Rosmarinus officinalis, the evergreen Mediterranean subshrub from the mint family, which grows fragrantly, refines our dishes and brings healing benefits, is an enrichment in every household. We have useful tips on how to propagate rosemary at home. Instead of having to buy the herb at the supermarket every time you need it, you always have a fresh, fragrant and refreshing to look at supply at home. This is quite easy and even as an inexperienced gardener you can do it.
Multiply rosemary: in a glass of water by dividing it
Instead of laboriously growing rosemary from seeds from scratch, you have the option of simply propagating it by dividing it. Because germinating a rosemary seed can be difficult and present you with challenges. Obtaining rosemary by dividing the plant also has several advantages.
Earlier harvest
A plant obtained through division will grow faster than one you grow from seed. Rosemary seeds have a low germination rate and take a long time to germinate and grow, whereas a divided plant will grow in just a few months. This means you can harvest earlier and enjoy your rosemary more quickly.
Just like the mother plant
The plant you obtain through division will have the same characteristics as the mother plant. Because she is, so to speak, their clone. So it will have the same characteristics in terms of taste, disease resistance or growth.
A whole kitchen window full of plants
A mother plant can do the sameprovide several cuttings, without running the risk of harming the mother plant. This means you can grow several cuttings and have an entire kitchen window full of fragrant rosemary plants that release their beautiful scent when touched.
This is how it's done
And so you can take rosemary cuttings from an already growing mother plant and grow new plants. You can then plant these in flower pots that you can put indoors in winter and outside in summer.
Choose a new shoot from the mother plant
Look for a young, healthy oneShoot within the mother plant. Make sure the trunk is green and flexible. Avoid brown, woody trunks, as these are somewhat older and less suitable for the purposes.
Cut the cuttings
Take a pair of sharp scissors and cut off about 15 cm of the young shoot. Remove several shoots at once if one or more shoots do not form roots.
Pluck off the lower leaves
Grab the freshly cut young branch and pluck off the leaves above the cut so that about 5 cm of the stem is exposed.
Place the rosemary sprigs in the water
Take a glass and fill it with water that is at room temperature. You should not shock the branches with water that is too cold or too warm. The freely plucked piece of the trunk should stand in the water. Do not place the jar in direct sunlight and change the water every few days. You can prevent the stems from rotting by regularly replacing the water in which the oxygen was used up. Depending on the temperature they shouldRosemary branchesRoots form within a few weeks. It may also take longer at lower temperatures. However, the cutting should have formed roots within 4 – 8 weeks at the latest. If a branch has died, you will notice this by the fact that it turns brown and its needles fall off. As long as it doesn't, it's alive and you can still have hope.
Plant cuttings once roots have developed
Your cuttings are ready for planting when about 4 to 6 roots are visible, approximately 1.5 cm long. Use a sandy soil mix that allows water to soak in well. You can also use soil suitable for cacti. Take a 10 cm pot for each cutting and fill it loosely with soil. Use a pen to make a hole about 7-10cm deep and carefully insert the cutting. Be careful not to damage the delicate roots.
Caring for the cuttings
Gently dig in the soil along the trunk and then water the plant. Place the newly planted rosemary plant in partial shade. Avoid direct sunlight until the root and entire plant has stabilized. After this, the plant will be happy if it can stand in direct sunlight for 6 – 8 hours a day. Keep the soil moist until you can see new growth. Allow the plant to grow a bit before harvesting for the first time. It should have grown to about 15 cm tall, then you can harvest branches as needed. Tip: Rosemary grows very slowly. It is therefore recommended not to harvest more than a third of the plant in one cut. We hope you enjoy growing rosemary and your beautiful, fragrant plants.
