4 Multiply your plants

If you don’t know what propagating is you’re in for a real treat! It’s a genius way of getting so much more out of your plant purchases at no extra cost

with our guide to propagating

There are a few different methods of propagating but they all require potting compost and pots to place the cuttings and a knife or a pair of scissors to take pieces off the ‘mother’ plant.

Propagating can work for indoor and outdoor plants. You can save money on new plants by swapping varieties with your friends and even sell spares at car-boot sales and fetes.

overwintered on a frost-free windowsill indoors or in a cool greenhouse and given a burst of heat in spring before replanting in containers and hanging baskets when there’s no risk of frost in the spring. ■ Take cuttings just below a leaf join, at the base of the stem, using a sharp knife or scissors. Around 8-10cm in length ideally. ■ Each cutting needs to have two or three leaves – so that the plant can continue to photosynthesise and grow. If there are too many, it will lose moisture, wilt and die.

■ Water and cover with a plastic sheet or put in a clear plastic bag. Keep out of direct sunlight.

■ Rooting might take months, so be patient.