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Gaura cuttings

Sue & MuttonSue & Mutton Posts: 125
in Plants
Hi, after 2 years of deflecting the subject my husband has broken me down and 2 of my beds are going to become a workshop/man cave. The builders are starting Monday - having given us just a weeks notice - yes, I know I should be grateful. Every bucket, trug and pot have now become "holding areas" until I can fathom out where to put everything. I am not one for throwing things away - I'm the person who buys 50p almost dead plants from the exit of a nursery. After all this rambling my question is - what do I do with my gauras? The tap roots must be almost a foot long but there's masses of new growth on them. Skip them or take cuttings .... lots of cuttings. Many thanks 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Nothing to lose by taking cuttings l'd say. It's a good time of year to take sorftwood or basal cuttings.

    Burncoose reckon you can divide them or take root cuttings, but l have never tried either of these methods with Gauras. 
    https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/content.cfm?ref=Gaura+lindheimeri+-+Growing+Guide
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I dug quite a big clump up last year and re-planted it elsewhere. It survived and flowered beautifully. I don't see why you couldn't try that, perhaps just potting up it up for the time being until it gets warmer.  How many have you got?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    I've moved Gauras several times before and they're been fine. Just dig down reasonably deep to get as much root as possible. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited March 2023
    Do both.

    Dig out as much as you can and pot it u as a whole plant but take cuttings too - assuming it's already growing - asinsurance.   What have you got to lose?

    I sincerely hope the sacrifice of beds and the financial investment in OH's man cave lead to something worth the trouble.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Sue & MuttonSue & Mutton Posts: 125
    Sorry, now back with you. I did as you suggested - there was a lot of ferocious root pruning  (hacking) going on resulting in about a dozen in pots, cuttings and around 20 seedlings potted up (you know those annoying once that always pop up between slabs and at the edge of pavements that you can't bear to get rid of so you end up with a huge plant hanging over it). Anyway, they're up. Each one of my heuchera plants is now 10. The local charity plant sale is going to do well this year. Fingers crossed. Obelixx - I'm afraid  nothing is worth the sacrifice of my beds. Hoping my late grandad's 60 year old rhubarb plant survives the upheaval and temporary rehoming too. 
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