My primulas (primroses) do a pretty good job of self-seeding to propagate themselves, I have discovered, but to ensure plenty of new primulas for next year and later this season, I am experimenting with leaf propagating them.
1. Cut a strong, healthy leaf from your primula.
2. Flip over the leaf and look at how the veins grow upwards and out from the center vein.
3. Use sharp scissors or a blade to divide the leaf into 3 pieces, being careful to cut in the same direction as the veins grow. You will have 3 "chevron"-like cuttings.4. Prepare potting soil to plant in.
5. Make a wide hole in the soil with a spoon or dibber.
6. Plant the leaf cuttings, pointed side down.7. Water well.
8. Place in bright location with indirect sunlight. Don't let the cuttings dry out.
9. Wait for new plantlets to grow from the leaf cuttings.UPDATE 06-15-2009:
The success rate of this form of propagation is very poor. None of them made it. The cuttings mostly got eaten by soil critters and died. On a happier note, each of my primulas has naturally divided into more plants, without any help from me. Hm... I guess I'll just let Nature do it's work when it comes to primulas.
Happy Gardening!
