Learn How to Grow Marigold from Cuttings in easy steps and multiply these beautiful flowers in your garden!
Though these plants are popularly grown from seeds, growing marigolds from cuttings is a time saving option to have more of these beauties in less time. Stems give these plants a head start, making them reach the flowering stage quickly!
How to Grow Marigold from Cuttings?
Well, marigold propagation is really easy as long as you have a healthy specimen in your garden. Even if you don’t have one, you could always ask a friend who has one in his collection!
The first thing you have to do, is to select the healthiest-looking stem on the plant that has lush leaves and plump growth. Snip a 4-6 inches long stem (below the leaf node – the point where a leaf joins the stem, and from which new growth emerges), and you are done!
Now, dip the cut section in a rooting hormone and plant it in a pot that has a mixture of Peat Moss or Coconut Coir (about 50-60%), Perlite or Vermiculite (about 20-30%) and sand (about 10%). Make sure the node is completely under the growing medium.
Keep the pot where it gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight, and water when the topsoil feels a little dry to the touch. The cutting will develop roots in about 14-20 days.
Note: While transplanting, exposing the cuttings gradually to outdoor conditions over a week or two. This includes keeping the pot in bright, indirect light, and then assimilating it in direct sunlight for 1-2 hours for 7-12 days, before you go all in for 6-8 hours of full sun exposure for best flowers.
What Kind of Pots are Best for Growing Marigold from Cuttings?
You can plant these flowers in any pot of your choice, but if you have a limited space like balconies and windowsills, going for a window-box would be a great idea. As they are wide, you can plant multiple cuttings in them with wase.
Styrofoam pots are also a great pick as they are cheap, easy to move around and also make transplanting easy.
Best Time for Growing Marigolds from Cuttings
Marigoldslove warm-season and thrive in full sunlight. They are frost-sensitive, so planting them in the cold is a big NO! These flowers require warm soil temperatures (A minimum of 55°F to 65°F or 12.8°C to 18.3°C) to establish successfully.
If you live in Northern United States (Zone 4-6), it is best to plant its cuttings indoors, about 6-8 weeks before the frost date in your area.
For people living in the Central United States (Zone 7-8), you can plant them in spring till fall, as that time, the soil gets sufficiently warm for the plant’s liking.
In Southern United States (Zone 9-11), the cuttings can be planted all year round, except in peak summers, when the weather might be too harsh.
