Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
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There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own flowers. Whether you enjoy them as a cut flower display or love the look of the bees buzzing around the garden, there is just something magical about flowers.
And it’s easy to grow more, without buying more – yep, you read right! You can fill every nook and cranny and grow your own little backyard florist just by taking cuttings or propagating from your (or your neighbours!) existing flowers.
Get the gear:
- Sharp secateurs
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Hand mister filled with water
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Pencil
- Small Pot or planting tray
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Plastic bag or plastic dome made from an upturned drink bottle
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Selection of plants (Certain plants strike (or take root) easier than others. These include: dianthus, fushias, chrysanthemums, lavender and geraniums).
Before you start:
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Take cuttings early in the morning before the heat of the day.
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Cut off the stems or branches where most of the new growth is showing.
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If you are not going to propagate until later in the day, wrap the cut stems in lightly moistened newspaper and place into a refrigerator. Some cuttings can last 1-2 days in these conditions.
Let’s get propagating:
- Fill the base of the planting tray or pot with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and lightly moisten top with water.
- Using a pencil, poke evenly spaced holes in the mix for your cuttings.
- From the tip of your plant, measure approximately 10cm down and cut just below a node. Tip! Nodes are the slightly bulgy sections on the stems, where leaves appear. Cutting just below the node is where the roots will form.
- Remove lower leaves from the cutting, leaving a maximum of two leaves at the tip.
- Dip the end of the cutting into Yates Clonex Root Gel - Softwood and Semi-Hard Wood Purple, then insert the into the prepared holes. Lightly backfill and compact so the stems stay upright.
- Mist the leaves with water and cover with a plastic bag or dome.
- Position the plants in a spot where it will receive filtered light and is protected from the hot afternoon sun and strong winds.
- Mist regularly to keep up the humidity. Avoid watering from the base as this can cause rot.
- After a couple of weeks, check if your cuttings are ready by carefully pulling on them gently. If they are hard to remove, then they have taken well and can be transplanted into larger pots or planters. If there are no roots, but the cutting is not showing any signs of blackening or rot at the base, place it back into the soil, continue to mist well and check its progress every couple of weeks.
- Once your plants are full-grown, remember to feed them well with Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to boost their posy potential!
Yates Clonex Root Gel - Purple (Softwood and Semi-Hard Wood)
A gel hormone that promotes root growth in softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings for propagation.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Clonex Root Gel - Red (Hard Wood)
A gel hormone that promotes root growth in hardwood cuttings for propagation.
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