Last updated on March 21st, 2022
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Taking semi-hardwood cuttings from Passionflowers is the easiest way to propagate from plants you already have without any special skills or equipment. You can also take softwood cuttings a little earlier in the season, although we recommend waiting a little longer and taking semi-hardwood cuttings instead.
When to take Passionflower Cuttings
Semi-ripe cuttings are taken from the current season’s growth and they should be taken at such a time that the base of the cutting remains hard but the tip remains soft. This is where the semi-ripe cutting gets its name. This particular type of cutting is often available at the end of summer all the way through until the middle of autumn.
When taking your cutting you should avoid using any damaged or otherwise unhealthy parts of the plant, and only stick to those shoots that have the appropriate gaps between the leaves. If you take a cutting before the middle of summer, it is considered a softwood cutting because the entire thing will be incredibly flexible and soft. By comparison, if you take one after the middle of autumn when the entire shoot is hard that is considered a hardwood cutting. With Passionflowers, you want to hit this middle spot right in between the two.
How to take Cuttings
Step 1
Once you find a piece of healthy stem that has no damage, no pests, and no diseases, you want to take clean, sharp pruning secateurs or scissors that have been properly sanitised and use them to take the cutting.
You should take the cutting in the morning so that it doesn’t wilt. The basic type of cutting requires you to select a piece of approximately 10-15cm in length and then cut just below a leaf.
Step 2
Once you have the cutting put it in a plastic bag right away and keep that bag somewhere shaded or in your refrigerator until you are ready to put it in the pot. You should aim to place your cuttings directly into a pot within at least 12 hours of taking them, but there is no time better than straight away.
Compost for planting Passionflower cuttings in – available from Amazon.co.uk
Step 3
Prepare your cuttings by trimming them so that all of the lowest set of leaves are removed, and when you are ready, place them in the pots of cutting compost mixed with 50% grit for improved drainage. There should be approximately four leaves remaining. Take the opposite end and dip it in fresh, hormone rooting powder to help the root system to establish itself and to thwart away any root rot.
Step 4
When you are ready, insert the cuttings into an appropriately-sized container or small pots. Water them thoroughly and allow the water to drain, just as enough that the entirety of the pot is moist. You can place your cuttings in a greenhouse or simply cover them with a plastic bag and put them somewhere with warm, indirect sunlight.
The goal here is to keep the compost damp without remaining too moist. You may have better results and get them to root sooner by using a heated propagator where you can also control the airflow and have consistent bottom heat, ideally, you want to set the heated propagator to around 18-24C (64-75F) if possible.
Heated propagators that are suitable for Passionflower cuttings
Step 5
Once the root system is established (something you can test by giving a gentle tug and finding the resistance) you can transplant them into larger containers until it is time to move them to their permanent home.
