3 Ways On How To Propagate Rosemary 

Have you ever wondered how to propagate rosemary? There are several ways to propagate rosemary that we will look at today to help us learn how to do it correctly.

Rosemary is one of the most common herbs that most gardeners love to grow. It is easy to grow and has good taste.  It does not require much space and can be grown anywhere.

It only needs to be watered every one to two weeks, but if you want it to produce more leaves, you will have to water it more often.  The leaves can be used for flavoring food or tea.  Rosemary also makes an attractive garden plant.

It is easy to grow and has many uses in the kitchen.  Some people even use rosemary as a herb in their cooking.

You can dry the leaves and use them for tea, as well as for other purposes.  They are also good to dry and use for soap making.

How To Propagate Rosemary

Knowing how to propagate rosemary is helpful if you are an avid gardener. To propagate rosemary, we need to first understand what it is.  Rosemary is a perennial herb that grows from a root system.  There are several ways to propagate rosemary that include:

Growing the plant from seed

The most common way to propagate rosemary is by seed propagation.  Seeds are the easiest way to propagate rosemary because they are relatively quick to start and easy to get. Rosemary seeds germinate in about 15-25 days and require lots of warmth.

Growing from cuttings

Rosemary can also be propagated by cutting.  Rosemary cuttings should be taken from healthy sprigs four to six inches long.  Rosemary cuttings will root easily in containers or soil and are easy to grow. 

Strip the leaves off of the bottom two inches of the branch and dip in growth hormone if possible. If using growth hormone, you can place the cutting directly in well-drained soil. If not, place the cutting in a glass of water with the bottom two inches of the stem submerged for three to four weeks. Once there are mature roots you can plant them in potting soil.

Rosemary cuttings should be pruned off regularly to encourage new growth. Though division is a great way to propagate other plants, it does not work well for rosemary. Division involves digging up a plant and dividing the root stems into individual sections.

Layering

Another common way to propagate rosemary is through layering. Layering involves getting stems to develop new roots while still attached to the parent plant. To do so, start by digging a trench that is approximately two inches deep and one inch wide at the spot where the stem of the rosemary reaches the ground.

Using a sterilized sharp knife, carefully strip the leaves and bark from the bottom of the stem. Then, place it in the trench while leaving about two to three inches of foliage and stem intact at the tip.

To pin the stem in the ground, use a garden staple and refill the trench with soil. Regularly water the layered stems until you see rootlets have grown and new growth appears where the exposed tip is.

To check for new roots, very carefully dig around the area of the buried stems. This process is successful but can take many months to achieve. 

Hanging Cylindrical Hydroponic Planter and Stand

How To Propagate Rosemary From Cuttings

Propagating rosemary from cuttings is easy. There are several ways you can do this, and it depends on what you want to achieve.

You can use this method if you want to keep some plants alive for the winter. In addition, if you just want to grow more plants next year you can use this method.

To do so, you will need to grow a cutting and take it into a propagator where it will root and grow into a new plant.  To grow rosemary from cuttings, follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare the cuttings

Cut off a sprig about four to six inches long and remove the leaves from the bottom two inches.

Step 2: Water the cuttings

Propagate rosemary in water by placing the cuttings in the water for around three to four weeks.

Step 3: Take the cuttings out of the water

Carefully remove the cuttings from the water, and place them in a tray of moist soil.

Step 4: Place the cuttings in a propagator

Grow your new cutting in a tray of well-drained potting soil, preferably in a warm environment, and water regularly. 

Step 5: Plant the rosemary cuttings

Once the cuttings are ready, take the cuttings out of the tray.  You can plant the cuttings in a pot filled with compost, or you can plant them in a large container such as a garden or patio planter. You can also plant the cuttings directly into your garden.

Rosemary propagation is one of the easiest to do especially when you have a healthy rosemary plant.  The most important thing to consider is the way you prepare your cuttings so that they root easily and fast.  

Final Words On How To Propagate Rosemary

No more wondering about how to propagate rosemary, as the methods are discussed above and all of them are successful.  Your choice of propagation method depends on the results you want to achieve and the amount of time you are giving your plant. Knowing how to propagate rosemary is easier than one may think.

For example, if you want this low-maintenance plant with a nice aroma, you can let it grow from cuttings from a well-grown plant and plant them. Also, remember that you can successfully propagate rosemary using cuttings because you will end up with many small plants.

If you plant from seed, you have to wait for these plants to grow before they produce leaves, which is time-consuming.  When propagating seeds you can choose between sowing them in soil and using seed trays. Knowing how to propagate rosemary is beneficial for any gardener.

Read more about General Information About Grape Tomatoes vs Cherry Tomatoes. 

FAQs