How to Propagate Plumbago

Propagate Plumbago Stem Cuttings

• 1

  Prepare the propagation medium before taking the cutting. Fill a planting pot with sand, moisten it and use a pencil or stick to poke a planting hole for the plumbago cutting.

• 2

  Cut a semi-hardwood plumbago stem from the plant. This type of stem is just beginning to mature and is usually green at the tip and more mature at the other end. Cut it at a slant, 1/2 inch below a node.

• 3

  Shorten the stem to 4 inches, discarding the part toward the tip and retaining the portion with the slanted bottom. Clip off all the foliage but two leaves at the tip of the stem.

• 4

  Dip the stem into rooting hormone solution for 30 seconds. Make sure that the node on the bottom of the cutting is covered with the solution.

• 5

  Stick the plumbago stem into the prepared hole, slanted end down. Bury the stem to within 1 inch of the leaves. Place the pot in a shady area, and keep the sand moist at all times. When the stem produces new foliage you will know it has roots. At that time, begin giving it increasing amounts of direct sun over the course of two weeks.

Propagate Plumbago Seeds

• 6

  Fill the germination pot or flat with sterile seed-starting mix.

• 7

  Place the plumbago seeds on the surface of the medium and cover them with a 1/8-inch layer of sand.

• 8

  Place the container on a heat mat, set to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't allow the soil to dry during germination. Seeds germinate within two weeks.

Propagate Plumbago Root Cuttings

• 9

  Fill a pot with equal parts coarse sand, peat moss and shredded bark. Moisten the mixture until it is drenched, and allow it to drain while you take the plumbago root cutting.

• 10

  Take the root cutting in late winter or early spring. Carefully dig into the soil at least 30 inches from the base of the plumbago. Stop digging when you hit roots, and use your hands to brush the soil from the roots.

• 11

  Cut a 2- to 6-inch length of the largest root you find. Replace the soil over the mother plant's roots.

• 12

  Lay the root section horizontally on top of the soil and cover it with 1 inch of soil. Keep the soil slightly moist while the root cutting sprouts.