Usually the propagation of the popular cranesbill is not a problem, as the plant often self-seeds and you have no further work with it. However, this does not apply to many cranesbill hybrids such as "Rozanne", which are fertile and can therefore only be propagated vegetatively. Some geranium species can also be multiplied by cuttings.
The blood-red cranesbill is suitable for propagation by cuttings
Propagation by seed
Except for many hybrids and the magnificent cranesbill - which is basically also a hybrid - only vegetative propagation is possible. All other species can easily be propagated by sowing seeds in spring or you can let the plants sow themselves.
Propagate Cranesbill by division
When dividing, the plant is completely dug up to divide its rootstock into two, three, or even four or more pieces. Each section should have at least one rooted shoot. When digging up the plant, be careful not to damage any roots. The best time for this measure is spring, even before the plant can properly thrive. Almost all cranesbills can be divided, although hybrids such as "Rozanne" can usually only be propagated by division.
Propagation by cuttings
Some geranium species are propagated in early summer with head or shoot cuttings of non-flowering shoots. With the gray cranesbill, you can also fall back on root cuttings in winter. You dig up the mother plant in late autumn / winter and cut off some of the roots as long as possible. These are divided into pieces about five centimeters long and finally come into a propagation substrate. The planting takes place in the following spring, when the first through growth occurs.
Geranium species suitable for propagation by cuttings
The following cranesbills are suitable for vegetative propagation by cuttings:
- Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium cantabrigiense), due to droop in summer
- Gray cranesbill (Geranium cinereum), through shoot cuttings in summer or root cuttings in winter
- Clarke's cranesbill (Geranium clarkei), through cuttings in summer
- Himalayan cranesbill (Geranium himalayense), by cuttings in summer
- Heartleaf cranesbill (Geranium ibericum), by cuttings in summer
- Rock cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum), by cuttings in summer
- Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum), by cuttings of non-flowering shoots in summer
tips
You should definitely pay attention to hygiene, especially when propagating cuttings and when dividing! Only use sharp tools that you have previously disinfected. The cutting is always cut immediately below the node (node), i. H. the base of the leaf. At this point, the scar tissue of the shoot forms, from which new roots sprout.