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“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till
sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” John Muir |
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Mums are one of the easiest plants to
propagate from cutting. When they are emerge in the spring and are about a
fifteen inches or so tall, we take cuttings that are about eight inches.
Note: Cut the whole plant back to the same height even if you are not going to
root all of the cuttings.
- Set up to work in the shade so
the cuttings will not wilt.
- Strip the leaves from the
bottom 2/3rds of the cuttings and place in water.
- Fill a gallon plastic pot (with
good drainage) with a combination of about half and half finished compost
and sand.
- Water the filled pots.
- Select 6-8 healthy cuttings and
stick them into the prepared pot up to the first leaf. Spread them
evenly in the pot.
- Add little more water to settle
the soil and sand around the stems.
- Place the whole pot in a
plastic grocery bag that has a hole for drainage.
- Pull the bag up over the pot.
Leave the handles up in the air but do not tie them. This will provide
protection to help retain moisture in the leaves until roots can develop.
If you tie the handles it may keep it too moist.
- Place the bagged pots in a
shady area and water periodically, depending on the weather.
- In 4-6 weeks you will have a
new clump of mums ready to plant. The clump will only be about 8-10"
across the first fall but should mature to full size by the next fall.
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Related lesson plans |
Grade |
When in Our Garden
Cycle |
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Planting
for a Cause - Students
prepare transplants to
reinforce volunteering as an
individual or community to help others and spread nature. |
3 |
May |
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How are Plants Propagated - Students
prepare transplants to understand
that plant propagation
occurs naturally, with help from humans to select the most desirable
traits, and in laboratories to modify the genetic makeup of plant cells. |
4 |
April
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