Transplanting Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower Plants

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CBernard Perris, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 07, 2007

Hi, everybody!! I just tried to propagate Pincushion Flower plants (Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue') basically treating them like cuttings. Aren't they actually propagated by runners? The original three plants of this have been the anchor plant for my butterflies and the native bees.

I tried four pots (about five inches tall) with six plants to be transplanted. I prepared the soil mixture that I have been informed to use with cuttings. I covered them with Saran Wrap which I changed every day to allow a breathing spell. Only two of the pots made it (four plants however).

My question is this: Does anyone know of an easier way to transplant the runners? Can I just transplant the plants from its original place to another location or should I start them in a pot? I am in Zone 18 or 19 according to Sunset Western Garden Book which basically means that we get a few more days freezing weather than some of the other places in Southern California. However these plants bloom all year around.

Good luck with your gardening!!!

Thanks,

Chuck

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JasperDale Long Beach, CA(Zone 10a) Sep 11, 2007

Chuck,
I've made many cuttings of these Scabiosa . You can't really take the long runners and expect the whole thing to root. Try taking tip cuttings (no flr. heads) about 4" long. Pull off the foliage on the bottom half so that at least 2 leaf nodes are exposed. Use a rooting hormone like Rootone and apply it to the bottom half of the cuttings....they'll root much faster.

I don't bother covering them. They seem to root fine for me without doing that, but it probably won't hurt. Once they root, they grow like crazy.

Follow the directions on the rooting hormone. You don't want to knock it off when planting the cuttings.

Post #3961616
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JasperDale Long Beach, CA(Zone 10a) Sep 11, 2007

Forgot to add...I wouldn't try to move an established plant, as you may lose it. Just try the cutting route.

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CBernard Perris, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 12, 2007

Thanks for the info!!! Can I use Dip n Gro instead? I got a little ahead of myself and tried digging up one of the plants (I don't remember if I told you that there are three of them). It was a complete disaster.

I plan on following your info to the 'T'.

Thanks again,

Chuck

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