ROOT CUTTINGS
Propagate acanthus, Oriental poppies and Japanese anemones by taking root cuttings now. It’s so easy!
Root cuttings are a great way to propagate plants that produce new shoots from their roots, such as acanthus, echinops, Japanese anemones, mint, Oriental poppies and verbascums. Root cuttings are easy to make and need little aftercare, and it’s best to take them now while the plant is dormant.
How to do it
Lift a clump Choose a vigorous, healthy clump and lift it carefully from the ground with a spade or fork. Wash the root ball to remove some of the soil and expose the roots. Remove roots Select a few roots about the thickness of a pencil that look young and healthy rather than old and woody. Remove the root from just below the crown of the plant with secateurs or a sharp knife, then replant the parent plant immediately. Cut into sections Trim away the thin part of the root and any fibrous side roots. Cut the remaining piece of root into sections 5-10cm (2-4in) long – use a straight cut at the top end of a section of root and a slanting cut at the bottom. Pot them up Fill a cell tray or pot with a cuttings compost or a 50:50 mix of multipurpose compost and grit. Insert the cuttings so the straight cut is flush with the top of the compost, then cover with a thin layer of grit. Water and pop in a cold frame or a sheltered corner. New growth should appear in spring. The new plants can be planted up individually into their own pots and grown on when rooted.