Propagation of rosemary by cuttings at home

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Rosemary is propagated by seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings, layering. In regions with warm winters, you can use any of them without fear that the young plant will freeze. Where winters are cold, you have to focus on weather conditions and, based on this, choose a convenient option.

In nature, rosemary grows where it is warm all year round and has a sufficient amount of moisture, so the southern regions are suitable for year-round cultivation; in temperate climates it does not tolerate low temperatures - the root system will freeze. Lovers of exotic plants have learned to cope with this problem - in the summer the heat-loving crop is planted in open ground, and in the winter it is transplanted into a pot and grown as an indoor ornamental plant.

On a note!

In open ground, the roots develop better, the bush grows larger, stronger, and after transplanting into a pot it quickly adapts to a new place.

If you want to get a larger number of bushes, many people prefer to propagate rosemary using cuttings . Growing rosemary from cuttings at home has a number of advantages over other methods:

• unlike the seed method, flowering will begin the next year;
• all varietal characteristics are preserved, whereas when propagated by seeds they may change;
• planting material can be purchased in a store, in a nursery, or obtained from an adult plant that you or your neighbors have;
• propagated by cuttings in spring, summer, autumn;
• germination and rooting occurs in a short time;
• root in water, soil, hydrogel;
• One long branch will produce several cuttings.

The disadvantages of this method include the difficulty in acquiring material for cuttings - in small settlements there are no specialized stores, and the spice is not sold fresh. Seeds can be ordered from an online store, but a fresh sprig cannot be ordered.

Growing from seeds

Another way to propagate rosemary is by growing it from seeds. Seeds take a long time to germinate, which must be taken into account when using this method of flower propagation. Start germinating seeds no later than a month to a month and a half before the onset of warm weather. To speed up the process, they can be pre-germinated in gauze soaked in water.

How to propagate ampelous geranium at home

Procedure:

1. The seeds are placed in prepared soil at a distance of 2 cm from each other and moistened.
2. Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top and sprinkle with water again.
3. The container is placed in a warm place, inaccessible to direct sunlight and with good ventilation.

Important! The soil should not be allowed to dry out, so it must be watered on time.

When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to improve the lighting. Before rooting rosemary in separate containers, you need to wait until the real leaves appear.

Growing a flower from seeds

Harvesting cuttings

Cuttings are purchased from gardening farms, nurseries, and specialized stores. You can use sprigs of fresh herbs bought in a store or market as a spice. For seven days they retain the ability to take root. To choose a material suitable for germination, you need to pay attention to the dates indicated on the packaging and its quality. The leaves of fresh branches are elastic, dense, have a rich green color, the stem is elastic, flexible, while branches cut long ago have dark leaves and dry skin.

If there is an adult plant, then you can cut it in spring, summer, autumn, and in winter it rests. To cut planting material, use the apical part of the shoots. A long branch will produce several cuttings - each should be 8-10 cm long, the lower cut is made obliquely to increase the area in contact with water and soil, leaves are removed from 2/3 of the length.

Cutting rosemary is the fastest way to get a lush spicy bush

In flower shops you can often find pots with lush rosemary bushes. However, there is a more affordable way to grow aromatic herbs - rosemary cuttings. If the price for a potted crop is steep, then planting material for cuttings can be purchased much cheaper. The easiest option is to ask for cuttings from friends who grow spices. You can also buy a package of rosemary greens at the store. These branches also take root well if they are fresh and done correctly.

How to determine the freshness of store-bought rosemary

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the dates on the packaging. Rosemary that has passed its expiration date will already be well-wilted and is unlikely to take root.

Some unscrupulous sellers re-label packages of greens before the holidays. Therefore, you should not trust the numbers too much, but it is better to carefully examine the branches. Recently cut, fresh rosemary has elastic leaves, rich in color and without various spots. If the tips of the leaves begin to dry out and turn black, and they themselves are flaccid, it will not be possible to take high-quality cuttings from such shoots.

Cuttings of rosemary - subtleties of preparing cuttings and methods of rooting

Very long branches are not needed for propagation. Cuttings about 15 cm long are sufficient. If the stems purchased in the store are very tall, they can be cut into stems.

At the bottom of the cuttings, where the roots will grow, you need to tear off all the leaves. The stem should be “bald” at a height of approximately 5 cm.

There are two ways to root rosemary cuttings:

1. In water. The lower exposed part of the shank should be completely submerged in water. The plant takes a long time to grow roots, but after 14-16 days they can be seen. To prevent moisture from quickly evaporating from the glass, it must be covered with cardboard. Make a cut in it and insert the cuttings, fixing them. You can add an activated carbon tablet or a little Fitosporin solution to the water itself.
2. Immediately in the soil. It should be very loose. Under natural conditions, rosemary grows in soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. The soil for indoor rosemary must meet the same requirements. Do not forget about good drainage, because excess moisture is detrimental to the plant. Until the cuttings take root, they need to be kept under a cover.

If possible, it is better to use a cutting with a heel. It takes root faster.

