What Are Ways to Plant New Plants Without Planting Seeds?

Types of Propagation

• Sexual propagation occurs when a pollen fertilizes an egg in a flower, creating seeds. Sexual propagation avoids the transmission of some diseases and is the only way to create more of some types of plants. Plants created from sexual propagation are genetically different from their parents. Asexual propagation occurs when a plant regenerates a new plant, such as by planting a cutting. Plants created from asexual propagation are genetically identical to their parent plants.

Seedlings

• Planting seedlings is easier than planting seeds and gives you more control over the appearance of your flowerbed. Purchase flats of seedlings from garden centers or nurseries. Alternately, grow your own seedlings indoors until the danger of frost has passed and you can plant them inside. If you grow your own seedlings, plant them in individual cell flats to prevent roots from mixing.

Cuttings

• Cutting the leaf, stem or root of many plants will allow you to create new plants. Some plants will regenerate from cuttings at any time, while others must be cut in certain seasons. Cut with a sharp, clean blade to minimize injury and disease transmission, and place cuttings in vermiculite, perlite or other lightweight materials until they grow roots. Don't allow cuttings to dry out. Azalea, butterfly bush, lilac, wisteria, honeysuckle and many other plants can be propagated by cutting.

Division

• Plants that have more than one rooted crown, such as iris, day lilies, ferns, phlox and yucca, can be divided, creating new plants. Gently pull apart plants, if possible, or cut joined stems and roots with a sharp, clean blade. Divide plants that flower in the spring in the late summer, after flowering, and divide plants that flower in the summer or fall in early spring, before they flower.