Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Verbena Bonariensis

2»

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't get many seedlings @enilorac2 , because they just don't survive winters either, although I've had a few in the last couple of years [no winters] as they've managed to seed into the gravel paths. One or two had seeded into a mat on the gravel - drier, and warmer, for them! I lifted them and potted them up when they were tiny. I think one or two of the plants I mentioned might be those rather than cuttings. They might not have been happy being moved if they were bigger. If you can try doing them sooner, that might work better, and keep them somewhere sheltered and out of the sun until they're big enough to cope. 

    If you look at the shoots coming from the sides of the plant- a bit like tomato side shoots, those are ideal. Just nip them off, and take off the lower leaves. If there's any buds showing at the tip, take them off too. Some gritty soil/compost, and put three or four round the edge of a four or five inch pot. Try and get pieces that are around 6 inches or so.  If you only have smaller pots, a couple will do in those. Round the edge is the important bit as the drainage is sharper there for them. You can put a plastic bag or similar over them to prevent too much moisture loss, or just keep them in a greenhouse/cold frame, depending on the temps and weather, and what space you have. 
    I would normally do them a bit earlier than this - June/July, but those weren't big enough, and the only surviving planted specimen from last year isn't easy to get into. If I do them at that time, they don't need covered or protected though.
    You can also take off new growth when they start growing in spring, and use that as material for cuttings. Cutting some plants back gives you a bit of height variation too.
    Try it all ways and see if you can get some success   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 652
    I have two here in my garden in the north east, I just put a bucket of used compost from summer pots over them before first frost they come through winter no bother.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    As with many plants, it's wet cold that's the biggest problem for them.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.