Sharon, seed-grown geraniums are not as hardy or as large as cutting (zonal) geraniums. They generally don't grow well from cuttings. Cutting-grown zonal geraniums are bred to be larger, sturdier, and to be propagated only by cuttings, since they either don't make seeds, or their seeds are sterile.

Most growers grow zonal geraniums, so breeders don't work very hard to make more varieties of the seed-grown types. Usually, seed-grown geraniums only come in red, pink and white, while the zonals may have many different colors, such as purples and magentas, even striped flowers on some.

I don't know why the pink is harder to root cuttings from, but I've had the same problem even with zonals. The reds and whites are always easier to propagate.

FrozeBudd.... those are cute. Thank you so much for posting the picture,

@ FrozeBudd: are you growing those in Canada?

Because Sharon states she is in Florida USDA zone 10. Our heat and humidity do a number on many plants that do well in more northern climates.

They are very pretty!

Oh, yes, I had meant to mention in my above post that my climate is much different, summer temps are generally moderate with low humidity and modest amounts of rain ... though, this summer it's been raining like crazy and I've needed to keep the geraniums under cover.

Red is a dominating color of zonal geraniums so it's not surprising that they did best. I've grown geraniums from seed and from cuttings for years and maybe I can give you a few tips. Geraniums are susceptible to blackleg especially if they are to moist and cool. I always use a heating mat for growing geraniums from seed or cuttings. It makes it 70% more likely that you'll get more germination with seed and more rooting instead of rot with cuttings. This spring I took 36 cuttings off of the plants I brought in last fall. 32 rooted well and were planted out or given away. I had several colors--red, mauve, white, pink and hot pink.

When I take cuttings I cut a 4 or 5 inch piece from the growing end of the plant. I cut just below a leaf joint ( node) and strip all the leaves except the top 3-5 leaves. The roots come from those leaf nodes not from the stem. I dip the end in rooting hormone--you don't need much just the node covered--and put it in a hole I've prepared in damp soil in small pots and cover it in. I place it on a heating mat under my lights. I keep the soil slightly moist and I know it's rooted when it starts to show new growth. Then I remove it fro the heating mat. I start them in 4 or 6 cell inserts because it's easier to control the moisture. When they've grown for a few weeks I transplant into larger pots.

Note-- Geraniums don't like wet feet so watch the water. They must be moist but not wet. Full grown geraniums benefit from drying out completely and then being watered well

Thank you dowlinggram. I appreciate the info.

Will be starting some new seeds soon.

I don't think the geraniums I have left will make good cuttings at this point. They are looking VERY ragged after all the rains and humidity.... but I will try the cutting method. I did not realize the new roots come out of the leaf holes... I thought they started on the stem.