Daily gardening tip · Northern hemisphere · Monday 2 November 2026
Propagate Phlox or Poppies Using Root Cuttings
Taking root cuttings while perennial plants rest over the coming weeks is a reliable way to grow new, identical plants for free.
30 minutesmoderatepropagation
Where winters are cold and plants have died back above ground, dig up a mature phlox or oriental poppy clump.
Wash the soil off the roots to clearly see what you are working with.
Select healthy, pencil-thick roots and cut a few off near the base of the main plant.
Replant the main clump back in the garden bed right away.
Cut the collected roots into 5cm sections, making a straight cut at the top end and a slanted cut at the bottom end.
Insert the cuttings upright into pots of gritty compost with the straight cut at the top, level with the soil surface, and keep them moist in a sheltered place.
Why it works
Root cuttings work because thick perennial roots store energy over cold months and contain dormant buds that spring into growth as temperatures rise.
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