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How to take aster cuttings

How to take aster cuttings

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Friday, 28 June 2019 at 8:11 am

Increase your stock of nectar-rich asters by taking cuttings – we show you how.

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Nectar-rich asters, also known as Michaelmas daisies, provide a boost for late-flying bees and butterflies.

Cuttings are a cheap and easy way to get more of these plants. Once taken, they'll grow over the next 12 months and be ready to flower next autumn, which is when the availability of nectar starts to diminish.

Take care of your cuttings by keeping them moist but not overwatered, as fungal infection will cause them to rot. Remove any that turn brown to protect the rest.

Not growing asters? Discover 12 of the best Michaelmas daises to grow.

Follow these easy steps to take cuttings from your asters.

You Will Need

Secateurs or a sharp knife
Plant
Small pots
Free-draining compost
Horticultural grit

Step 1

Stripping the lower leaves of the aster cuttings

Take non-flowering shoots only, and make sure they're healthy and pest free. Take more than you need. Strip the lower leaves using a knife or fingernails.

Step 2

Cutting the stem of the cutting

With a sharp tool, make a clean cut across the stem below a leaf node. Stems will root at this junction. Nip out the growing tips if they're very soft.

Step 3

Adding horticultural grit to the surface of the compost

Fill a 10-12cm pot with gritty compost, then take five cuttings and push them in until the first leaves are at the same height as the edge. Finish with a layer of grit.

Dividing asters

As well as cuttings, you can also divide asters in spring to prevent flower quality from diminishing. Find out how to divide asters.

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