Survivor Pink geraniums, Peppermint Double Impatiens, flats of flowers and Boston ferns of green are appearing everywhere! Spring flowers are my kryptonite: They cause me to become as helpless as dandelion seeds blown into a spring breeze by a child. Then, reality checks in to calm the flower frenzy. One cannot spend $100 of grocery money on flowers. My compromise? A hanging basket of roses, such as double Peppermint Impatiens.
You can grow new plants from ones already growing in your garden, or buy a new plant and grow many:
- Use sharp garden pruners to cut off new but mature growth shoots at 30 degree angles from the parent plant.
- Strip at least half of leaves from the lower part of the cutting, remove the bottom two leaves and pinch off the top pair of leaves—roots grow from leaf nodes.
- Remove any flower buds as they will compete for the nutrition that the plant needs to grow new roots.
- Root the cuttings in a weak mixture of water and fertilizer (provides nutrients).
- Place the cuttings under a single fluorescent light or in indirect sunlight.
Rooting cuttings is a fun science experiment for young children; they can easily see when the plant is ready to transplant.
Other easy to root plants include coleus, mums, althea, hydrangea, gardenia and herbs like basil, mint, rosemary and lavender. Grow many and give rooted cuttings to family and friends, and they will think of you every time they see them.
