Owning a leadwort is a beautiful thing that fills you with pride. How about multiplying it, for example to give away a plant or to decorate other living areas with it?
Leadwort is best propagated by cuttings
Use cuttings to propagate
Propagation by cuttings promises the highest success rate. Cut the cuttings between May and June. Choose shoots that are not too soft and fleshy. But they shouldn't be too woody either. Half-ripe shoots are ideal.
The selected shoots should be between 10 and 15 cm long. Better than pruning the shoots is tearing them off. The lower leaves are removed, as are any flowers that may be present. Only 2 to 4 upper leaves should be preserved.
Put cuttings in potting soil
Once the cuttings are prepared for propagation, they go into the potting soil:
- Use nutrient-poor, loose and well-drained soil
- Stick the shoots about 5 to 7 cm deep into the ground
- Press and moisten the soil
- Put a plastic hood or foil over it
- put in a bright place
- after 4 weeks first roots appear
- Successful rooting can be recognized by new shoots
Plant cuttings in a suitable place
After successful rooting, the cuttings should remain in the pot or only - if necessary - be repotted. They don't come outside until next spring, as they wouldn't survive the frosty autumn and winter. Overwinter them in a bright but frost-free place!
Sow seeds, germinate and care for young plants
The sowing of leadwort is less recommended, since many seeds do not seem to want to germinate. Do you still want to try? Spring is the best time for sowing.
Note the following:
- Place seeds in seed compost
- Cover 0.5 to 1 cm thick with soil
- Keep substrate moist
- If necessary, put foil over it
- put in a bright place
- ideal germination temperature: 20 to 23 °C
- Germination time: 3 to 4 weeks
- Pinch off young plants from a size of 30 cm
tips
No matter how well you take care of the plant: the seeds you grow yourself usually germinate much more poorly than bought seeds - sometimes even not at all.