How to Propagate Rosemary Plants

Propagate rosemary plants to create new plants.

The herb rosemary grows readily in a sunny herb garden, becoming a thriving shrub of aromatic greenery. With its leaves that appear evergreen and similar to pine trees, rosemary will add a delightful presence to any growing area. When you have a healthy rosemary plant, consider propagating rosemary plants by stem cuttings to create new plants. The propagation process is surprisingly simple and rosemary cooperates easily to produce additional rosemary plants for your garden.

Things You'll Need

• Small planting container (4-inch diameter)
• Potting soil
• Spray bottle (filled with water)
• Pruning shears
• Rooting hormone
• Small stake
• Plastic bag (gallon size)
• Rubber band

Instructions

1. Fill the planting container to the top with potting soil. Mist the top of the potting soil with water from the spray bottle to moisten the soil.

2. Cut a stem from a healthy rosemary plant during the early summer. Use the pruning shears to remove a stem approximately 4 to 6 inches long from current growth on the rosemary plant. Make the cut immediately below a leaf node on the stem.

3. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stem and coat the bottom 2 inches of the stem with rooting hormone.

4. Insert the stem into the center of the planting container, pushing the stem approximately 3 inches into the soil. Firm the soil around the stem to ensure it stays straight in the container.

5. Place the plastic bag over the top of the container and secure the bag to the container with a rubber band. Insert a small stake into the potting soil to support the bag and keep it from contacting the rosemary cutting, if necessary.

6. Place the container in a warm location (approximately 70 F) with indirect sunlight. Remove the bag every day and spray the soil surface to keep it moist.

7. Check the cutting for rooting after approximately two weeks. If you see new growth on the cutting, this indicates rooting. Pull gently on the cutting and if it resists your tugs, this also indicates rooting. Leave the bag open on one side to get the cutting acclimated to less humid air gradually. After one more week, remove the bag.

8. Continue to water the cutting in the container for approximately two more weeks. After this time, transplant it outside or move it to a larger container.

References

• University of Arkansas: Cutting Propagation