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How to Take Rosemary Cuttings: A Step-by-Step Guide
Rosemary is a popular herb that can be easily propagated from cuttings. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
You will need:
- Established rosemary plant
- Sharp knife or scissors
- Hormone rooting powder
- Terracotta pots or seed tray modules
- Compost mix (equal parts potting compost and horticultural grit or perlite/vermiculite)
- John Innes No. 2 compost (for potting on)
Step 2: Prepare the Cuttings
- Snip off shoots of new growth that are 10-15cm long.
- Remove most of the lower leaves to reduce moisture loss.
Step 3: Cut the Base of the Stem
- Use a sharp knife to cut off the base of the stem just below a leaf node.
Step 4: Dip in Rooting Hormone
- Dip the stem ends in hormone rooting powder to speed up the rooting process.
Step 5: Plant the Cuttings
- Fill pots or seed tray modules with compost mix.
- Insert several rosemary cuttings around the edge, or plant individually.
- Water in cuttings to settle the compost around their stems.
Step 6: Care for the Cuttings
- Place pots in a cold frame, propagator, or cover with a plastic bag to retain moisture.
- Mist over foliage and ensure the compost stays moist.
Step 7: Check for Roots
- After a few weeks, gently invert pots and check for signs of root development.
Step 8: Pot Up the Cuttings
- Once the cuttings have a good root system, tease them apart and pot up individually into John Innes No. 2 compost.
Step 9: Care for the Young Plants
- Keep plants watered and pot them on again as they get larger.
- Feed the rosemary plants with a dilute solution of fertilizer once roots have formed.
With a little care, your rosemary cuttings will soon be thriving and ready to plant out in the garden.
