How to Get Cuttings of a Mosquito Shoo Geranium to Root

"Mosquito shoo" is a variety of geranium also known as the mosquito plant or citrosa geranium. Its leaves contain citronella oil, which is a proven insect repellent used in anti-mosquito candles. Mosquito shoo may be effective if the leaves are crushed and rubbed against the skin but the plant itself does not repel mosquitoes, according to The University of Iowa's Richard Jauron. Like all geraniums, the mosquito shoo geranium can be easily propagated from cuttings.

Sharp knife or scissors
Hormone rooting powder
Sand
Perlite
Seed tray
Compost
4-inch pots

Instructions

- 1
  Take cuttings from your mosquito shoo geranium in the fall at least a month before the first frost. Use a mother plant that is thriving and free from disease. Keep its soil barely moist for several weeks prior to taking cuttings.
- 2
  Remove the end 3 or 4 inches from strong stems using a sharp, sterile knife or pair of scissors. Remove the bottom leaves from each cutting, leaving those at the tip. Dip the cut ends into commercially available hormone rooting powder.
- 3
  Plant your cuttings in a shallow tray containing damp sand or an equal mixture of sand and perlite. Plant each cutting at a depth of 1 1/2 inches. Cover the container with a transparent plastic bag to maintain humidity levels. Place in a bright spot that receives indirect sunshine such as a west facing windowsill. Remove the bag to replace the air inside once a week.
- 4
  Remove the bag and move your cuttings to a sunny windowsill once a gentle tug indicates that roots have begun to form. Keep the soil only barely moist to prevent fungal disease. Re-pot each cutting into individual 4-inch containers and free-draining compost once new growth starts to appear. Fertilize your growing cuttings every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer.

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