How to Grow a Geranium Tree

Combine equal measures perlite, coir and coarse sand in a 1-gallon nursery pot. Trickle water over the components while combining them until the mixture feels moderately moist.

Firm the soil mixture to even the surface. Poke a 3- to 4-inch-deep hole in the center of the mix using your finger or a slender dibble.

Harvest a suitable cutting from an existing geranium tree. Look for a 6- to 8-inch-long shoot at the tip of a healthy branch. Select one with a diameter no greater than 1/4 inch.

Sever the cutting 1/4 inch below a set of leaves. Make the cut at an extreme angle using pruning shears or a sharp budding knife.

Strip off all the foliage from the lower half of the geranium tree cutting. Pull each leaf back against its natural growth direction.

Twirl the base of the cutting in 0.1-percent IBA rooting talc so the lowest 3 inches is completely coated. Tap the stem to knock loose the excess.

Stick the base of the geranium tree cutting into the hole in the rooting pot. Push soil in around the stem to squeeze out any trapped air.

Set the potted geranium tree cutting outdoors in a warm, sheltered spot with bright yet indirect sunlight. Avoid exposing the cutting to direct sunlight for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Drizzle 1 to 2 cups of water around the base of the geranium tree cutting whenever the soil feels dry. Maintain light to moderate moisture at a 2-inch depth.

Check for roots in 25 to 30 days. Grip the cutting at the base and carefully lift it from the soil mixture. Feel for resistance to the movement, which indicates successful rooting.

Keep the geranium tree sapling in the nursery container until it begins to set new leaves. Transplant it into a permanent bed with fertile, draining soil and full to partial sun.