When developed roots form on the cuttings, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. If this is a garden, then planting should be done no earlier than the end of May, so that the bushes do not die from frost. In pots, rosemary will feel great in the room, but in the summer it is advisable to take it outside.

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Rooting methods

To plant rosemary from a cutting, it must first be rooted, i.e. create conditions conducive to root growth. To do this, you need small cups with a volume of 200-250 ml, water or universal soil for seedlings. Instead of soil, hydrogel and various mixtures are used:

• soil + sand + drainage;
• equal parts of leaf soil, peat and sand;
• coconut flakes + drainage;
• vermiculite + sand.

When rooting in water, you can place several branches in one cup, securing them on cardboard with holes - cardboard reduces moisture evaporation and provides stability. Rapid rooting is facilitated by the addition of ½ tablet of activated carbon. If you plan to root in the ground and plan to grow in a flowerpot or large pot, then it is advisable to place 2-3 cuttings in one cup so that they can be transplanted into a coma of earth without separating them; if the seedlings are planted in open ground, then it is better to place one in a cup stalk. A cut of a cutting placed in the ground is treated with Kornevin.

On a note!

It is recommended to place the branch closer to the wall, deepening it 2 cm into the mixture (water). According to gardeners, with this placement it is convenient to observe the growth of roots, and rooting in this case occurs faster.

The container is covered with a translucent bag and placed in a warm, bright place, but not in direct sun. Care consists of ventilating the greenhouse, moistening the soil, and adding water. During rooting, it is important to prevent stagnation of moisture, drying out of the soil, or hypothermia - in such conditions, roots may not appear.

How to further care for seedlings

2 weeks before moving into the soil, seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, on the first day it is enough to open the window and ventilate the room with drawers. Then the container is taken outside for 3-4 hours.

Important! Rosemary can hardly tolerate frosty weather, so planting the crop in open ground is permissible only after it has been warmed to +5... +10 degrees.

A sunny place that is protected from drafts and wind is suitable for planting the crop. It is advisable to place the bush in an area with loose sandy soil. Insufficient lighting slows down the development of shrubs.

Rosemary should be watered in a timely manner, but excess moisture negatively affects the condition of the crop. To prevent stagnation of water, it is worth placing drainage in the recesses before planting. Its functions can be performed by expanded clay or large pebbles.

Transplanting into the ground: timing

For planting rosemary, select a place where conditions are similar to the natural growing environment - a semi-shaded, but not shady, area where the sun is at least half of the daylight hours. It must be protected from draft winds by trees, bushes, and buildings. The crop prefers loose, fertile soil; it does not grow on heavy, alkaline soils.

Brief description - what is rosemary

The plant is known as a medicinal plant, many use it as a spice and as a plant that contains essential oils and purifies the air. It can be grown in a garden plot only in the southern regions, since rosemary is quite capricious and demanding; it is a heat-loving plant.

In temperate regions, it is recommended to grow rosemary indoors. At the same time, you should avoid the main mistakes that many amateur gardeners make.

Origin

• Under natural conditions, rosemary can be found in the Mediterranean, northern Africa and southern Europe. These regions are considered the birthplace of the plant. In Russia, rosemary does not grow under natural conditions, but since 1813 it has appeared in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. As a cultivated plant, it can only be grown in Crimea, where the climate is suitable.
• Rosemary has been known since ancient times. It was used as a medicinal plant and an original spice by the ancient Romans, Egyptians and Greeks. To this day, the amazing “Christmas tree” has remained in demand and popular.
• Many people grow cute bushes as ornamental plants with interesting needles and blue flowers.

Morphological characteristics

1. Rosemary officinalis or common is a subshrub or shrub. It is classified as a member of the Lamiaceae family and the Rosemary genus.
2. Bushes can have a height from half a meter to several meters. The branches have a pubescent surface, their structure is tetrahedral.
3. The leaves are linear, evergreen and located on very small shoots. The upper part of the leaves is slightly rounded and compacted, and may curl slightly.
4. Flowering is expressed by almost sessile flowers, which form 5 - 10 false racemes. Formed on the upper parts of branches. The corolla is pubescent on the outside and has a bluish-blue color with a violet tone.
5. At the end of the flowering period, fruits are formed - oval, with rounded edges, a smooth surface, brownish-brown color, nut-shaped.
6. The flowering period begins in the second half of April and continues until mid-May. In hot countries, rosemary can bloom until November.

Care

Rosemary is a heat-loving and moisture-loving crop - under natural conditions it grows in areas where it is warm, sunny, and has a sufficient amount of moisture and nutrients (Mediterranean, southern Europe). After transplanting the seedling into the ground, it needs to create a similar environment.

