Lavender Plant
Lavender requires proper pruning once every two years. The pruning scraps can be used to propagate new lavender plants. Lavender can be propagated from both softwood and hardwood cuttings. All you need is to wait one full year for the cutting to establish and grow impressively in its pot.
How to Propagate Lavender?
Lavender is one of the most popular aromatic plants, almost always found in home gardens. You can propagate lavender to obtain new seedlings identical to the mother plant by following these steps:
1. Taking the Cuttings
When taking lavender cuttings, focus on side branches growing from a main stem—either young shoots or hardwood stems that snap when bent.
The cuttings must not contain flower buds, even tiny ones, and should be 8–10 cm long.
If the cutting has leaves all the way to the tip, remove most of them while keeping the leafy top intact.
2. Trimming the Cutting Tip
If the cutting has a node, cut the stem just below the node.
If no node is present, cut just below the lowest leaf joint, which is usually removed during preparation.
Then, gently scrape one side of the bottom end using a sharp knife.
This prepares the cutting for faster root development.
3. Planting the Cutting
Before planting, dip the end of the cutting into rooting hormone to stimulate root formation.
Insert the cuttings 5 cm deep close to the edge of a plastic pot filled with organic compost or a suitable potting mix.
Lightly cover the surface with gravel or bark to help improve drainage.
4. Covering the Cuttings
After planting all cuttings, cover the pot with a transparent plastic bag and seal it tightly at the bottom to maintain humidity.
This step is essential in cold weather, but unnecessary in warm climates.
5. Storing the Pot
Place the pot in a warm, shaded area with indirect light.
Softwood cuttings usually begin to root within 4 weeks, while hardwood cuttings take longer.
To check rooting progress, gently pull the cutting—if it resists, roots have formed.
At this point, open a small hole in the plastic bag for ventilation.
6. Removing the Plastic Bag
After a few more weeks, remove the plastic bag completely.
Leave the young plants in place until their root system becomes stronger, then transplant them individually.
7. Watering Young Seedlings
Watering should be light and infrequent.
Allow the soil to dry to a depth of 2.5 cm before watering again.
8. Fertilization
Feed the young lavender plants with a liquid fertilizer once per week.
