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Homes and Gardens’ October 2026 report recommends propagating seven plants, including tender plants that can be kept indoors and hardy shrubs for next year’s garden. It says October’s seasonal shift allows gardeners to take both softwood and hardwood cuttings; results depend on plant type and care.
Homes and Gardens published an October 2026 guide recommending seven plants to propagate from cuttings as the gardening season changes. The report says October can suit both softwood cuttings from tender plants that can be overwintered indoors and hardwood cuttings from hardy shrubs for planting in the garden the following year, with choices best suited to regional growing conditions.
The article names pelargoniums, coleus, fuchsia and pothos among its selections, including geraniums (pelargoniums). It describes the first three as tender plants that many gardeners need to protect from winter conditions, while pothos is a houseplant that can be propagated indoors; potted garden plants also offer color and variety. The supplied report excerpt ends during its pothos instructions and does not show the remaining three plants, so their names and guidance cannot be confirmed from the material provided.
For pelargoniums, the report recommends taking 3- to 4-inch cuttings from firm new growth, below a leaf node. Remove lower leaves, allow the cut end to dry for a few hours, then use rooting hormone and well-draining potting soil. Keep the pot bright and warm but out of direct sun, with moist soil; the article says roots may take four to six weeks to develop.
For coleus, it suggests 4- to 6-inch cuttings with lower leaves removed, rooted either in soil or water in bright, indirect light. For fuchsia, it recommends healthy, soft growing tips, with all but the top two leaves removed; several cuttings can share a small pot, covered with a clear plastic bag to hold humidity. The report also advises using clean, sharp pruners and a suitable potting mix.
Keeping Tender Plants Through Winter
Propagation can help gardeners preserve favorite tender plants when the parent plant may not survive outdoors through winter. The report presents cuttings as a way to produce replacements or expand a collection, rather than buying new plants. That can be useful for varieties such as pelargoniums, coleus and tender fuchsias, which the article says need indoor protection in most climates.
Hardwood cuttings offer a different payoff: the report says propagating hardy shrubs in October can produce plants to add structure, color and texture to garden borders next year. The practical benefit depends on successful rooting, appropriate conditions and the plant’s hardiness; the article does not promise that every cutting will take.
Pelargonium cutting propagation kit
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Why October Suits Different Cuttings
The report describes October as a seasonal crossover: growth conditions can allow softwood cuttings from tender plants as well as hardwood cuttings from hardy shrubs. This makes the month useful for two distinct goals—keeping tender varieties going indoors and starting shrubs for later outdoor planting.
The article also notes that October is a busy planting month, with trees, shrubs, perennials and spring bulbs among the other garden tasks. Its advice is practical gardening guidance from Homes and Gardens, not a report of a new scientific finding or a guarantee of results. Plant suitability and winter protection vary by variety and local climate.
“October has a lot of potential for propagating new plants.”
— Homes and Gardens report
Indoor pothos plant propagation set
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Three Plants Missing From Excerpt
The provided source material stops partway through the pothos section. Although the headline promises seven plants, only four—pelargoniums, coleus, fuchsia and pothos—are identified in the supplied text. The remaining three plants and their instructions are not confirmed by this excerpt.
The report also does not give a success rate or compare propagation outcomes across climates. Rooting times can vary, and its guidance should not be read as a guarantee that cuttings will establish. The supplied material gives no further details about the recommended plants beyond the portions reproduced here.
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Rooting Cuttings Into Winter
Gardeners following the guidance can take the cuttings, provide the light and moisture described for each plant, and check for root development before potting them on. The report suggests gently tugging a cutting in soil to check for resistance; for water-rooted coleus, roots can be observed directly. Pelargonium cuttings may take four to six weeks, according to the article.
As the season advances, tender plants and newly rooted cuttings may need indoor conditions, depending on the variety and local weather. The next practical milestone is whether each cutting establishes roots and can be moved into an individual pot. No additional source update or follow-up date is specified.
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Key Questions
Which plants does the supplied report identify?
The excerpt identifies pelargoniums, coleus, fuchsia and pothos. It refers to seven plants in total, but the remaining three are not included in the supplied material.
Why does the report recommend October for propagation?
It describes October as a seasonal crossover when gardeners can take softwood cuttings from tender plants and hardwood cuttings from hardy shrubs.
How long do pelargonium cuttings take to root?
The article says pelargonium cuttings may develop good roots in four to six weeks. Timing can vary; it recommends checking for resistance with a gentle tug before potting them individually.
Can coleus cuttings root in water?
Yes. The report says coleus cuttings can be started in water or soil, kept in a bright spot with indirect light, then moved to individual pots after healthy roots develop.
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