Care measures:

• when watering, focus on weather conditions - in cloudy, cool weather, water in smaller volumes than in hot weather, pour water under the roots, for young plants use a diffuser so as not to wash the roots;
• fertilizing - if the soil is well fertilized when planting, then there is no need for additional nutrition; on infertile lands you can fertilize with mullein (200 g infused in a bucket of water for a week, diluted 1:10) or mineral fertilizers (“Vegetable bed”, “Universal” );
• loosening and weeding - carried out several times a season, keeping the soil loose, moisture- and breathable;
• the crop is resistant to infectious agents, and phytoncides repel insect pests, but sometimes dry hot weather provokes the appearance of spider mites and aphids - to destroy insects, you need to wash the bush with water from a hose, watering can, then treat it with a solution of laundry soap or infusion of tobacco, garlic, soil under powder the bush with ash.

How to propagate rosemary by layering shoots

Rosemary - growing in an apartment, care

It is convenient to propagate an adult bush by layering shoots in the spring. Under 2-3 strong shoots, a groove is made to a depth of 5 cm. The shoots are bent to the ground, fixed with brackets, covered with soil and intensively watered. It is recommended to feed the cuttings with mineral fertilizers a couple of times a month so that they take root by autumn. After this, the cuttings are separated from the main bush and planted. For regions with frost, layerings are first planted in pots and then transplanted into open ground in the spring.

Reproduction by layering of shoots

Growing in a pot

A rooted cutting can be transplanted into a flowerpot or pot, grown outside in the summer, and brought indoors with the onset of autumn cold weather - the overgrown bush will become an element of the interior, helping to purify and aromatize the air. Just like on the street, it requires certain conditions.

On a note!

The volume of the container must be selected taking into account the development of the plant. The root system of the crop is superficial, so the width of the pot is more important than the height; there must be a drainage hole - when moisture stagnates, the roots begin to rot.

Conditions of detention:

• in winter, when the plant enters a dormant period, the temperature should be lower than in summer - +6-15 ° C, so choose a cool place on a window, insulated balcony, loggia, lower the air temperature near the pot using containers with snow, ice, ventilation (not draft);
• the lack of light is compensated for by installing phytolamps, fluorescent lamps, and periodically turning the pot 180°;
• It is necessary to water regularly, but moderately - the soil should be moist, but not soggy;
• humidify the air near the plant with a spray bottle, trying not to get it on the leaves, by placing containers with water nearby, or pour a little water into a pan, pouring a layer of small pebbles, pebbles, and expanded clay into it;
• fertilize in the spring, when the growing season begins, and in the summer, using organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

Growing a fragrant rosemary bush from a twig is not at all difficult - the main thing is to know the characteristics and needs of the crop. A beautiful ornamental plant will not only decorate your garden, vegetable garden, or room, but will also replenish the supply of spicy aromatic spices used in preparing various home-cooked dishes.

How to plant rosemary

If rosemary will serve only a decorative function, the seedlings are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. Seedlings of future bushes, from which the harvest will be carried out for medicinal purposes, are planted at a distance of at least half a meter from each other.

It is recommended to water rosemary moderately: every other day on hot days, once a week in cool weather. Watering is carried out with warm water in the evening, excluding drops from falling on the leaves. Loosening and weeding must be carried out approximately once a month. Crusty soil will not allow warm air to reach the roots, and weeds will cause stagnation of water.

Important! Excess moisture in the soil under a rosemary bush leads to rotting of the root system and the appearance of fungi and bacteria. Prolonged exposure to overdried soil slows growth, the plant cannot bloom, the leaves wither and turn yellow.

Rosemary growing in the house does not particularly need frequent feeding. It is enough to fertilize the bush once a month with a mineral and organic mixture. The dosage is strictly calculated according to the instructions.

Starting from the second year of life, the crown of the bush is thinned out, diseased, damaged shoots are pruned. To add fluffiness, the tops are pinched off. Once every six years, all shoots are cut off to rejuvenate the plant. It is best to do this in the warm season, around the first half of April.

For your information! For the winter, rosemary is dug out from open ground, transplanted into pots and grown at home. In the southern regions, it is enough to cover the roots of the bush with sawdust, straw or agrofibre.

The article provided information on how to root rosemary and propagate by seeds, cuttings or layering. It will 100% help you decide on the choice of method, and this fragrant crop will decorate your garden plot for many years.

Soil preparation

The rosemary plant, the cultivation of which is a process, although simple, is always risky, and is very sensitive to the soil. The shrub does not like alkaline, clay and heavy soils; the soil should be loose and not retain water. The grass does not tolerate drought, but its roots can begin to rot if overwatered.

For seedlings, you should prepare beds from a mixture of high-quality soil, coarse sand, and peat, digging them thoroughly. The place for planting rosemary should be sunny, ventilated, but not in a strong draft. The herb goes well with other garden herbs and vegetables.

A few days before planting, it is advisable to fertilize the soil with a nutrient mixture. The soil moisture should be moderate.

Types and varieties of rosemary with photos

There are only 3-4 types of rosemary in nature, but only medicinal rosemary is cultivated by gardeners and flower growers. A description of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) , or medicinal, can be found at the beginning of this article. The following varieties of erect rosemary officinalis are the most popular in cultivation:

• Benenden Blue - the stems of the compact bush have an arched shape;
• