Rosemary is very easy to propagate. But whichever method you choose, hygiene is an essential element of propagation. The humid conditions in the cultivation vessel are ideal for the development of fungal diseases, which is why all utensils and tools should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use.
sow rosemary
Growing your own rosemary plants from seeds is not entirely uncomplicated. On the one hand, rosemary germinates very unreliably - and also unevenly - and on the other hand you never know exactly what you will actually get out of it in the end, i. H. the properties of plants propagated from seed. Like so many herbs, rosemary needs light to germinate. You should therefore only cover the fine seeds very thinly with fine soil or simply press them down and place them in a warm and bright location, but not in full sun. Keep the substrate moist with a spray bottle. If all goes well, the seeds will germinate within three to five weeks.
Propagating rosemary by cuttings
The easiest and most reliable way to propagate rosemary is to use so-called head cuttings. These are young, not yet lignified shoots. The cuttings should be propagated in late spring or early summer, ergo at the beginning of the growing season. It is not necessary to root the freshly cut shoots in a glass of water - they can instead be planted straight away in a pot with a mixture of sand and soil. Cuttings should always be taken from healthy plants using a clean, sanitized knife. This reduces the risk of fungal infection.
Cut and pull head cuttings from the rosemary
- Take a cutting about three to four inches long from the mother plant.
- Carefully remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
- Dip the underside in a rooting preparation.
- Fill a seed tray with a 1:1 sand/soil mixture.
- Make a hole in the substrate with a prick or pencil.
- Plant the cutting inside.
- Press down the soil and water the plant.
Provide a warm and humid environment by placing a clear plastic bag over the cutting. The bag must not touch the leaves. You can also place the cuttings in a propagation container. Place the pot in a light spot, away from direct sunlight. Check daily for signs of illness or dryness and treat accordingly. Repot it as soon as roots have formed after a few weeks.
Propagation via sinkers
In contrast to cuttings, sinkers are not immediately separated from the mother plant, but only when roots have already formed. Propagation via sinkers works like this:
- Choose a healthy shoot that can easily be bent down to the ground.
- Dig a shallow hollow in a suitable spot.
- Cut the underside of the shoot diagonally at the point where it is to be lowered.
- This measure increases the chances of root formation.
- You can also treat the spot with a rooting hormone.
- Place the wounded shoot section in the ground.
- Anchor it with a metal clip or a bent piece of wire.
- Fill the hollow back up with soil.
- Keep the spot well moistened throughout the growing season.
- The new roots form within about four to six months.
tips and tricks
Larger rosemary bushes can also be propagated very well by division. The advantages of this method are that it rejuvenates older, lignified rosemary and also grows faster than cuttings.
IJA