Why buy new plants when you can propagate rosemary from cuttings and fill your home or garden with this unbeatable hardy herb!
Nothing beats the woody scent of rosemary. It’s fragrant, sweet-smelling, and aromatic to a tee! We love this fragrant perennial bush in our seasonings and essential oils. The ancient Greeks wore it as a garland to aid their memory during exams, and Napoleon chose it for his Eau de Cologne.
But you don’t have to be a Grecian scholar or French revolutionary to grow new rosemary plants from cuttings! With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be propagating rosemary like a pro in no time.
Growing Rosemary: Helpful Tips Worth Knowing
Rosemary responds best to propagation from cuttings, and it typically yields a higher success rate than starting from seed. That’s why propagating rosemary is such a popular option. It’s a slow-growing plant, but your patience will be rewarded with a hardy evergreen perennial herb.
Below are a few of the most commonly asked questions about growing rosemary:
Can Rosemary Be Grown Indoors?
Yes! Rosemary likes lots of light, so you should ensure it gets full sunlight from a window or grow lights if it grows indoors.
Many gardeners in cold climates grow their rosemary indoors during winter, then move it outside during the summer. This method can ensure your plant gets enough sunlight while providing you with fresh rosemary year-round.
Can Rosemary Be Grown in Containers?
Absolutely! You can grow rosemary in a container, and this can even help keep the soil well-drained since the soil in a container will dry out quicker. Make sure the container you choose is at least 12 inches deep to give the roots plenty of room and has excellent drainage. Clay and terracotta pots also wick moisture, so they are good choices for your rosemary plant. Just be mindful of how often and how much you water your plant.
Can Rosemary Be Grown Hydroponically?
Yes! Rosemary does well in hydroponic systems.
Hydroponic gardens can be ideal if managed correctly because they thrive in high humidity but need good air circulation to prevent root rot and fungus issues. The controlled system is a great way to ensure your rosemary plant gets all the humidity it wants without suffering from overwatering or poor air circulation.
An indoor hydroponic system can also recreate the optimal summer conditions all year round, giving you fresh green growth any day of the year.
The Benefits of Propagating Rosemary from Cuttings
Many gardeners prefer to propagate from cuttings when growing new rosemary plants for several reasons:
- Higher chance of success. Rosemary is notoriously difficult to grow from seed, with a germination rate of only 30%. Propagation from a cutting gives you a much higher chance of success.
- Grow it sooner. As well as having a low germination rate, rosemary takes a long time to sprout. You’ll save weeks and have a useable plant much sooner by starting from a cutting.
- Same as the mother plant. Your propagated rosemary plant will be genetically identical to the mother plant so that you can preserve your favorite kinds of growth, flavor, and disease resistance.
- Grow unlimited rosemary for free. By propagating rosemary from an existing plant, you can grow new rosemary plants indefinitely and never run out!
- Year-round fresh herbs. If you plan to grow your new rosemary plant indoors, whether in a hydroponic system or container, you can enjoy the fresh herb all year round.
How to Propagate Rosemary: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Propagating rosemary from a cutting is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to take a cutting from a healthy, established mother plant and grow your new rosemary bush.
1. Choose a Healthy Mother Plant
Since your new rosemary plant will be genetically identical to the mother plant, choosing a healthy plant is essential! If you have a choice of the mother plant, avoid plants with signs of root rot and powdery mildew.
2. Select New Shoots to Propagate
Next, choose a sprig of the mother plant to cut. A section with new growth is best.
Your chosen shoot should be:
- Healthy
- Young
- Green
- Flexible
- Non-flowering
- Four to six inches long
Avoid older sections with brown, woody stems.
3. Take a Cutting
Using sharp, clean scissors, cut your chosen stem at a forty-five-degree angle, four to six inches from the tip. It’s a good idea to take multiple cuttings in case you make a mistake, or one of your new plants fails to thrive.
If you don’t plan to propagate your cuttings straight away, you can store them in the fridge in a plastic bag.
4. Strip Off the Lower 2” of Leaves
To create a base for future roots, you’ll need to strip off the bottom two inches of leaves on each cutting. Do this by grasping your fingers around the stem and gently pulling downwards.
5. Place Your Cutting in Water
Place your cuttings in a container of room temperature water to provide them with the oxygen they need to grow roots.
Keep your cuttings in a warm area away from direct sunlight, and change the water every few days. It should take about 4 to 8 weeks for your cuttings to grow roots, although this will be slower in cooler temperatures.
6. Add Your New Rosemary Plant to the Garden
Once your rosemary has developed roots at least half an inch long, it’s ready to be added to your garden! You can transfer the cutting into the soil or your hydroponic or aquaponic growing medium.
How to Care for Your Rosemary Plant
Once established, rosemary is a hardy, dependable plant. It matures in its second growing season and can live for years. So, if you can nurse your cuttings through their first year of life, you’ll be rewarded with a fuss-free herb.
Here are a few essential tips for properly caring for your rosemary plant:
Full Sunlight
At least six hours of direct sunlight is ideal if growing outdoors.
