Fresh Rosemary is one of the most fragrant and flavorful herbs to have in your garden! Some studies have also shown that essential oil from rosemary, when sniffed, improves your memory.
How to Plant Rosemary from Cuttings
Step 1: Gather your Equipment
One or several 6 to 8 inch spring of Rosemary
Small planting pot(s)
Soil or potting mix
Plastic wrap or quart size zip lock bags
Step 2: Strip at least 2 inches of herb off the stems
Step 3:
Dip the stem into rooting compound make sure all areas of the stem that you strip get submerged into the powder or liquid depending on what you are using.
Step 4:
Fill your pot with dirt and plant the rosemary making sure the only portion that is covered in dirt is the stripped area.
Step 5:
Water the plant just to moisten the dirt and cover the pot with a quart size zip lock bag or plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect.
Make sure if you are using plastic wrap don’t wrap too tight and leave easy access for watering.
Check dampness of the soil every few days water if necessary. NEVER over water. Over watering will cause the plant to rot.
If your hothouse is working properly you will see condensation on the plastic and that will be enough to keep your plant watered.
After your rosemary has been in your makeshift hothouse for one week take off the plastic and gently pull on the plant.
If the plant is hard to tug on then the roots have started to grow and you can remove the plastic cover.
Should the rosemary plant move easily this means the roots have not yet developed. No need to worry just put the plastic back over your plant for one more week.
Remember the more you trim your plant the bushier it will be come.
The best time to propagate Rosemary is in early spring or fall. See how to dry your herbs here: http://www.freeplants.com/HowToDryHerbs.html
Zones 6 – 10 will have no issues with plants being outdoors year around
Zones 4 – 5 will need to cover the plant with straw for winter
Zones 1 – 3 will need to bring plants in for winter and water regularly
Author: H.M. Swanston, Stone House Farm LLC Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-House-Farm-LLC/606360882813187
Rosemary contains a natural rooting hormone . Many florists say to root rosemary in a small round container in water which, concentrates the hormone and causes faster rooting . Whatever you do, try and keep the rosemary leaves dry to prevent them from rotting , also rosemary has very fine roots which rot easily if over watered.
Thanks,
Alex
Good article. 🙂
Only thing I would add is: Pour out a little of the rooting hormone powder onto a plateand roll th ecut stem in it vs. dipping the cutting into the bottle. Toss any extra when done. Otherwise, you might be introducing a bacteria or virus or mold spore from one cutting into the whole big bottle. This might hurt your next set of cuttings and make you toss the whole container instead of just a tiny bit.
LOL – this got repeatedly pounded into my head in Ag School and Master Gardener classes 🙂
Great advice Geezer!