While the idea is very much alluring, successful plant propagation is one of the more challenging, patient skills to pull off as a gardener. The process of propagating is an inexpensive, resourceful way to grow new plants from plants you already have. This reproduction produces a growth that is genetically identical to its parent, the OG plant you acquired and want to clone. There are a variety of plant propagation tools and methods, from taking a stem or leaf cutting to dividing or layering its roots, or germinating a spore/seed. Propagation for many plants is best done in soil or airing out by itself, but some plants can be propagated in water. Depending on the genus/species, it's not always simple or successful on the first few tries, but we encourage you to start somewhere because it’s wonderfully rewarding when it works! And then, you've got yourself a more lush gardenscape for half the price and double the pride. 

Kathy Crowley of Crowley Nurseries & Gardens in Myakka City puts the "pro" in propagation and answers the question this gardener had on helping a friend reproduce plumeria flowers from a single cutting. 

SRQ: We have a large plumeria plant in the back yard that is flowering right now. A friend saw them and asked if she could have a cutting for her own yard. I’ve never done a cutting before. What’s the best way to do this so she can grow another plumeria tree from the cutting, while not damaging my own?

Kathy: To cut a plumeria (Frangipani), choose the size of one stem; maybe a 1 to 2 ft-long, clean cut on an angle, and set aside in the shade to dry out at the end. About two weeks later, if the end is dried and tiny roots have begun to sprout at the bottom, you can re-plant in a container with soil to continue rooting outwards. Water only the outside edge when center is dry to make the roots grow to the water's edge. It may take many months for the roots to fill out in the container.  You will see them coming out in the holes in the bottom of the container. Your plant is then ready to put in the ground to grow into a flowering plumeria tree/shrub.

If you have a particular gardening question you'd like answered and featured in a future column, email SRQDailyGardening@srqme.com

Crowley Nursery, 16423 Jomar Road Sarasota, 941-322-0315.