Vining Vinca Propagation

Layering

• Propagate vining vinca through layering any time during the growing season. To layer the vinca, select one vine close to the original root ball, and slightly wound the underside of the vine in a section about 2 inches long. Pin the wounded section of the vine under the soil line approximately 1 inch deep. Use a small piece of wire to hold the vine in place under the soil's surface. When the wounded section forms a healthy root system, cut the vine from the parent plant. Allow the new plant to grow for another week before transplanting it to a permanent location in the garden.

Cuttings

• Root stem cuttings taken from vinca with the aid of a rooting hormone. Make the cuttings 6 to 8 inches long. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the vinca cuttings, but allow a few of the top leaves to remain. You must use a sterile planting medium, such as a mixture of coarse sand and perlite, to root the cuttings. Dip the ends of the cuttings into the rooting hormone, coating at least two of the bottom leaf nodes. Stick the cuttings into the growing medium and cover them with plastic. Put the container in indirect sunlight and keep it slightly moist until the cuttings root.

Root Division

• Vinca is propagated through root division when the plant breaks dormancy. Simply dig up a section of the vine and separate the root ball. With vinca, you may find some of the vines already rooted. Cut the vine with a sharp pair of garden shears to avoid damaging the stem. Plant the division in an area of the garden with comparable growing conditions.

New Plant Care

• Grow the new vinca plants in a protected area of the garden until they are established. Vinca does well in shady areas of the garden but will tolerate some bright sunlight. You can also plant the vinca in an area that receives filtered sunlight. Vinca is drought-tolerant once the roots are established. For new plants, water well during periods of drought. Feed the new vinca with a diluted all-purpose plant food the first year. Once the plant is established in the second year, there is no need for special attention other than pruning.