When taking cuttings from passion flowers you have the choice between taking softwood cuttings (which you can take in spring), or semi-ripe cuttings, and these you can take in autumn. You will be pleased to hear that both cuttings are fairly easy to get to root and grow. Once you have taken your cutting, it can either be taken and kept in a propagator or, if you don’t have access to a propagator, simply cover them with a clear plastic bag over the pot.

In this guide I will explain the difference between the two types of cutting, and how to take and grow each of them.

Taking softwood cuttings from passion flowers

Softwood cuttings are taken from the soft and new young shoot tips of your passion flower. These cuttings are more likely to rot off (in comparison to semi-ripe cuttings), however, the level of success, if done correctly, is usually good. They are the first cuttings you can take from your passion flower and they appear in spring and summer (April to June) and are the current year’s new growth. They take root easily and grow quickly.

I always recommend that you water the plants you are going to take a cutting from the day before to make sure they are well hydrated because it gives them the best chance of success.

Taking the cuttings

1. Clean your pruning shears or garden scissors.
2. Go out early in the morning (when the plant is still full of water and firm).
3. Choose shoots that don’t have flowers on them.
4. Cut off a shoot and make the cut above a bud on the plant.
5. Place all the cuttings in a plastic bag. If you can’t prepare the cuttings for planting at this time, place the bag in the fridge. Personally, I always make sure I can plant any cuttings I take straight away.

Preparing the cuttings

1. Trim each cutting below a node at the bottom end so that it’s 5cm to 10cm long.
2. Take off the lower leaves and pinch off the soft tip.
3. Dip the base of the cutting in hormone rooting liquid or powder (optional but recommended).

Scroll down to ‘All Cutting’ to carry on with the guide for potting up your cuttings

Taking semi-ripe cuttings

These are cuttings that are taken from stems on your passion flower that have grown this season, with July to September being the best time to take these. The best stems to take cuttings from will have a firm base and a soft tip. You will be pleased to know these semi-ripe cuttings also root quickly.

Taking the cuttings

1. Clean your pruning shears or garden scissors.
2. Go out early in the morning (when the plant is still full of water and firm).
3. Choose shoots that don’t have flowers on them.
4. Cut off 20cm of a shoot and make the cut above a bud on the plant.
5. Place all the cuttings in a plastic bag. If you can’t prepare the cuttings for planting at this time, place the bag in the fridge.

Preparing the cuttings

• Trim each cutting, cutting just below a leaf node at the bottom so that it’s 10cm to 15cm in length.
• Remove the lowest leaves and pinch off the soft tip. Leave about four leaves on the stem. If the leaves are large, cut them in half because this reduces water loss.
• Dip the base of the cutting in hormone rooting liquid or powder (optional but recommended).

All cuttings

Potting up your cuttings

1. Prepare a tray with a seed/cutting compost or multi-purpose compost. Mix in some sand or perlite to ensure there is good drainage.
2. Make holes in the compost and put the base of the cutting into each hole. Make sure that the first pair of leaves on the cutting is just above the surface.
3. When you’ve planted all the tray, water everything from above.
4. Cover the pots with a plastic bag and seal them, or place them inside a propagator with a lid.
5. If you have used a plastic bag, make several slits in the bag to let in the air.

Looking after your cuttings

Place the tray in warm and sunny spot, making sure that it receives indirect sunlight. Make sure the sunlight is diffused.

Keep the compost moist until the cuttings take root. This should be in two to four weeks. Make sure to remove any diseased or dead cuttings when you notice them to avoid any diseases spreading to your other cuttings.

If you notice a build-up of moisture in the bag, open it up for a while to decrease the humidity inside. If you have them in a propagator, you can open the vents to improve airflow. Once the cuttings have rooted, harden them off for about two weeks. Then pot them individually into new pots and grow them on further, I usually use 9cm/6 inch pots. I usually plant them outdoors the following spring and keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame over winter.

You can learn more about growing passion flowers here and if you want to grow them in pots you can see my guide on growing passion flowers in pots.

When it comes to pests and diseases, I also discuss these here, and although not essential, you can learn how to prune them here.

Passion flowers can also suffer from yellowing leaves and wilting which I have also covered in this guide.

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