Propagate diascia from a non-flowering tip. Stick it in moist perlite, keep it humid, and wait until roots show.
Take a non-flowering tip
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring through summer, whenever you have a soft, non-flowering shoot | Do not wait until the stems are woody and flowered out |
| Wood | A 2 to 4 inch tip cut just below a node | Do not take a flowering stem and leave it intact |
| Mix | Moist perlite, or a mix that is at least half perlite | Do not stick the cutting in packed garden soil |
| Air | A clear bag or dome, out of direct sun, with a little vent if the plastic sweats | Do not cook the cutting on a hot windowsill in a sealed bag |
diascia roots easily from a soft tip. Shop hybrids rarely match the parent if you sow their seed, so a cutting is the usual way to keep a named plant. [1] This species also takes cuttings: softwood in spring, slightly firmer wood in summer. [2] A flowering stem roots poorly because the plant is already spending that shoot on bloom. Pick a leafy tip with no buds. Sun and watering stay on How to Grow Diascia. Planting a rooted pot out after frost stays on Planting Diascia.
When do I take diascia cuttings?
In spring or summer, whenever you have a soft, non-flowering shoot. Late summer cuttings can overwinter in a frost-free spot and go out after frost.
How to root a diascia cutting
Work with a clean, sharp snip. Rooting hormone helps, but it is not required on this plant.
- Cut a 2 to 4 inch non-flowering tip just below a node. Slip it into a bag so it does not dry out.
- Strip the lower leaves and the soft tip, and leave two to four leaves. [3]
- Stick the stem into moist perlite, or a mix that is at least half perlite. Water lightly.
- Cover with a clear bag out of direct sun. Vent the bag if moisture beads on the plastic. Keep the mix just moist until roots show, often in two to four weeks. [4]
- Pot each rooted cutting on, then keep it cool and frost-free until you plant it out after frost.
Will a named hybrid come true from seed?
Usually not. Take a cutting if you want the same plant. Seed is for the species when you have ripe capsules.
If a cutting wilts, take a shorter non-flowering tip, keep the mix just moist, and move it out of hot sun.
FAQ
Can I divide a clump?
A crowded perennial crown can be teased apart in spring, but a fresh cutting makes a cleaner plant. Division is not the usual start.
Can I overwinter the cuttings?
Yes. Keep rooted pots in a bright, frost-free place that is not hot, and water only enough to keep the mix from drying out. Plant them out after frost.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
This note is part of Diascia Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors