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How to Grow Plants from Seeds & Cuttings

Published on July 4, 2016Last updated October 18, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Read full disclosure statement here.

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Want to grow more plants without the expense of buying new ones? Starting plants from seeds and cuttings is a simple and frugal way to expand your garden without busting your budget.

The how-tos listed here are suitable for beginners. Also, dig in to More growing tips for beginner gardeners.

Trowel, flower pots, and potting bench for propagating plants.

Grow Your Own Plants from Seeds and Cuttings

Trowel in garden soil.

If the words ‘plant propagation’ have you reaching for the snooze alarm or running for the hills, I’m with you! The worst thing experienced gardeners can do is make it all seem too boring-or too complicated-for beginners.

And there’s no excuse for this. It is not complicated.

Propagation simply means growing new plants from existing ones. It’s how all new plants are made in nature and a cultivated garden. And the wonderful thing is, there’s plenty of plants we can multiply within our own gardens with minimal effort and no money spent.

Here’s a bunch of tips to get your started.

Wait! Before You Plant…

Be sure any plants you choose:

  • Are recommended for your plant hardiness zone and growing conditions.
  • Are not invasive in your area.
  • Are suitable for your growing conditions including sun, soil, water, and wind.
  • Contribute to biodiversity by providing food, nectar, or habitat for wildlife.
  • Will not be too big for the space at mature size.

You can read more ecological gardening tips here.

About Plant Patents

Some plants are patented and asexual reproduction is not permitted without permission from the patent holder. Patents and trademarks are usually listed on plant tags.


1Grow New Plants from Cuttings

  • Sweet potato vine (this is the easiest one to try)
  • Clematis vine
  • Honeysuckle vine (choose non-invasive species only)
  • Hydrangea
  • Pineapple
  • Succulents
  • Mums
  • How to grow shrubs and vines from hardwood cuttings
  • How to grow new plants from softwood cuttings
  • 20 Native Plants You Can Grow From Cuttings
  • 12 Flowering Annuals You Can Grow From Cuttings

2Sow Seeds

When you’re just starting out, you will probably purchase seeds. As your garden grows, you may want to start saving seeds for future planting.

  • How to understand the information on seed packets
  • When to start seeds (and when it’s too late)
  • Weekly Vegetable Seed Starting Plan
  • Best soil temperatures for starting seeds
  • Recommended seed starting supplies
  • Favorite seed companies for organic gardeners
  • How to start (plant) seeds (and grow plants)
  • How to make seed tapes for fussy and tiny seeds
  • Household hacks for speeding up indoor seed germination

Ebook

Seed Starting For Beginners ebook cover.

Seed Starting for Beginners
Sow Inside Grow Outside

by Melissa J. Will

NEW EDITION | Everything you need to get started with indoor seed starting for indoor and outdoor plants. Grow what you want—any time of year!

About This Ebook | Visit Ebook Shop

This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.

Buy Now
$8 US

PayPal, Credit Card, Apple Pay

3Grow Fruits & Vegetables

  • Vegetables
    How to Start Your First Vegetable Garden (Right Now)
    Grow Vegetables in Containers
  • Tomatoes
    How to grow tomatoes from seed to table
  • Peas
    How to grow peas
  • Raspberries
    How to transplant and grow raspberry canes
  • Strawberries
    How to grow strawberries
    How to Sow Strawberry Seeds (Indoor Method)

New Plants By Division

Shovel.

Another simple way to get new plants from existing ones is to divide them up.

It varies by type of plant, but the basic premise is the same for most.

Once a plant is well-established with a large root base, you can dig up the plant, cut right through with a shovel, and plant one half elsewhere.

It’s not only a good way to get a new established free plant but often better for the original, crowded plant.

4Grow Flowers

  • Delphiniums
    How to grow delphiniums
    How to get tricky seeds like delphiniums to germinate (sprout)
    How to get delphiniums to blooms twice in one season
    How to sow delphinium seeds in the fall 
  • Foxgloves
    How to grow foxgloves
  • Geraniums (Pelargoniums)
    How to store geraniums for the winter and create new plants from cuttings
  • Hollyhocks
    6 Tips for Growing Hollyhocks and Dealing With Rust
  • Hydrangeas
    What type of hydrangea is this? A handy care guide
  • Lavender
    Lavender Growing Tips and Easy Mistakes to Avoid
  • Lilacs
    How to Grow Lilacs: Care, Prune, Propagate
  • Peonies
    How to Grow Peonies (and Myth-Busting Tips)
  • Sweet Peas
    10 Best Tips for Growing Sweet Peas
  • Zinnia
    7 Best Tips for Growing Zinnias

5Herbs

  • List of 60 plants you can grow for making tea
  • How to Grow Herbs Indoors
  • How to Grow Herbs Outdoors

Resources

Empress of Dirt

FREE TIP SHEET

Seasonal Plant Cuttings Calendar

Includes plant lists from this article.

Examples of plants you can grow from cuttings in spring, summer, and fall.
Get Free Tip Sheet

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Joining our free newsletter list is optional at checkout.

Plant Propagation

These are books I like for plant propagation tips and tutorials:

Propagation book covers
  1. AHS Plant Propagation | American Horticultural Association
  2. Plant Propagator’s Bible | Miranda Smith
  3. Grow Your Own Garden | Carol Klein

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

How to Grow Plants from Seeds & Cuttings
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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