Propaging is a method of producing plants for free. At this time of year I always propagate lavender and rosemary plants. Spring is another good time to do this. The plants that grow are great to give as presents, or for multiplying the amount of plants that you have in your own garden. I have 6 large rosemary bushes in my garden and have sold some, and given lots away. They all originate from a few cuttings given to me about 15 years ago.
Both of these plants are so easy to propagate and yet people spend a lot of money buying new plants. This is how I do it.
1. I cut a cutting about 3 to 5 inches long from the soft, green tips of the rosemary plant, or semi wooden bits of the lavender.It is the tips that you need.
2. I remove the leaves of the bottom half of the cutting.
3. At this point if you want to dip them in rooting powder you can, but I never have.
4. Put the cuttingsurface the edge of the plant pot up to where the leaves start. I plonked 2 in the middle today as well.
5. If you read gardening books it will say that it needs to be well drained potting mix, possibly with grit. I just always put them into spent compost. They have always rooted.
6. A polythene bag can be placed over the top to create humidity, but I have only done that if growing indoors in my flat.
7. Water (not too much) and keep them from drying out. At this time of year I find it rains enough to just leave them. Place in a sunny location.
8. After about 6 weeks I give each cutting a gentle tug. If it has rooted it won’t pull straight out. Sometimes there are odd ones that haven’t rooted, but usually I have a 100% success rate. Below are some rosemary and lavender cuttings that were planted 5 weeks ago. They have all rooted, despite me not touching them over that period. You can see thatmost of them have bushed out a little bit.
9. Tease each cutting out gently with some soil attached and replant into their own small plant pots. As they get larger they can be placed into bigger plant pots, or into the ground. Rosemary can be kept small in pots but will grow larger in the ground or large pots. This bush is 3 years old.
Rosemary is an evergreen and can be used all year round to flavour cooking or baking. It is also great for herbal remedies and tea. I dry some for winter so that I don’t need to go outside in bad weather. Propergating rosemary and lavender is a great way to get free plants. My original lavender cutting I took from a local park. You may also be interested in the following blog.
How Rosemary is good for my purse and my health
That’s really helpful Toni. Thanks 🙏😊
No worries. Thanks for commenting
Very interesting! My lavender plants in the front are great for attracting bees all through the summer months.
I like to use the plant in my kitchen and bathroom butfind that Lavender plants can go really woody. It is good to have free replacements
I find the best time to take cuttings, is when no one is looking. I borrowed a spider plant cutting this way. It has produced dozens of plants for friends and family .
Yes. I don’t take from people’s garden’s without asking but have taken cuttings from parks. My friend gave me a spider plant cutting that has grown lots of babies. Apparently they are great for clwaning the air
Thank you, I have been thinking about taking lavender cuttings, now I know how.
Glad that I could help
One pot full of lavender cuttings now in my back porch. Thanks for the instructions.
Best wishes,
Helen
No worries. That is great x