Lantana is a popular flowering plant that grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. It is known for its vibrant colors, hardiness, and low maintenance requirements. Lantanas are easy to propagate and can be done easily through water propagation.
Water propagation is a simple method of growing new plants from cuttings in water until roots form. In this post, we will share with you a step-by-step guide on how to propagate lantana in water.
What You Will Need
To get started on propagating lantanas, prepare the following:
– A healthy lantana plant
– Sharp pruning shears or scissors
– A clean glass jar or vase filled with room temperature tap water
– Rooting hormone (optional)
Step 1: Choose Your Plant
Choose an established and healthy lantana plant that has not been recently fertilized or sprayed with any chemicals. The ideal time to take cuttings is during spring when the plant starts actively growing.
Step 2: Take Cuttings
Using sharp pruning shears or scissors, take several stem cuttings from the top of your chosen lantana plant. Each cutting should have at least two nodes where leaves emerge since these are the areas where roots develop most quickly.
Step 3: Prepare Your Cuttings
Remove all lower leaves from each cutting so that only two sets of leaves remain on top of the stem. This helps reduce transpiration loss that could lead to dehydration before rooting takes place.
If desired, dip each cutting into rooting hormone powder before planting it into water for faster root development.
Step 4: Plant The Cuttings In Water
Fill a clean glass jar or vase with room temperature tap water up to two inches deep. Place each prepared cutting inside the jar so that only its bottom part touches the water while its foliage remains above it.
Arrange your jars containing freshly planted cuttings in a location where they receive adequate sunlight but not direct sunlight.
Step 5: Maintain Your Cuttings
Change the water in your jars every two to three days to prevent bacteria build-up and promote healthy root development. Keep an eye for any signs of algae growth, which can damage or kill your cuttings. Add a drop of bleach solution to control it if necessary.
After about four weeks, you should see visible roots formed from each cutting submerged in the water. When these roots reach around an inch long, you can transplant them into soil.
Step 6: Transplant Into Soil
Prepare a potting mix that drains well by mixing perlite or sand with equal parts compost or peat moss. Plant each rooted cutting into its individual pot so that only the top set of leaves remains above soil level.
Water newly transplanted lantanas regularly until they establish themselves further in their new home.
Conclusion
Propagating lantana through water is simple and easy. As long as you have the right tools and follow proper techniques, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to grow healthy plants from cuttings at home! So go on ahead and try it for yourself – who knows? You might just discover a green thumb within yourself after all!
