How to propagate verbenas (and many other bedding plants)
Annual verbenas are versatile and long-blooming bedding plants. However, this plant, originally from South America, is not winter-hardy. To help it survive the winter, you can take cuttings from your verbena to increase your chances. This also works for many other plants.
Read more below the advertisement
The method for taking cuttings from soft stems is (appropriately) called summer cuttings. These cuttings root quickly and easily, making it a fun way to quickly grow more plants. Once the cuttings have rooted well, you can transplant them to new pots to continue growing.
The best time to take verbena cuttings is from May to August. The plants are incredibly vigorous then, so cuttings taken in the summer will root very quickly. Overwinter the cuttings in a bright, frost-free spot and replace any bedding plants that didn't survive the winter in the spring.
With this simple step-by-step plan you can propagate your Verbena species, so that you can replace plants that have not survived the winter well.
- Verbena plants or other bedding plants
- A pair of (pruning) shears or a sharp knife
- A growing container with a lid or plastic bag
Select strong stems that aren't flowering from a healthy, growing plant. Cut or prune them to about 8 to 10 cm long.
Remove the lower leaves, but leave the top leaves on. Pinch the tender top off the stem and trim the bottom to just below a bud.
Dig a hole in the potting soil and lower the cutting into it. Fill the hole with soil, press it down lightly, and give it plenty of (lukewarm) water. Let it drain and place the pot in a propagator or cover it with a bag to keep the cutting warm and moist.
Want the best growing tips? In this special edition of Gardeners' World, sustainable growers from the Netherlands and Belgium share their secrets with you!
This method of taking summer cuttings works for many more types of plants, including:
%3Aformat(jpeg)%3Abackground_color(fff)%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.metronieuws.nl%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2025%252F08%252Feten-op-vakantie.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
%3Aformat(jpeg)%3Abackground_color(fff)%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.metronieuws.nl%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2025%252F06%252Fdan-dumitriu-3w1XBUGj4ds-unsplash.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
