Perennials can be propagated in several ways: by division, from seeds and from cuttings. Although species come true from seed, not all named varieties do. Collect seed in the fall, and plant it in early spring. To collect seed, clip dried flowers from the plant, and place them in a paper envelope. Write the name of the plant and the date the seed was harvested on the envelope, then store it in a cool, dry place during the winter. In early spring fill a nursery flat with fresh potting soil (figure A), and water it well. Remove the flower heads from the envelope, and rub them gently between your palms over a piece of white paper. The seeds will fall onto the paper. Separate the seeds from the chaff, and return the seeds to the envelope for easy planting. Sprinkle seeds over the surface of the damp soil (figure B). Cover the seeds with only a light dusting of potting mix. Label the flats, listing the kind of seed sown and the date planted, then mist the flats with water. Place the flats in a warm, bright spot, and keep the potting mix moist. In a few days to a few weeks, depending on the plant, you should begin to see some growth. A better way of propagating named varieties is to root cuttings. Tip cuttings should be taken in early summer. Use soft end pieces 4" to 6" long, and remove all but two or three leaves at the tip. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone (figure C), and make a hole in damp sand with a chopstick or a pencil. Place the cutting carefully into the prepared hole. Make several cuttings to improve your chances of getting a viable one. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag to keep in the humidity (figure D), and use straws or chopsticks to prevent the bag from touching the plants. Place cuttings in an area with bright indirect light and warm temperatures. Keep the sand damp, and when you see new growth, you'll know you've been successful. Don't transplant the new plants into the soil until they're well established and it's evident that roots are supporting the new growth. If you can see roots growing from the bottom of the container, the cuttings are ready to be transplanted. Many perennials can also be propagated from root cuttings (figure E). Cut fleshy 3" pieces of root, and lay them horizontally in a rich potting medium. Cover the roots lightly with soil, and water them. This method works well for fibrous-rooted plants such as agapanthus and daylily.
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