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.
Grow Your Own Plants from Seeds and Cuttings
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.
- 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
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
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.
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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
New Plants By Division
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
Resources
Empress of Dirt
FREE TIP SHEET
Seasonal Plant Cuttings Calendar
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Propagation How-to Books
These are books I like for plant propagation tips and tutorials:
- AHS Plant Propagation | American Horticultural Associate
- Grow Your Own Garden | Carol Klein
- Plant Propagator’s Bible | Miranda Smith
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