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How To Propagate Creeping Jenny? 3 Different Methods!

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Creeping Jenny is a tough, easy to grow, woodland perennial with bright yellow flowers. It has bright green leaves and grows to about 3 inches tall.

Creeping Jenny likes moist soil to be used in the shade, water gardens, or near sprinklers. Because the plant is invasive in most parts of the United States, it is frequently grown in pots to control its exuberant growth.

Creeping Jenny, a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, can be easily established by cuttings taken in the spring and early summer. In this article, we will discuss how to propagate Creeping Jenny.

It is a good ground cover that can spread to form mats up to 4 feet in diameter. Creeping Jenny prefers part shade and likes soils with some organic matter.

It will tolerate light foot traffic once established if the soil remains moist. Because of how quickly it spreads, Creeping Jenny is generally regarded as a nuisance in the yard.

It is among those plants that fall between unpleasant invasive and lovely ornamental. Plant it in the spring and be amazed at how quickly it grows!

Creeping Jenny can be propagated by dividing the root system, taking cuttings or using the seeds. Here’s how to propagate Creeping Jenny.

Propagated Creeping Jenny is thriving How To Propagate Creeping Jenny
Propagated Creeping Jenny is thriving! via Reddit

A Guide on How To Propagate Creeping Jenny

The creeping jenny is a seed-producing plant that can propagate itself. It’s also a creeper with roots that grow from the nodes of the leaves when they come into touch with the earth.

This plant may be propagated using stem cuttings as well. You can also propagate it via dividing the roos mass.

How To Propagate Creeping Jenny via Cuttings

This may be done in two ways, either by using hardwood cuttings or softwood cuttings.

Using Hardwood Cuttings

  • The first method takes hardwood cuttings in the spring or early summer, about 3 inches long.
  • Make downward cuts into the stem, each with a 45-degree angle at the base of the cutting and leave two leaf nodes on the lower end.
  • Always cut below the leaf nodes or buds.
  • Dip the base of the cuttings in the rooting hormone. Cuttings that have been treated with rooting hormone have a better probability of encouraging root growth. This is especially important for plants that are difficult to root.
  • Set these cuttings aside for four to six weeks until small roots develop.
  • Plant the rooted cuttings about 1-inch deep in moist, well-drained soil and shade from direct sunlight until established.

Using Softwood Cuttings

  • The second method is to take softwood cuttings from new growth in early summer or trim back a healthy plant to make new growth that is actively growing and has just begun to form flower buds for next year.
  • Take cuttings about 3 inches long, have two leaf nodes and a stem section long enough to place at least one node under the soil line.
  • It is always best to cut below leaf nodes or buds.
  • Dip the base of the cuttings in the rooting hormone. Cuttings that have been treated with rooting hormone have a better probability of encouraging root growth. This is especially important for plants that are difficult to root.
  • Set the cuttings aside in a shady, protected location for a few days until a callus form on end.
  • Plant them vertically in moist potting mix or directly into well-drained, rich garden soil.
  • Cover to shade from direct sunlight until established.

Planting the Hardwood/Softwood Stem Cuttings in Soil

  • Growing these stem cuttings in a well-draining potting media is good. This can be accomplished by mixing equal parts perlite and sand. This combination can also be supplemented with a tiny amount of sterile compost.
  • Fill a celled planting tray or a small pot halfway with potting medium. Before planting, dust the severed ends of the cuttings with rooting hormone powder.
  • After that, the pots or trays must be covered with protective plastic bags.
  • Stakes can be used to keep the plastic from touching the plant. They must be kept in a bright, indirect light environment.
  • Within a week or two, the plants will have developed roots.
  • These plants will need another 10 days to sprout new leaves before you can transfer them.
  • Before moving them to an area with direct sunlight, make sure they’ve been exposed to indirect light for a few days.

The stem cuttings can also be rooted in water. Make sure the leaves on the lower half of the cuttings are removed. Allow the bottom ends to remain submerged in water to promote rapid root development.

How To Propagate Creeping Jenny by Division

You can also propagate the creeping jenny by dividing the root mass, the easiest method to propagate this plant.

  • The whole plant can be dug out and divided along with its roots.
  • Divide the plant during spring or early summer after it has flowered.
  • Use a sharp spade to separate sections of the root ball that are at least 4 inches in diameter.
  • Trim back each section, so there is only one leaf node on each stem.
  • Replant the sections immediately in moist soil.

How To Propagate Creeping Jenny by Seed

  • You can also propagate Creeping Jenny by seed, but it isn’t easy to collect and germinate.
  • Collect fresh seeds from a mature plant in early summer after-ripening and turning brown or yellow.
  • Clean the seed by removing dead leaves and other debris from the fruit capsule before sowing.
  • Seeds can be planted in flats or trays filled with potting medium or topsoil.
  • They must be placed on the ground in a partially shady area.
  • Plastic coverings can be used to cover the trays or flats. Moisture must be maintained in the soil or potting medium.
  • Plant the seed in a cold frame and keep moist until germination, usually two weeks.
  • You can also put the seed trays on a partially sunny interior windowsill.
  • The seedlings take about a month or longer to appear. When they begin to produce trails, you can transfer them.
  • In that situation, a spacing of roughly 30 centimeters between the plants is recommended.
  • Transplant to an open, sunny location once established and wait for flowers and new growth the following spring.

Final Remarks

Being a low-maintenance plant, the creeping jenny can be grown easily and inexpensively. Zones 3 through 9 are suitable for growing this plant.

Though they aren’t picky, they do best in well-drained, moist, and fertile soil, with a pH of 6 to 7.8. They thrive in full sun or light shade, although the full sun is ideal for pulling out the color of the leaf.

Watering young plants regularly is necessary until they get established. For adult plants to grow and bloom successfully, the soil must be moist but not saturated.

Once a year in the spring, feed the plant with a balanced fertilizer. Pruning is critical since the plant spreads quickly and can become invasive.

Regularly trim the following stems. To avoid seed production, you can pinch off the fading blossoms. The plant might turn brown in the winter in colder climates, but it will grow back in the spring.

During the winter, avoid watering the plant. Leaf spots, rust fungus, and slug infestation can all affect this plant.