Learn how to propagate rosemary from cuttings and enjoy the benefits of growing rosemary indoors.
Do you find yourself dreaming of having a beautiful garden filled with fragrant plants but limited by the size of your outdoor space? If so, then rosemary is perfect for you! Not only is rosemary an incredibly versatile plant, known to boost memory and concentration while adding a culinary flair to countless dishes – it’s also extremely easy to grow, even in small spaces. With some basic knowledge and materials, you can start propagating your own rosemary cuttings quickly and efficiently!
Here’s your beginner’s guide on how to get started.
This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read our entire affiliate disclosure here.
Benefits of Propagating Rosemary
Rosemary is fragrant herb native to Mediterranean climate, and can be perennial in zone 7b and above, but as we have seen in recent seasons, random freezes can significantly damage even extremely mature rosemary plants. Because of this choosing to start a few plants to keep indoors in the event of a damaging freeze is the best way to make sure your rosemary plants survive the season!
Rosemary propagation is the easiest way of gaining new plants for free, and because of the medicinal benefits it is almost a no-brainer to try your hand at growing this beneficial plant! Rosemary readily roots both in water and with the aid of rooting hormones So lets dive into the many ways of propagating rosemary from cuttings!
How to propagate rosemary from cuttings
There are two basic ways to propagate rosemary cuttings. One is to use water as your growing medium and the other is to use soil as your growing medium. For both the first thing you will want to do is to prepare your rosemary cutting!
Prepare your rosemary cuttings
Rosemary cuttings can be procured in a variety of ways. You can use a rosemary plant that you have in your outdoor space or from the space of a gardening friend in your community.
To gather cuttings, you will want to use a sharp knife and cut rosemary stems within the soft wood or green portion of the Rosemary plants above a leaf node. (Woody herbs like rosemary will have two distinct appearances to their stems. The woody stems are older and will look brown. The newer stems will have a green lively tent to them.)
These stems should be about 4-5 inches long.
Conversely, you can propagate rosemary from grocery store rosemary sprigs. The propagation rate may be diminished however because the time between cutting from the parent plant and rooting makes a difference in the speed of root development.
To finalize preparation of the rosemary cuttings, you will want to remove the bottom 2 inches of lower leaves making sure to leave an inch of greenery at the top of the cutting.
Propagate rosemary from cuttings in water
At this point, if you are propagating in water all you will need is a clear container filled with water.
You can place your cuttings in this water and place in a sunny window. Your new rosemary plants will want at least 6 hours of sunlight. A south-facing window will provide you with the best light, however, you can supplement with grow lights if you are limited on space or light.
After 3-4 weeks you should start seeing root growth development.
Note: you will want to monitor the cutting and place fresh water about every week. Once new roots develop, you can transplant your new rosemary plants into a well draining pot with potting soil.
Propagate rosemary from cuttings in soil
The second method of propagating rosemary is to use soil. This method requires a few additional tools, but is just as simple!
For this method you will need a rooting hormone powder. This can be purchased at your local garden center or online. However, you can also use honey! Many recommend honey as a natural alternative.
Additionally, you will need a small pot with good drainage and some potting soil.
Place your potting soil in your pot and make sure to dampen it. You want to add your rosemary stems to wet soil.
Now, you will take your rosemary cuttings and dip them in water, then dip them in the rooting hormone powder, then using a dibbler (or pencil) make a hole in your soil around the edge of the pot and place the cutting in the hole. You’ll want to lightly pack the soil around your cuttings.
Then simply place in a sunny windowsill and keep the soil moist. In 3-4 weeks you should notice new growth.
You may also want to put fungus knat sticky paper up because they can be attracted to the moist soil.
How to care for your Rosemary plant
Once your rosemary plants are established, you will want to make sure that you give them lots of love! you will need to take care of a few basic plant care needs in order to maintain the health of your plant!
When caring for your rosemary, the key is to provide ample light and proper drainage. Here are a few tips for keeping your rosemary plants thriving:
Watering your rosemary plant
To promote the continued growth and vitality of your beloved rosemary plant, it is crucial to maintain optimal levels of moisture in its delicate roots. This can be accomplished by consistently and carefully watering the plant or by implementing a self-watering hydroponic system that adheres to a well-thought-out and efficient watering schedule.
Another highly effective method that you can consider is utilizing a plant mister, which offers the advantage of providing adequate hydration to your rosemary plant without the risk of over-watering. The fine mist emitted by the mister ensures that your plant’s roots receive the perfect amount of moisture they need to thrive and flourish.
By diligently following these straightforward and reliable techniques, you can rest assured that your rosemary plant’s roots will always remain healthy, well-nourished, and optimally moisturized.
Light needs for your Rosemary plants
Rosemary is a plant that thrives in abundant light for optimal growth. If you prefer to keep your rosemary indoors, the ideal placement would be near a window that receives ample natural sunlight throughout the day. This way, the plant can bask in sufficient light without the need for supplemental lighting.
In certain situations where this may not be feasible, such as in a home lacking ample sunlight, the next best option would be to provide artificial lighting. You can use LED grow lights specifically designed for indoor plants to ensure your rosemary gets the right spectrum and intensity of light for healthy growth.
Remember, it is crucial to ensure your plant receives adequate lighting of this kind to ensure successful indoor growth. By providing the proper light conditions, you can enjoy a thriving rosemary plant that not only adds beauty to your indoor space but also provides fresh and aromatic herbs for your culinary adventures.
Pruning your Rosemary Plant
Once your indoor rosemary plant has established itself, regular pruning becomes essential. This entails removing any dead or damaged branches and trimming excessively long stems. By doing so, you not only promote the plant’s bushiness but also encourage further growth.
Additionally, it is recommended to pinch off the tops of branches that have become too tall or aggressive. This helps maintain your plant’s desired shape and prevents it from becoming unruly.
Remember, proper pruning and maintenance will ensure your rosemary plant thrives beautifully.
Learning how to propagate rosemary from cuttings is simple!
Rosemary is a wonderful herb to grow indoors, and propagating rosemary makes it even easier. Not only does it make the process simple, but you’ll be sure to always have fresh herbs at your disposal with this method. Whether you choose the simple stem cutting or more complicated root cutting method, both will work successfully with this amazing plant. This is a great way to start your journey on how best to maintain your herb garden without too much effort.
As you work through the process of propagating rosemary from cuttings, even newbies can look forward to enjoying aromatic rosemary in their kitchen all year long. So what are you waiting for? Gather your supplies and try your hand and propagating rosemary indoors today – You won’t regret it!