Lavender is one of those shrubs that you really can't have enough of. Lavender hedges in particular are a wonderful eye-catcher - whether for framing the house, as a path or as a bed border. However, lavender plants are not necessarily cheap in larger quantities. Of course, you can also try to propagate the plant yourself - it's cheaper and more fun.

Propagation via seeds

Propagating lavender from seeds is not easy. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the commercially available lavender seeds are usually not of a single variety, but on the other hand, it is also due to the fact that the seeds need certain conditions to germinate and grow. Lavender is a light germinator, i. H. it must not be covered with soil when sowing, but needs as bright a place as possible. You should also prefer the seeds on the windowsill in February/March so that the plants will bloom in the same year. Otherwise, you can only spread the lavender directly into the bed after the ice saints, when it is guaranteed that no more night frosts are to be expected. You can use special growing substrate or nutrient-poor herb soil for the cultivation.

Lavender sometimes self-seeds

Real lavender, in particular, forms a large number of seeds, which - as long as they feel comfortable in their location - often accumulate in large numbers. You can either pluck these young plants, let them grow or transplant them to another place. To do this, you have to dig them up as early as possible, preferably when there are only a few tender leaves next to the two cotyledons. The younger a lavender is, the easier it can be transplanted - and the sooner it survives this procedure.

Propagating lavender from cuttings

Lavender can be propagated by cuttings rather than by seeds. This method is far less complex than seed propagation and more promising. You can also be sure that you will actually get the lavender you want - lavender propagated from seed can look very different from the mother plant. You can take the cuttings when cutting in spring and summer.

  • Choose young shoots that are about 10 to 15 centimeters long.
  • These should carry at least about two to three leaves.
  • Cut the cuttings so that a sloping cut surface is created.
  • This makes it easier for the young plant to absorb water.
  • Use a sharp and clean knife.
  • Remove any leaves in the lower area.
  • Dip the cut surface in a rooting powder.
  • This should contain a rooting hormone.
  • Plant the cuttings either directly in the bed or in a pot with nutrient-poor soil.
  • Keep the young plant moist but not wet.
  • Don't fertilize! Due to the lack of roots, the plant cannot yet absorb any fertilizer.
  • The cutting will root within a few weeks.
  • You can tell by the fact that it develops new shoots.

Grow young plants over sinkers

In addition to the propagation of cuttings, the cultivation of young plants using so-called sinkers also works very well with lavender. In contrast to cuttings, sinkers are only cut off from the mother plant when they have formed sufficient roots themselves. Until then, the mother plant continues to provide its offshoots with water and nutrients.

  • Choose one or more branches that grow as close to the ground as possible.
  • Dig a small hole below this branch.
  • Bend the branch down (caution: don't break it!) and place it in the middle of the planting hole.
  • The upper, flowering part should look out on the other side.
  • Cover the hole with earth and weigh down the area with a stone or something similar.
  • Otherwise it can happen that the sinker simply slips out.

Subsequents take significantly longer than cuttings to take root. You should leave the young plant on the mother plant for about three to four months until it has reliably rooted itself. You can then either leave them where they are, move them or plant them in a pot. Due to the fact that the plant takes so long to root, plants should be planted as early as possible - preferably in May or in June at the latest.

tips and tricks

Although lavender can be propagated in many ways, dividing the shrub is usually not possible. Lavender could only be divided if it was rooted in several places in the ground. However, this is usually not the case. In addition, older lavender lignifies, which makes a possible division even more difficult.

IJA

Category:

Herbs