From our perspective, timing is everything. We are most receptive to propagation when we are in our active growth phase, bursting with vitality and the cellular machinery necessary to form new roots. The ideal period is late spring to early summer, after the tender new growth has hardened off slightly but before the intense heat of high summer stresses our systems. At this time, our stems are firm yet flexible, and our energy reserves are high, having benefited from the spring sun. Propagating us now gives our cuttings the entire growing season to establish a strong root system before winter dormancy.
When you take a stem cutting from me, you are harnessing my natural ability for vegetative reproduction. Please select a healthy, non-flowering stem tip about 4-6 inches long. Using a sharp, clean blade for a clean cut is crucial; a ragged tear invites pathogens that can rot me. Make the cut just below a leaf node—this junction is a hub of meristematic cells, the very stuff of new growth. Gently strip the leaves from the lower third of the cutting. These leaves would be buried and rot, so their removal is a protective measure. You can then dip this wounded end into a rooting hormone powder; it mimics our natural auxins, encouraging root formation. Plant me in a well-draining, sterile medium like perlite or a sand-and-peat mix. The key is to keep the medium consistently moist but not waterlogged, providing a humid environment (a plastic bag tent works well) to prevent my leaves from desiccating before my new roots can draw up water.
Division is a process that works with my very architecture. As a perennial, I grow outward from a central crown, sending out new shoots and roots each year. Over time, the center of the clump can become woody and less productive. Division rejuvenates me. To do this, carefully lift my entire root ball from the soil in early spring as new growth appears. Using your hands or two garden forks pushed back-to-back, gently tease or pry the clump apart into smaller sections. Each division must have a healthy portion of roots and several visible shoots or stems. This method is less of a delicate operation than taking cuttings; it is a straightforward splitting of my established self into multiple, independent plants. It instantly creates mature clones ready to grow.
Once propagated, whether by cutting or division, my needs are simple but critical. For cuttings, once you feel resistance when giving a gentle tug (indicating root formation), gradually acclimate me to less humid conditions. For divisions, plant me at the same depth I was growing before and water thoroughly to settle the soil around my roots. For both, place us in a location with bright, indirect light for a few weeks as we redirect our energy from top growth to building a strong foundation below the soil. Avoid heavy fertilization; a diluted, half-strength liquid fertilizer is all we can handle until we are fully established. With consistent moisture and protection from extreme elements, we will quickly settle into our new homes and begin our journey as independent plants.
