Taking geranium cutting advice please...

[Nicos]

We have so far managed to save about 20 geraniums in the barn and I'm going to bring those indoors to grow on before taking cuttings as they only have a couple of healthy looking leaves at the moment.

I do however have a large one on the windowsill which I want to take cuttings from now.
can I only take the growing tips, or can I take a couple from each stem? What is the best length?
are they better started in a glass of water or direct into potting compost?

Any extra tips would be greatfully appreciated!
thank you

Oh...' geranium ' as in pelergonium..I can't get used to calling that still!(it doesn't help test all the garden centres here still call them geraniums!)

[veggiechicken]

This is what I do - but it won't be the recommended way.

I cut the leggy shoots down to a nice chunky bit with a side shoot. Then I poke the leggy bit in a hole that I make with my finger alongside the parent plant.
Today, I decided to give the cuttings a treat and filled a pot with new compost , poked holes round the edge with my finger and shoved the cuttings in.

One year I watched a video that showed how the professionals do it - but life's too short for that.

[DannyK]

Ideally you want the growing tip on 2 or 3 inches. But you've nothing to lose by trying lower stems.

I use very gritty compost. They mustn't be covered. Rooting powder not recommended.

[Paulie]

The cuttings should be 4-6 inches long. They like the potting medium kept on the dry side to reduce the risk of rotting off. So I usually mix compost with sand. For the same reason, putting the cuttings in water is not recommended. They should root in 4-6 weeks.

[rary]

When I take geranium cuttings they are usually two to three inches long remove from the plant and leave for a couple of hours to dry a bit, that's letting the fresh cut at the base "crust"over, and then pot up in an open compost, (free draining) alternatively you could put some of your over wintered plants into bigger pots buried up to the first or second branches to allow them to make root then cutting them off the main plant, and if you want to try getting two cuttings from the one branch try it, you will never know till you try

[Thelma Sanders]

and leave for a couple of hours to dry a bit, that's letting the fresh cut at the base "crust"over

That's what a Greek friend taught me to do before potting up in their sandy/gritty soil