Pansies from Cuttings

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23879, 1 February 1941, Page 7 (Supplement)

Pansies from Cuttings

|?NTH fSIASTS who already possess a stock of pansies will no doubt have some of which they are particularly proud and which they would like to propagate. With such plants, the next month or two is a good time to make a start. Cut back all straggly growths, at the same time removing the flowers. This will encourage the formation of strong, voting shoots from the base, whiclf will make the idea! type of cutting. Those about the thickness of a slate pencil, provided they show no trace of hollowness in the stem are ideal, and should be taken about two to three inches in length. Ihe cuttings are trimmed in the usual manner, the bottom leaves are removed, and they are cut off immediately below a joint with a sharp knife.

Keeping Choice Strains

In the meantime prepare a cutting bed in a frame. In it, the cuttings can be dibbled in rows lour inches apart, allowing three .inches between the cutting:! in the rows. .11' the frame is kept closed, it will not be long before topgrowth evidences the fact that roots have been formed, when increasing quantities of air can be admitted. Like seedlings, cuttings rooted now will make ideal plants for putting out in their flowering quarters in the autumn. Although it is a long time yet before planting will even be contemplated, a word on the preparation of the soil will not be amiss. There are few home gardeners who realise the absolute need for deep and thorough digging with all members of the pansy and viola family. The plants are naturally deep rooting; they will, if given a chance, quite easily delve down to two or three feet. What is more, they have an abhorrence of

parched soil conditions. It is only by deep digging that they can be given nn opportunity of rooting down away from the influence of parching sunshine. Partial collapse of plants in summer is invariably due to shallow and insufficient preparation of the soil.