Reproduction of heuchera: methods and useful recommendations

Heuchera has no equal among the ornamental deciduous garden plants. Purple, black, red, orange, brown, silvery, greenish-yellow - these are all shades of the leaves of the plant. And its delicate bell-shaped flowers attract bees and butterflies to the garden and are good at cutting. Heuchera is able to quickly fill any open spaces, so it is often used as a ground cover plant. To obtain planting material, the culture is propagated by dividing the bush or by cuttings, young plants can also be obtained from a piece of leaf.

This is the easiest way to breed Heuchera. In addition, regularly dividing perennial plants is a necessary procedure, as it allows them to remain beautiful and healthy for many years. As for heuchera, it needs to be transplanted and separated approximately every 3-4 years, because during this time the upper leaves grow strongly, and the lower leaves age and die off. As a result, the plant tolerates negative winter temperatures worse, becomes weakened, more susceptible to diseases, and loses its decorative effect.

It is best to divide the Heuchera between the end of May and the beginning of July, then the dividers will quickly take root. However, it can be divided in the fall, but only if the soil in which the divided parts will be planted is loose and well-drained.

The division procedure includes several steps.

1. Trim dry and lignified shoots.
2. Use a sharp spade to slice the cut pieces about 10 cm in size. Heuchera roots are located almost on the surface of the earth, so it is very easy to determine the location of the cut. If the roots are not visible, carefully remove the plant from the soil and cut the cut with a sharp knife. Each cut should have healthy leaves and part of the root.
3. Plant the resulting cuttings into prepared soil. The planting depth should be the same as that of the mother plant. The width of the planting hole should be approximately twice the size of the cut. This is necessary for free placement of the roots.
4. Spread the soil well around the planted plant, continue doing this for the next two weeks. In the future, it is necessary to water if the weekly rainfall is less than 3 centimeters. Excessive watering can lead to rotting of cuttings, but plants do not develop well in overdried soil.

This method is good in that it does not require digging out the bush. In addition, much more planting material can be obtained from just one plant than by dividing. Heuchera can be cut during the entire growing season, but it is better to do this in late spring or early summer.

1. Lift up the foliage and find the thickest horizontal stem from which the rosettes of the other stems extend. This is the main stem, which is only able to form roots.
2. Break off the rosette where it attaches to the main stem. It is better to break off the socket "with a heel", that is, with a small piece of the main stem.
3. Remove any old brown or dark green leaves from the outlet. Leave 4-5 healthy leaves, preferably small, as the young leaves are not yet infected with any disease.
4. Plant the outlets in a shaded area protected from the wind.The soil for the rosettes should be composed of loose compost or sand. It is necessary to plant so that the point of growth of the leaves is at ground level. Water liberally.
5. The first young roots will appear 6 weeks after planting. All this time, the soil under the young plantings must be kept moist. They can be transplanted to a permanent place next spring.

Heuchera can be propagated with one single sheet. It's not that hard if you follow the rules. The fact is that just taking a part of the leaf is not enough, it is necessary that a piece of the stem is preserved on it. The stem contains growth buds, which eventually form new leaves.

Leafy cuttings can be cut at any time during the growing season, however, if taken in late fall, they may not take root until winter. But if there is an opportunity to transfer young seedlings for the winter indoors, then you can cut the cuttings in the fall. You can combine two methods - dividing the bush and grafting, then you can use the material left over from the division.

1. Prepare the planting mixture in advance. A mixture of sand, vermiculite and peat in various proportions has proven itself well. The best option can be selected empirically, but usually all components are taken in equal parts. Recently, a new material, coconut fiber, has been used as a planting medium. It is good because it is absolutely sterile, that is, it does not contain any pathogens that could harm young plants.
2. Prepare grafting tools. The knife must be not only sharp, but also clean, otherwise diseases can be transmitted from one plant to another. To avoid this, dip the knife in diluted bleach after each cut.
3. Slice the heel cuttings with a clean, sharp knife. If the stalk contains one leaf, then the size of the "heel" should be about half a centimeter. Larger cuttings with multiple leaves can be used. However, with a large surface area of ​​the leaves, the cutting can be overdried, as the leaves will evaporate water. Therefore, to reduce the loss of moisture, large leaves must be reduced by cutting them in half. Small leaves can be left intact - they will produce nutrients for the plant.
4. Hold the cutting in a solution of any growth stimulant or sprinkle the cut with Kornevin. This will help the plant withstand stress and take root faster.
5. Plant the cuttings in a moist planting environment and shade them out of direct sunlight. In the open field, cuttings are often covered with a jar or planted under arcs. It is better to plant a leaf cutting in an inclined position and so that the "heel" is at a depth of about 2-3 centimeters from the soil level. This is due to the fact that it will be difficult for the newly formed leaves to overcome the thicker layer of the earth. If done correctly, the first roots will form in 4-6 weeks.
6. If you root leaves in the fall, it is better to plant them in seedling pots, which in winter can be transferred to a bright, cool room. In this case, fill the pots with planting mixture and moisten well, then add a little more of the mixture, because after moistening it will settle. After that, make a depression in the mixture with a pencil and insert the end of the cutting into it. Squeeze the mixture gently around the stem. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and tie the bag securely with an elastic band. If necessary, place one or two sticks or plastic straws in the pot so that the plastic does not touch the surface of the sheet. This prevents condensation from entering the bag onto the sheet.

For information on how to propagate heuchera, see the next video.