Dark Dirt

I am constantly trying to propagate plants for the garden. I somehow hate going to a garden store and paying 5.00 for a little sprig of green. I know deep down that there has to be away I can save a plant form year to year.

I have geraniums mastered. But some of the more finicky plants have eluded me... until now.

Propagation Tool Extraordinaire

I discovered this little secret weapon last year while I was trying to root some bacopia. This stuff is great in hanging baskets and large pots but rather costly. Each little plant can be $5. With a huge Victorian porch I needed a lot. I had managed to save 1 plant from the summer before and spent the winter tying to take cuttings and encourage them to root. Left alone in water they rotted every time.

Then I tried vermiculite. I simple took a plastic drinking glass, drilled 3 holes in the bottom and filled it with vermiculite. I took cuttings from the plant, dipped them in rooting compound and stuck them in the vermiculite. I sat the whole think in an inch of water so it stayed wet. 3-4 weeks later I had roots!

I was in business. I started enough plants to fill all my containers and extra to share with my mother and mother-in law.

This year I have used the same method for sweet potato vine, ivy and some other little cutting someone gave me.