Heuchera, commonly known as Coral Bells, are popular perennial plants prized for their diverse and colorful foliage that offers year-round texture in the garden. Although generally low-maintenance, mature plants often develop a woody, leggy stem over time, causing the dense crown of leaves to push up out of the soil. When a Heuchera looks less vigorous, develops a bare center, or produces fewer leaves, propagation is an effective way to rejuvenate the plant and increase your stock while ensuring the new plants are genetically identical to the parent.
Optimal Timing and Necessary Supplies
The most successful periods for propagating Heuchera are early spring, just as new growth begins, or early autumn, several weeks before the first hard frost. These seasons offer cooler temperatures and consistent moisture, which reduces stress on the plant material and encourages rapid root development. Propagating during the heat of summer can lead to desiccation and failure.
A successful propagation effort requires several basic tools. For division, use a garden spade or fork to lift the mother plant, and a sharp, sterilized knife or pruners to separate the woody crown material. For basal cuttings, a fine-tipped, sharp blade is necessary. You will also need a well-draining potting medium (such as peat, perlite, and sand) and a plant hormone powder to stimulate root growth.
Step-by-Step Guide to Division
Division is the simplest and most common method for rejuvenating older Heuchera plants, which often need dividing every three to five years. Begin by carefully digging up the entire mother plant, using a spade to cut a circle about six inches away from the crown to avoid damaging the shallow root system. Once lifted, gently shake off the excess soil to clearly see the root structure and multiple rosettes.
The healthy, viable sections are located around the perimeter of the clump, where the growth is fresh and vigorous. Look for small, individual rosettes that have their own cluster of roots attached, which can be separated by hand or cut away with a sharp knife. The central portion of a very old plant is often woody, dry, and rootless; this part should be discarded as it will not regrow.
Each division must have at least a few healthy shoots and a substantial mass of fibrous roots for quick establishment. These newly separated plants are ready for immediate replanting into the garden or individual pots.
Alternative Method: Basal Cuttings
Propagating Heuchera using basal cuttings is an alternative method that creates new plants without disturbing the entire parent clump. This method is useful when a gardener wants to produce many new plants from a single parent or if the plant is too small for full division. A basal cutting is a small, single rosette taken from the side of the main crown, typically without existing roots.
To take a cutting, select a healthy, young side shoot and use a clean, sharp blade to cut the stem just below a leaf node, ideally including a small sliver of the main stem, called a “heel.” The cutting should be two to four inches long. Remove most of the large leaves to reduce water loss, allowing the cutting to focus energy on root production.
Dip the prepared stem into rooting hormone powder to increase the speed of root formation. Insert the cutting into a sterile, porous medium, such as perlite and coarse sand, so the remaining leaves are just above the soil line. Placing a clear plastic bag or dome over the pot creates a humid environment conducive to rooting, which usually occurs within four to six weeks.
Establishing New Plants
Immediate and correct aftercare is necessary for the survival and establishment of both divided sections and rooted cuttings. Divisions should be replanted at the same depth they were previously growing, ensuring the crown sits right at the soil surface, as burying it can lead to rot. They require well-draining soil rich in organic matter, and the area around the new plant should be gently firmed down.
Watering immediately after planting settles the soil around the roots and must be followed by consistently moist conditions. New divisions and cuttings must not be allowed to dry out while their root systems are forming. Placing the newly planted Heuchera in temporary shade or filtered light for the first few weeks minimizes transplant shock and prevents foliage scorching.
Once the new plants are established, signaled by the emergence of new leaves, the watering frequency can be reduced. This new growth typically appears within a few weeks for divisions and a few months for basal cuttings.