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How to propagate campanulas

How to propagate campanulas

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Friday, 22 March 2019 at 4:27 pm

Boost your stock of campanulas by taking basal cuttings in spring – we show you how.

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The earliest soft green shoots of herbaceous campanulas make fast-rooting cuttings, known as basal cuttings.

Taken from below soil level, some have roots already, which helps them grow quickly. As well as campanulas, you can also use this technique on chrysanthemums, asters, delphiniums, dahlias and heleniums.

Once potted, the cuttings will root in the greenhouse or cold frame with no extra heat, although a propagator will speed things up.

Several cuttings around the edge of a pot can make an instant clump for planting by June, or pot them on as singles for planting next year.

Discover how to propagate campanulas by taking basal cuttings, below.

You Will Need

Sharp knife
Peat-free multi-purpose compost
Clear polythene bags

Total time : 20 minutes

Step 1

Cutting some of the basal root

Use a sharp knife to cut down into the point at which shoots emerge from the root system. There must be some solid tissue at the base of the shoot you cut.

Step 2

Trimmed cutting

Trim the base of the cutting, and if the rosette of leaves is very big, reduce water stress by trimming the leaves down by half.

Step 3

Inserting the cuttings into compost

Plant the cuttings firmly, in multi-purpose compost as they will grow quickly and need the extra feed that this compost offers.

Step 4

Tying the polythene bag

Water the cuttings thoroughly then place the whole pot in a polythene bag and tie the top. They root fast, but untie the bag and air them regularly to prevent rots.

Cuttings aftercare

Your campanula cuttings may wilt initially, but pot them up quickly and water well, and they'll soon recover. Grow them on in a bright sheltered spot such as a greenhouse or coldframe. Rooting will occur after a few weeks, after which you can expect more substantial plants which will need potting on.

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