Rosemary is an evergreen, perennial subshrub that can be propagated in various ways. However, the easiest way to propagate is through cuttings, which are best cut in late spring or early summer.
How do I propagate rosemary from cuttings?
To propagate rosemary from cuttings, choose young, green shoots, remove needles at the bottom, dip the cutting site in rooting powder and plant the cutting in a sand-soil mixture. In a warm, bright place and under a plastic bag, the cutting will root in 4-6 weeks.
Planting cuttings
When selecting shoots, you should make sure to only cut off young, still green shoots. Fresh branches no longer sprout from the old wood, which is why they are unsuitable for propagation from cuttings. When selecting and planting cuttings, follow these steps:
- Select fresh, green branches about 10 centimeters long.
- Remove the needles at the bottom of the branch.
- Dip the part to be planted in a rooting powder (€8.00 on Amazon).
- Fill a small flower or plant pot with a sand-soil mixture in a 1:1 ratio.
- Drill a narrow hole in the substrate using a plant stick or pencil.
- Plant the cutting there.
- Press the branch firmly.
- Water the cutting.
- Place the pot in a warm and bright place.
- Put a clear, perforated plastic bag over the plant.
- The bag must not touch the cutting.
- Water regularly, but not too much.
The cutting will take root within four to six weeks. When the time comes and the cutting begins to grow new shoots, it can be transplanted into a larger pot or a warm spot in the garden.
Proper care of cuttings
Rosemary basically doesn't need much care. Water the young plants moderately, but avoid waterlogging. This can, among other things, This can be done through good drainage, for example by adding expanded clay to the substrate. You can safely water with fresh tap water as rosemary needs lime to thrive. Otherwise, fertilizing is not necessary. In winter, young rosemary should not be left outdoors as the herb is only partially hardy and not hardy when young. Only from the age of around three years is the plant strong enough to stay outside - well protected. Since rosemary also becomes woody with age and therefore becomes bald, you should prune it regularly in spring.
Tips & Tricks
There are now specially bred rosemary varieties that have been bred specifically for winter-hardy properties. These include varieties such as “Arp”, “Veitshöchheimer Rosmarin” or “Blue Winter”.