Lyla Lindsey
Rosemary is a fragrant herb that is easy to grow in Australian gardens. It can be propagated from cuttings, whether from your own plant or a friend's. This guide will take you through the process of growing rosemary from cuttings, including the ideal growing conditions for this hardy herb. With proper care, you'll have an abundant supply of rosemary for cooking and other creative purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Easy to grow |
| Sunlight | Requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day |
| Soil | Thrives in alkaline soils, lime, and well-drained soil |
| Watering | Minimal watering |
| Propagation | Cut a 10-15 cm sprig from a healthy plant, strip leaves from the bottom, and dip the end into honey or rooting hormone gel |
| Transplanting | Wait until roots form (about six weeks), then carefully transplant into the garden or a larger pot |
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What You'll Learn
How to cut rosemary for propagation
To propagate rosemary, you'll need to cut a sprig from a healthy, established plant. The best time of year to take rosemary cuttings is from the end of spring through to summer when the plant is actively growing and more likely to root successfully. You can take softwood cuttings in mid to late spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in late autumn or early winter.
When you've found a healthy rosemary plant, use clean, sharp scissors or secateurs to cut lengths of stems that are 10-15cm long. Make the cut just below a node (the bump on the stem where leaves emerge). You'll want to remove the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving a few leaves at the top.
Once you've prepared your cutting, you can place it directly into a small pot filled with seed-raising mix or a potting mix designed for succulents or cacti. Firm the mix around the stem, so there's good contact between the cutting and the mix. Keep the mix consistently slightly moist and position the pot in a warm, bright spot, out of direct sunlight. You can cover the pot with a plastic bag to help retain moisture.
Alternatively, you can place the cutting in a glass of clean water on a sunny windowsill. Make sure only the stem, not the leaves, touches the water. Replace the water in the glass weekly, or sooner if it becomes cloudy or discoloured. In a few weeks, small roots may develop. Once roots have formed, carefully transplant the cutting into a larger pot or your garden bed.
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Preparing the cutting for planting
Once you have your cutting, strip the leaves from the bottom third of the sprig. This will prevent rot from developing. You should leave around 3 cm of bare stem, as roots will grow from the leaf nodules. You can save the removed leaves to use in cooking.
Next, dip the cut end of the sprig into a rooting agent. Honey is a natural substitute for synthetic rooting hormones and will nourish the cutting while promoting root growth. Alternatively, you can use a root-promoting hormone gel or powder.
Now your cutting is ready to be planted!
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Soil and planting conditions
Rosemary also grows well in pots, but it tends to like poor soil, so a potting mix might be too rich. You can use a seed-raising mix or a cloche made from a cut-up plastic bottle to protect your cuttings.
When planting, make sure to keep the cuttings moist, and once roots form in about six weeks, carefully transplant them into the garden or a larger pot.
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Caring for the cutting
To care for your rosemary cuttings, you'll need to provide the right conditions for them to root and grow. Here are some detailed steps to follow:
Soil and Planting:
When planting your cuttings, use seed-raising soil or a potting mix. Rosemary tends to prefer poor soil, so avoid overly rich mixes. You can also dip the cut end of the cutting into a rooting hormone gel or powder to promote root growth. If you don't have access to these, honey is a great natural substitute that will nourish the cutting while encouraging root development.
Watering:
Rosemary likes full sun and minimal watering. It prefers well-drained soil and won't tolerate wet feet. However, when you first plant your cuttings, gently water them and keep the soil moist until roots form, which usually takes about six weeks.
Sunlight:
Rosemary thrives in full sun positions, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Place your cuttings in a warm, bright spot, ensuring they don't get too hot. Protect them from strong winds as well.
Temperature:
Rosemary loves warm and sunny conditions. It can adapt to various soil types and is very tolerant of hot and dry weather. However, ensure that your cuttings don't get too hot, especially when placed on a windowsill to absorb sunlight.
Protection:
Keep your cuttings protected, especially during the initial stages of growth. You can use a plastic bottle as a mini greenhouse by cutting off the bottom and placing it over the cuttings in their pot. This will help maintain warmth and humidity while allowing new growth to develop.
Pruning:
Regularly pruning your rosemary cuttings will encourage new growth. Focus on the new shoots, taking softwood cuttings from this softer, newer growth rather than the harder wood further down the stem.
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Transplanting the cutting
Transplanting rosemary cuttings is a simple process. Once roots have developed, you can plant the cutting straight into the garden or a container. Rosemary thrives in a full-sun position, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, and prefers well-drained soil. It adapts to almost any soil conditions but will not tolerate wet feet. Choose a spot protected from strong winds.
Before transplanting, ensure you have a strong showing of new roots and growth. Keep the pots protected and transplant when you see new leaf growth. You can also use a plastic bottle as a mini greenhouse. Cut the bottom off a 1.25L bottle and place it over the cuttings, then place it into the soil to hold it in place. Do not let it dry out.
When roots form, carefully transplant the cutting into the garden or a larger pot. Insert the cutting just below the leaves, firm it in, and gently water. Keep the cutting moist.
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Frequently asked questions
Ask a friend with a rosemary bush to cut off a couple of 10-15cm-long healthy sprigs. Then, strip the leaves from the bottom third of the sprig to prevent rot from developing.
You can root rosemary cuttings in water or soil. For water, place the cuttings in a clean glass jar filled with water and leave it in a sunny spot until roots develop. For soil, dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone gel or honey, then make a hole in the soil and gently insert the cutting.
Rosemary will thrive in a full-sun position (6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day) and prefers well-draining soil. It can adapt to almost any soil conditions but will not tolerate wet feet. It also does well in pots.
Once roots have developed, carefully transplant the cuttings into your garden or a larger pot. Keep the cuttings protected and when you see new leaf growth, you have succeeded in transplanting them.
