In March, it's time to sow or take cuttings indoors for several plants such as: annuals or perennials, vegetable plants, herbs, and even some houseplants to beautify the terrace, garden, and home. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil, parsley, chives, etc., are just a few examples of plants that need to be sown in containers indoors at this time of year. Spring is the time of year suitable for taking cuttings from certain houseplant species.
What you need to know... to succeed with your seedlings
A good seedling soil, light and well-draining, small containers with holes at the bottom (plastic, cardboard, or others), and quality seeds.
The seedling soil ensures good drainage, good air circulation, and allows particles to dry quickly to prevent damping-off (seedlings that fall over and die on the soil).
Photo credit: Fafard
For containers, small yogurt pots, egg cartons, or even 6 cm long toilet paper rolls are sufficient for successful seedlings. The important thing is that the pots used have one or more drainage holes at the bottom.
Transparent trays from croissants or donuts (depending on your taste 😊) will serve as mini indoor greenhouses, promoting good seed germination. Opt for organically grown seeds for edible plants. Quebec seed companies offer a wide variety of species and heirloom or harder-to-find cultivars in nursery plants.
Steps for success
- Carefully read the instructions on the seed packets
- Stratify or scarify the seeds if necessary
- Stratification: soak the seeds according to the seed company's instructions to soften the seed coat
- Scarification: mechanically break, with light sanding or a slight notch with a knife, the seed coat to promote germination. Houseplant seeds benefit from such treatment.
- Moisten the soil
- Fill the containers without compacting the soil
- Place 2 to 3 seeds per container
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, if necessary, and compact the soil
- Spray lukewarm water on the surface of the pots
- Place the containers in the mini-greenhouses. Open the lid from time to time to manage excess humidity.
The seeds do not need sunlight to germinate, just a good bottom heat. Heating mats for seed trays are available in many garden centers. Once the seeds have produced their true leaves (not the first two, as these are the cotyledons, but the subsequent ones), the seedlings should be transplanted. In moist soil, replant the young plants individually and expose them to natural or artificial light. At the end of May or early June, the seedlings can be placed in the garden or on the balcony.
Cloning your houseplants
To multiply certain plants by cuttings, you need, just like for seedlings, good cutting soil, small perforated containers, a good disinfected pruner, and a mini greenhouse.
There are several cutting methods, but the most used is the tip cutting. With your pruner, cut the stem above one or two leaves as close as possible to them. To be viable, the cutting must have at least 3 sets of leaves.
Shorten the cutting stem to bring it as close as possible to the last leaves (without touching them). Remove the lower leaves (where the leaves are attached). Make sure you have at least two nodes (bulges on the stem where the leaves were attached) exposed before placing your cutting in the soil.
Steps for plant multiplication
- Always take healthy cuttings
- Moisten the soil
- Apply rooting hormone 1, 2, or 3 depending on the type of cutting to the end of the stem (in very small quantities)
- Fill the containers without compacting the soil
- Make a hole in the soil and insert the cutting
- Press the soil firmly around the stem
- Water the soil with a spray bottle
- Place your containers in the mini greenhouse (open if necessary)
- Provide bottom heat to your cuttings
Happy indoor gardening!
Text: Hélène Baril – Horticulturist, lecturer & author
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