The fresh scent of rosemary will fill your kitchen, but how do you get the most flavor and enjoyment out of it? Learn about taking cuttings from an established mother plant to grow new plants that can be moved outside in summer, or brought inside during winter.
Rosemary is an aromatic herb that can grow up to 4 feet tall and 8 inches wide. It thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or warmer where it will provide a lovely scent for your home’s kitchen!
Benefits of Growing Rosemary Plants from Stem Cuttings
Why not try growing your own rosemary from stem cuttings? Not only are they easier than starting with seeds, but the resulting plant will be more disease-resistant and provide you with fresh leaves year-round. You can also give one plant away as a gift!
Earlier Harvest:
Rosemary seeds have low germination rates and take a long time to sprout. But if you start with rooted cuttings, they’ll mature quicker because the plant is already established when it starts out!
Same as the Mother Plant:
The rosemary plant you will grow from cuttings is an exact clone of its Mother Plant and has all the same features, such as flavor. It’s disease-resistant too!
More Plants for Free:
Extra plants for free: a single plant can provide numerous cuttings without risking the health of said plant. This way, you could line your kitchen windowsill with several that will smell wonderful when brushed against them!
How To Propagate Rosemary from Cuttings
Step 1: Select new shoots from the mother plant
Avoid harvesting stems that are aged or brown in color. Instead, select young and green shoots for your plants’ best development!
Step 2: Take stem cuttings
Gently cut the stem about 6 inches from where it’s growing out of ground, being careful so as not damage roots. Cut additional pieces if needed and place in water with enough liquid to cover stems completely.
Step 3: Strip the lower leaves
Gently grasp the stem of your rosemary cutting and gently strip off 2 inches from its base.
Step 4: Place cuttings in water
Place your cutting stems in a jar of water and place it somewhere warm. Place away from direct sunlight, change the contents every couple days with room temperature liquid – this will help keep them fresh while also providing dissolved oxygen that prevents decay!
The rosemary stem cuttings should grow roots in a few weeks depending on the temperature. It can take longer in colder temperatures, but after 4-8 weeks it’ll be apparent if these little plants have survived!
The cuttings that do not survive will be brown and shed needles. If your rosemary cutting is still alive, give it some more time before giving up on the project!
Step 5: Pot up the stem cuttings once roots develop
Your rosemary cuttings are ready to place in soil when you see 4 or 6 roots on each stem that are 1/2-inch long. Use a sandy mix of all-purpose potting soil and sharp sand, which is great for cacti! Mix up the proportions so it has enough moisture but drains easily as well.
Fill a 4-inch pot with slightly damp soil for each cutting. Use the pencil to make 3 inch or less deep holes and place your rosemary plants in them so that their roots are exposed but not damaged by contact. Cover gently, and water thoroughly (but do not soak).
Rosemary is a great herb to have in your home. It’s versatile and can be used for flavoring foods or as an accent plant, depending on what you prefer!
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