Take root cuttings in autumn, once rain has arrived, to make new plants of many popular perennials like oriental poppies, verbascum, garden phlox and black-eyed susans. The September/October 2004 issue of Horticulture Magazine gives clear instruction on this easy propagation technique, and suggests many other suitable plants. In a nutshell:
- lift the plant to be propagated with a garden fork
- shake off soil to expose the roots
- cut the root into 2 inch pieces
- insert the pieces into a small container of potting soil, with the top end just under the surface
- keep the container moist, not wet, and inside in bright light until new growth appears
- transplant into individual pots when growth is a couple of inches tall
cut out a few roots that are about the thickness of a pencil, noting the “top” of the root (closest to the plant)