Aristolochia is a surprising liana with ample and abundant foliage, valued for its ability to quickly cover any support provided to it. With a distinctly exotic appearance, it adorns itself in early summer with original pipe-shaped flowers in a purplish hue speckled or veined with cream. This climbing plant can form a beautiful bush of 5 to 8 m in all directions in just a few years, making it ideal for greening a wall, a fence, a tree trunk, or simply for dressing up a gazebo or pergola. To propagate Aristolochia, summer cuttings are the most common method. Discover when and how to easily propagate Aristolochia with our illustrated tutorial!

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The unusual foliage and flower of Aristolochia

When to propagate Aristolochia ?

You can take stem cuttings in summer from herbaceous shoots. The warm season is the most favourable for making "under glass" cuttings, as the heat promotes rooting.

How to make under glass cuttings of Aristolochia ?

We recommend taking between 4 and 6 cuttings to optimise your chances of success.

  • Start by choosing a healthy and robust stem, preferably one that has not yet flowered
  • Place a layer of clay balls at the bottom of the pot(s)
  • Using sterilised pruning shears, take sections of stems 15 to 20 cm long with 2 or 3 nodes
  • Cut just below a node, that is, below a leaf
  • Remove the lower leaves and keep half of the upper leaves on the stems to avoid unnecessary evaporation that can deplete the cuttings
  • Optionally dip the ends of the stems in plant hormone
  • Insert them three-quarters into a mixture of potting soil, soil, and sand that is moist, spacing them 5 cm apart
  • Place the pot(s) under glass and in a warm location. To do this, cover the pot with a transparent plastic bag or a mini greenhouse to create a humid environment. This is important as it helps maintain a high level of humidity around the cutting.
  • Keep the cuttings out of direct sunlight
  • Using a spray bottle, ensure to water regularly but moderately to maintain humidity without rotting the cuttings
  • After 2 to 3 months, when the cuttings are sufficiently rooted, repot your young plants into larger pots
  • Keep your cuttings in a greenhouse or in a bright, unheated room during winter
  • Transplant them into the ground the following spring when they are strong enough.
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Necessary materials :

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