Sweet, mystical, fresh and balsamic are a few of the words used to describe lavender. Lavandula, also known as lavender, is a genus of plants in the mint family. This elegant plant is native to countries around the Mediterranean.
There are about 30 species, and we find lavenders in many herb gardens. Lavenders are famous for their sweet fragrances and attractive flowers.
Many famous companies use this plant in creating varieties of products. Historically, Ancient Romans used lavender in their baths.
No wonder William Shakespeare wrote, here is flowers for you; hot lavender, mints, savoury majoram. Greeks have also used this plant for ages in herbal medicine.
In this post, you will learn how to grow lavender from cuttings, even if you've never done it before.
Table of Contents
Can You Grow Lavender from Cuttings?
Yes, you can grow lavender from cuttings. In fact, propagating lavender from cuttings is super easy and has a more chance of survival than growing it from seeds.
When grown from cuttings, you can rest assured that your newly planted lavender will grow to be just like the parent plants.
Growing lavender is so much fun. Thinking of their beautiful purple flowers and aromatic scents is even more motivation to learn how to grow them.
Many people love to cultivate lavender. For different reasons, be it therapy or cooking, this makes it such a unique plant. The following steps will guide you as you learn how to grow lavender from cuttings.
When Should Lavender Cuttings Be Taken?
We recommend you take lavender cuttings during mid-late summer, which is usually their active growing season. Also, make sure you propagate the plant when it's humid and hot outside.
Lavender plants may not root properly (or at all) if you take the cuttings too late in the summer or fall when the plant has started going dormant for the winter season.
Read Also: How to Grow Sage From Cuttings
How to Grow Lavender From Cuttings
There are different species of lavender. So when thinking about growing lavender, you need to decide on the species you want. The primary species are the French lavender, the English lavender and the woolly lavender.
Step 1: Buy a lavender plant
After selecting the lavender of your choice, you must purchase a new plant. Carefully search for a beautiful plant, not a plant with curly leaves or shriveled leaves, but a robust-looking plant.
As much as possible, avoid any lavender looking weak.
According to Dr Leonard Perry, the Extension professor university of Vermont, in a summer news article, growing and using lavender:
Lavenders grown from seeds germinate, but the cultivars often will not “come true” or have the same desired traits if grown from seeds, and seeds are hard to germinate.
Step 2: Take your cuttings
Keep in mind that you must select cutting off branches that haven’t flowered yet. Select a mature lavender plant, not an immature one.
The stems you select should be long enough with about five leaf nodes and enough growth at the top.
Step 3: Cut off some leaves
After collecting cuttings from your lavender plant, take off three leaves from the stem. You can use your scissors, pruning shears, or your fingers to pick them off the stem.
The spot where you remove the roots from the stem is where your roots will spring out from. Keep in mind that a healthy lavender plant will have a unique sweet scent.
Step 4: Put the stem inside a pot
The next step is to hold the bottom end of your stem and put it inside a pot of light compost. You can dip the end in a rooting hormone to enable it to root faster.
Make sure your soil is moist, not overly moist and not too dry. Lavenders do great in well-drained soil. This helps you get a better chance at growing your lavender.
Step 5: Make a hole in your bed
Make holes in your already prepared bed. You can use your finger to make the holes; dip them in. Dip your lavender in the holes and gradually gather the soil around the hole and cover the hole.
Ensure it sticks to the cutting and grips it in the soil. Repeat this process to all your cuttings, and make sure you space them.
Step 6: Place the pot in a warm place
Place the pots of your lavender cuttings in a warm shaded place away from sunlight. You can cover your cuttings using a plastic bag.
This will help to provide you with some humidity. However, if the weather is highly humid, you can skip this step because lavender roots need a high humidity level to form roots. You also want to keep the pot safe from heavy rain and wind.
Once your lavender has grown roots, it is clear at the top of the cuttings that it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to form its roots.
Growing lavender from cuttings is very rewarding. Now, leave your cuttings in a safe spot away from heavy winds and rains.
Step 7: It needs sunlight
When your lavender grows appropriately, it needs full sunlight. They need air to thrive and ensure they get enough nutrients.
However, while plants love nutrients, they also dislike overly nutritious soil, so it’s best to balance. You can fertilize your lavender soil using fish emulsion or liquid seaweed.
If you live around deer and rabbits, you need not worry because they dislike lavender oils and fragrances.
Read Also: How to Grow Rutabaga From Cuttings
Step 8: Care for your lavender plant
Be sure to weed your plant often. Do not flood them with water because you will have to deal with fungal rots. Lavenders grow for about three years.
Biologists advise you to harvest lavender flowers in the morning because their scents are more robust.
Research has also revealed that caterpillars and four-lined plant bugs are occasional pests. Growing lavender from cuttings is worthwhile because the result is beautiful and lavenders outweigh the stress of growing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I root lavender in water?
Yes, you can root lavender cuttings in water, and the process is straightforward. Just put the lavender cuttings in a container of plain water at room temperature.
Does lavender regrow when cut?
It all depends on how you cut the plant. You must cut just above the tiny shoots, often almost at the bottom of the stem. The plant will not regrow and will probably die if you cut down below the shoots.
Why do my lavender cuttings keep dying?
Some of the primary reasons why your lavender cuttings keep dying are:
- Dry soil: You’re not watering them enough
- Soaked soil: Soaked soil can lead to roots rot, and you need to stop watering at once
- Cutting is too big: You want to ensure that your cuttings are always between 10 and 12 cm.
How long do cuttings take to root in water?
It will generally take cuttings about 3-4 weeks to root in water; however, some plants will take longer. The cuttings are usually ready to be potted up when the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer.
How do you take cuttings from lavender?
To take cuttings from lavender, just get a ratchet hand pruner and cut gently, moving along the plant. Remember that it’s important to leave some inches of green growth on the lavender plant, which is very good for its survival.
Furthermore, avoid going down to the woody portion of the stem as this can be risky and might stunt the plant's growth for next year.
Does honey work as a rooting hormone?
No, honey will not help cuttings produce roots as it does not contain any rooting hormone.
