One of the many beneficial attributes of sage is its easy propagation. When using the offshoot method, the bar is particularly low. The following instructions explain step by step how to do it.
How do you propagate sage through cuttings?
To propagate sage through cuttings, you can either plant top cuttings 6-10 cm long in summer or use sinkers by placing a he althy shoot in a furrow and covering it with soil so that only the tip of the shoot shows out.
Sage head cuttings – powerful offshoots for propagation
Shortly before flowering, the sage pulsates with life. This is particularly true for the herbaceous shoot tips of the evergreen subshrub. Consequently, head cuttings are the most powerful offshoots of the Mediterranean herb plant. This is how propagation works effortlessly:
- From June/July, cut off shoot tips with a length of 6-10 centimeters
- Deleaf the lower half of each head cutting
- Fill the pot with a lean herbal soil and sand mix and moisten it
- Insert cuttings individually so deep that at least 2 pairs of leaves can be seen
A transparent hood (€117.00 at Amazon) placed over the plant creates a warm, humid microclimate that promotes rooting. The substrate must not dry out in the following 2-3 weeks. As soon as the roots grow out of the opening in the ground and fresh shoots appear, the hood has done its job. Once the young sage has completely rooted its pot, it is ready for planting in the chosen location.
Use the power of the mother plant cleverly for offshoots
Propagation using lowering leaves the mother plant to take care of the offspring. Here we explain step by step how easy this method works:
- In early summer, identify a he althy one-year-old shoot for the lowering plant
- Pull this to the ground to make a 10 centimeter deep furrow
- Cover the middle area of the cutting with soil and, if necessary, a stone
- The shoot tip protrudes about 10-15 centimeters from the soil to be fixed to a wooden stick
While the mother plant supplies the offshoot with nutrients in the following weeks, a new root system develops in the furrow. If a new leaf appears at the tip and you feel counter pressure when you pull lightly, rooting is successful. After separating from the mother plant, dig up the young plant and plant it in the new location.
Tips & Tricks
The bargain hunters among hobby gardeners transform an old PET drinking bottle into a mini greenhouse for sage cuttings. To do this, the bottom is cut off and the bottle is placed over the growing pot. Simply twist off the lid to ventilate and pick up the bottle to water.
