose things. We all do. I've been doing this for 15 years and I still fail. But enough will work to make it absolutely worth it. And the more you do, the better you get at it. It's like anything. Repeat, repeat, repeat reps. So think about a rose. You know, we can take six cuttings from a rose at the end

of the season. If we do that, that's six more plants. Think about the cost of a rose, let's call it 25 pounds, a bare root, and then you're going to get six. It soon multiplies, it? And then another year might get another six and so on and so on. So why does it matter? Why am I just so passionate about this? Because propagation is freedom. It means you're not constantly buying plants. It means you can scale what you grow. It means you can share, you swapped your gift. And if you're running a

it completely changes your margins and if you're just growing for joy it gives you more for less.

If you're listening to this and thinking I'd love to try but I don't quite trust myself then do join our Propagation Masterclasses. They're free, they're fun, they're interactive and they're designed to show you live how this actually works. We demo, we explain, we simplify and we answer your questions. And we've made it a bit of a festival this year. There are prizes, there's a quiz, there's a cost saving calculator and honestly it's just a really good place to start. You don't need to prepare anything, you just need to show up Monday the 27th at 8pm.

o'clock BST. So if you're Facebook group make sure you're there live, bring a friend, bring your questions and get involved because this is one of those skills that once you have it, have it for life and it opens so many doors. So alright in the next episode I'm going to make this even more practical. We're going to talk about the best plants to start with, the ones that give you quick wins because that's what we all want, confidence early on. So I will see you in the free Facebook group the Propagation Pop

group and the link to it is in the show notes. We'll see you there.