Generous Geraniums

While I was studying horticulture, propagation-regardless of how fascinating I found it to be-was never my strongest point practically. Now that I'm on my own, I've encouraged myself to keep practicing, after all, as I'm often told by experienced professionals the best way for a horticulturist to learn is from her mistakes.

Where I work we have this lovely English country looking Geranium sitting outside our tool shed. The only one of its kind in the garden...and I wanted one. 

So after a bit of light reading on the subject, around early July I took one semi-ripe cutting from the parent. Risky taking just one I know, but ever the optimist.

I prepared the cutting, taking it down to about 10cm in length cutting just below a leaf node and removing the lower leaves, leaving two leaves and nipping out the soft tip. Dipped the cut end in rooting powder and set it in a hole in some multi purpose compost. I had read mixed things on using rooting hormone on Geraniums, some say use it others say don't as it rots the end (I can only assume creating an overly damp environment would do this) however I did use rooting hormone and after weeks of patience, my first little cutting found her legs and is now showing her first bloom.

A quietly satisfying feeling for any gardener. She will be coming inside shortly before the first frost catches her, she is definitely a fond favourite of mine.