Starting Lantana in Water

Timing

• The best time to take a cutting from a lantana plant is in late spring after the first flush of blooms. This is when it is easiest to identify healthy new growth.

Identifying New Growth

• Look for new green growth on the lantana plant to use as a cutting. The growth should be well hydrated and firm to the touch. It should not be woody. This new growth is known as softwood. The desired stem should be long enough that it retains three leaf sets when snipped. It should not contain a new flower bud struggling to open; such budding puts stress on the cutting while it is trying to root.

Taking the Cutting

• The sharper the cutting tool, the better, because a sharp blade does not crush the lantana stem and prevent water and nutrient uptake. Snip the stem just above the fourth leaf set, counting downward from the top of the stem. If you are taking multiple cuttings, it is a good idea to immediately place each cutting in water so that they stay hydrated before processing for rooting.

Starting in Water

• Once the lantana stem is free of the plant, snip it back to just below the third set of leaves and snip off this third set where the leaves attach to the stem. Put enough water in a small glass container so that the stem is covered to just under the second set of leaves when it is placed in the container. Use a glass container so that you can see when the water level, which should remain constant, is low. Set the glass in a brightly lit area where there is no draft and the temperature remains 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Refresh the water every two to three days, gently washing off any accumulated slime on the stem by allowing a small stream of water to run over the part of the stem that was submerged. Do not scrub the stem, which may damage new root growth.

Planting the Start

• Within three weeks you should see roots begin to form where the lantana stem was cut. If the stem turns black, throw it away and try again; this stem has rotted and will not grow. Once roots form on the cutting that are 1/2 to 1 inch long, gently place the rooted end of the stem in a 4-inch-wide flowerpot that has good drainage and sterile potting soil. Keep the potting soil damp but not soaking wet, and place the pot in a brightly lit window for two to three weeks. After the cutting is actively growing, acclimate the plant by exposing it to direct sun for longer periods each day, beginning with 15 minutes, until it can stay in the sun for an hour and not wilt. Plant the new lantana plant in the garden in a full-sun to partial-shade location.