The goose cress is one of the most popular rock plants. We would like to explain to you here how you can easily propagate the plant. There are three different ways to do this.
Anyone who wants an easy-care plant that can also cope with poor soil, rewards us with rich flowers and also grows where it previously seemed impossible, will no longer want to do without the goose cress. As an early bloomer, the fast-growing cruciferous plant brings life to the dreary garden bed as early as April. So why not ensure that the pretty cushion perennials can settle in other areas of the garden by propagating the plant. In the following you will find out how the goose cress can be propagated and what needs to be considered.
Propagation possible with three variants
Propagation can take place in several ways:
❶ Cuttings
❷ Seeds
❸ Division
All ways of propagation are easy to carry out and offer you a very high guarantee of success.
❖ Propagation by cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is widespread. The method costs you little effort and promises a high guarantee of success.
Time:
Summer is the right time to take cuttings. Then the cuttings can still grow well before winter and form enough roots.
Procedure:
❶ Cut cutting
❷ Prepare cutting
❸ Plant cutting
❹ Water cutting
A cutting is a shoot that is cut from the plant. The goose cress forms aerial runners, which makes it easier to obtain cuttings. The length of the cuttings should be about 15 centimeters. Before the cutting is planted, the leaves must be removed from the lower part of the shoot. Leaving the leaves on the cutting may result in rot after planting. If the cuttings are cut in the summer, they can be planted directly in the ground outdoors and you don't have to grow them indoors.
The planting depth of the cuttings should be about five centimetres. After planting is the cuttingadequate watering for proper growth. The cuttings should have formed sufficient roots by autumn.
» Tip: Young plants can be given a light winter protection from leaves and brushwood as a precaution.
❖ Propagation by seeds
Propagating goose cress by seed requires a little more patience. After flowering, the plants develop pods. These contain the seeds. Anyone who already owns a plant will easily be able to obtain seeds for targeted propagation. Goose cress seeds can of course also be purchased if you do not yet have your own plants.
Procedure:
❶ Gain seeds
❷ Scatter seeds
❸ Cover seeds with soil
❹ Keep seeds moist
❺ Wait for germination
After the seeds have been obtained, they can be spread on the potting soil in the planter. Then cover the seeds lightly with soil. Germination can be accelerated by covering the planter with a foil or glass cover.
» Tip: Covers over the planting bowl should be ventilated regularly so that the seeds don't start to get mouldy.
The seeds get a light window seat at room temperature and are kept evenly moist. Germination will start after a few weeks.
After germination:
The seedlings are kept evenly moist. If several cotyledons appear, the young plants can be transplanted into separate planters. You can also plant the plants outdoors. However, when winter sets in early, there is a risk that the young plants will be damaged because a sufficiently stable root system has not yet developed.
It is better to overwinter the young plants indoors and only plant them outdoors in the coming spring.
❖ Propagation by Division
Propagation by division is a particularly simple and uncomplicated method. You do need a well developed plant though.
Procedure:
❶ Take the plant out of the ground
❷ Check the root ball
❸ Divide the root ball
❹ Transplant individual sections separately
❺ Cultivate as usual
In order to be able to divide the plant, the goose cress must first be completely removed from the ground. The best time to divide the plants is late summer. Once you have taken the plants out of the ground, you should first take a closer look at the roots. If there are dead or wilted parts of the plant, they should be removed first.Put only he althy pieces of root back into the soil. Now the root ball is divided with a sharp spade. Depending on the size of the plant, you can win several new plants.
The individual sections are now replanted at the desired location. You will immediately receive a full-fledged plant, which will be cultivated as usual.
» Tip: To ensure that the plant grows well after division, it should be watered regularly in the first few weeks.
Propagation methods with their advantages and disadvantages
| Propagation method | Advantages | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Propagation by cuttings | ✔ Propagation by cuttings is simple and uncomplicated. ✔ With this proven method, a high growth guarantee is assumed. | ✘ A plant must already exist. |
| Sowing | ✔ The seeds can be obtained easily. ✔ Numerous plants can be grown with little effort. | ✘ If there is no plant, the seeds must be purchased. ✘ The method requires some patience. |
| Division | ✔ You get full-fledged plants straight away. ✔ The division is done quickly. ✔ The roots can be easily controlled during the division. | ✘ Sufficiently developed plants should be present. ✘ The division of the rootstock means stress for the plant. |