Ixora 'Pirate's Gold'

Propagate Ixora coccinea from stem cuttings 5-8cm (2-3 inch) long taken in spring. Trim each cutting immediately below a leaf, remove that leaf and dip the cut end in hormone rooting powder. Plant the cutting in a 5-8cm (2-3 inch) pot containing a moistened equal-parts mixture of peat moss and coarse sand or perlite. Enclose the whole in a plastic bag or propagating case and stand it in bright filtered light at a temperature of 21-27°C (70-81°F). When the cutting has rooted – probably in four to six weeks – uncover it gradually over a two or three weeks period in order to acclimatise the new plant to the less humid atmosphere of the room.

Use an equal-parts potting mixture of peat moss, leaf mould and coarse sand or perlite. Move the plants into pots one size larger each spring until maximum convenient pot size (probably 15-20cm (6-8 inch)) has been reached. Thereafter, top-dress Ixora coccinea each spring with fresh potting mixture.