How to take softwood penstemon cuttings
Find out how to propagate fresh stock of penstemons, by taking softwood cuttings.
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Summer is an ideal time to take softwood cuttings from penstemons. These will root quickly to give you new plants for next year's border. Select non-flowering shoots from the plants, cutting them off first thing in the morning.
Discover how to take penstemon cuttings, below.
You Will Need
- Penstemon
- Secateurs
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
- 10cm pot
- Clear polythene bags
Total time: 15 minutes
Step 1
![Cutting the penstemon stem Cutting the penstemon stem](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/c4bd9019-24a4-427b-b81c-7c8c92183c03-13782b3.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Use sharp secateurs to cut just below a leaf joint, about 10cm from the tip of your shoot. Then, strip off the lower leaves.
Step 2
![Penstemon cuttings in compost Penstemon cuttings in compost](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/ad1ececb-5371-4865-ba1e-157a66a909be-6240fd1.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Insert the cuttings into compost around the edges of the pot, where drainage is better.
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Step 3
![Watering the penstemon cuttings Watering the penstemon cuttings](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/951fcc78-ca67-449a-b670-d914cc05aecb-1ea85e7.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)
Water well and keep the cuttings in humid conditions, such as inside a plastic bag.
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