How to Propagate Gerbera Daisy Plants From Cuttings

Gerbera daisies produce large, colourful, long-lasting blooms that will grow either in the garden or in pots. For the quickest results, take basal cuttings from new shoots in the spring. The shoots will root quickly and produce plants much sooner than if you start from seeds, which can take weeks to sprout.

Locate the base of the host plant where the new shoots are just emerging in the spring. Move some of the soil away gently to expose as much of the plant's root crown as you can.

Select a new shoot or small branch at the base, or root crown, of the plant where older growth is attached. These are a lighter, more delicate colour than the older growth, and often have just a few new leaves on them. Make a cut into the base under the shoot to loosen it, taking a small amount of the crown material, about 1/2 inch, from which new roots will form. Cutting too deeply could damage the host plant's roots. Move the soil back over the crown at the base of the host plant.

Prepare a tray of growing medium composed of loam, organic matter and sand. Dip each cutting into a rooting hormone and place into the growing medium, being careful not to crowd the shoots. Pull some of the soil up gently against the base of the cuttings to secure them.

Water the cuttings gently and place cling film over the tray. Leave the plastic on until roots form or the shoots resist if you pull on them gently.

Lift the cuttings out of the growing medium and transplant into individual containers such as peat pots or other small plant containers. Use the same growing medium to replant the cuttings, and put them in a shady area until new leaves appear, which indicates that the new plants are well-established.

Transfer the new plants to a sunny spot in the garden or to larger pots in a sunny location. Keep them moist but do not overwater.