For indoor plants, start your grow lights at six hours and adjust if your rosemary yellows or wilts (from too much light) or is stunted (from too little). Some hydroponic gardeners find 8 hours optimal.
Well-Draining Soil
Sandy soil is best for your rosemary, ranging from slightly acidic to neutral pH.
It also does well in a soilless medium.
Minimal Water
Rosemary is drought tolerant and can quickly develop root rot and powdery mildew if kept damp. Water it so that the soil is evenly moist but not soggy. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely between waterings and water less in winter when it is dormant.
In a hydroponic system, be sure to keep the water fresh. And if you are using a DWC type of hydroponic system, it’s essential to keep the nutrient solution level low to avoid root rot.
Warm Temperatures
Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant and prefers to live between 55 and 80 degrees. It has good heat tolerance.
Your rosemary plant will enjoy optimal summer growth if kept between 60 and 70 degrees in a hydroponic system.
Moderate to High Humidity
Rosemary enjoys a good amount of humidity and plenty of air circulation to wick away excess water. Some NFT hydroponic systems include a small dome, which you can place over the rosemary to control the humidity.
Light or No Fertilization
Rosemary is not a heavy feeder and can go without fertilizer in the soil unless you notice signs of nutrient loss like yellowing leaves.
If you’re a hydroponic gardener, the pH of your nutrient solution should be between 5.0 and 6.0 and range between 700 and 1120 ppm (parts per million). Change the nutrient solution every three weeks.
Frequent Pruning
Like many herbs, rosemary likes to be pruned. Trim the green tips as needed during spring and summer, and more growth will follow. Regular pruning will help keep your rosemary in a bushy rather than tall growth pattern.
Deadhead flowers at the stem to keep your rosemary potent.
Harvesting
When your plant is mature, you can harvest up to a third of the bush at a time without causing it too much stress.
How to Handle Common Rosemary Problems
Rosemary is a hardy plant once established, but it can suffer if it remains wet for too long. Overwatering is the cause of the four most common problems with growing rosemary, including:
Root Rot
Rosemary is particularly vulnerable to root rot from overwatering. Root rot is a disease that develops when the soil remains consistently damp.
If your rosemary shows signs of overwatering, such as yellowing leaves or dying branches, scale back watering immediately and remove any mulch at its base.
Unfortunately, it is too late to save your plant once root rot has advanced and taken over the entire root system. That’s why it’s so important to carefully manage your rosemary’s water intake and catch overwatering early.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that thrives in moist conditions, resulting from overwatering. You can identify powdery mildew by looking for a white or grey powder-like substance on the leaves and prematurely dropping leaves. Several treatments for powdery mildew include trimming the affected area, applying neem oil, using home remedies made from baking soda or milk or using fungicides.
To prevent powdery mildew, always water at the base of your plant and avoid overwatering.
However, if it does appear on your plant, you can try one of these solutions and apply liberally all over the top and bottom of affected leaves:
- Baking soda and castile soap. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with half a teaspoon of liquid soap and 1 gallon of water.
- Milk. Mix 1 part milk with 2-3 parts water.
- Neem oil. You can purchase this as a spray at your local nursery.
- Powdery mildew fungicide. Fungicides are typically recommended as a last resort, but if you’ve tried the methods above with no success, check your local nursery for a fungicide that says it tackles powdery mildew.
Spider Mites
Spider mites can hitchhike from outdoor plants and leave light webs around rosemary leaves. They enjoy the moist conditions created by overwatering.
If you notice spider mites, wash your rosemary with a soft cloth or a spray of lukewarm water to physically remove the mites. Insecticides are another option if needed for severe cases – as always, pay close attention to the instructions on the bottle.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats also like overwatered soil. These small fly-like insects quickly reproduce and cause damage over time. Not to mention, having them buzzing around can be incredibly annoying.
Sticky traps are effective weapons against fungus gnats. Set them up around your rosemary plant, and be sure to let the soil dry out completely.
You can also create a classic home-remedy fly trap by filling a container such as a drinking glass ¼-inch high with a mixture of vinegar and cider to act as bait. Then add a drop of liquid soap, which will break the surface tension and cause any gnats that land on it to drown. Refresh your trap every few days.
It can take a few weeks to completely get rid of fungus gnats because of their short lifecycles, so don’t be discouraged! Any new gnats appearing are likely hatching from eggs laid in the moist soil.
Botrytis Blight
Botrytis Blight is a fuzzy grey fungus that moves into dead or dying parts of the rosemary plant, then starts to kill off any remaining healthy tissue. It often moved from the center of the plant outwards and appears as yellow spots on the leaves or wet spots on stems.
If you spot botrytis blight on your rosemary, cut off the infected areas and prune to ensure good air circulation. If you use an organic mulch where more fungus may be living, replace it with an inorganic mulch like pea gravel.
Join the Ponics Life Club for More Gardening Tips and Tricks!
If you’d like to add rosemary to your garden, propagating new plants from cuttings is the most effective and affordable method! Giving it lots of sunlight and being careful not to overwater are the keys to success.
For more resources and tips to help your hydroponic garden thrive, join the Ponics Life Club by visiting the blog today!