Lantana – Staying Healthy

Q: I have a pink lantana that came back healthy after the last cold winter. How do I propagate it?

A: You could try rooting four-inch cuttings from the plant indoors. With winter fast approaching, you can’t do the process outdoors. Your biggest obstacle will be giving the cuttings enough light as they root. A sunny window ledge might suffice but check out my PVC light stand plans at http://www.walterreeves.com/how-to-archive/how-to-make-a-pvc-plant-light-stand/. Dust the ends of your cuttings with rooting hormone powder and stick a few into a six-inch pot filled with damp sand. Cover with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity. If things go well, the cuttings will be rooted in six weeks. You can divide them then and give each one a small pot in which to grow until spring arrives.