Although we’ve had our share of unusually warm weather, tender bedding plants will still succumb to frost, no matter how late it comes.
However, many of our favourites, such as pelargoniums, fuchsias, salvias and marguerites, can be recycled for next year by potting up mature plants and bringing them into a frost-free greenhouse, porch or indoor windowsill, or by making fresh plants from cuttings.
Strong survivors
Select only strong, healthy plants, and use shoot tips for cuttings, 7-10cm long. Remove buds and excess leaves, and trim the bases, making a neat cut just below a leaf joint. Remove lower leaves, too, and dip the cut stems into hormone rooting powder before planting up to half their length into pots of multi-purpose compost. Rooting powder helps stimulate root growth, although it’s…
