Make more delphiniums

When to take cuttings

You can make new plants by taking cuttings from the sturdy shoots that appear at the base of the plant in spring.

What to do

Making a basal stem cutting

• Choose new shoots, about 7.5cm (3in) long and remove them with a knife, cutting right through their firm base tissue.
• Make a straight cut under a leaf joint and strip away the lower leaves so half of the cutting consists of bare stem.
• Dip the base of each cutting into hormone rooting powder to prevent rotting and to encourage roots to grow.
• Push several cuttings around the edge of a pot filled with compost, taking care not to cover the base of leaf stalks.
• If you're taking cuttings of several varieties, label and water well.
• Put pot into a windowsill propagator or cover with a plastic bag held securely with an elastic band.
• Leave for a few weeks until the cuttings have rooted.

Aftercare

• When roots appear at the bottom of the pot, remove bag or take out of propagator.
• Ease off the pot and gently tease the cuttings apart, keeping as much compost as possible around the roots.
• Put each rooted cutting into large, individual pots until they're strong enough to plant out into your border..

Tip: This technique can be used on other perennials that grow in a similar way, such as chrysanthemums and lupins.

Five to try

• Delphinium 'Black Knight' - dark blue
• D. 'Summer Skies' - sky blue
• D. 'Astolat' - lilac pink
• D. 'Galahad' - white
• D. 'King Arthur' - violet blue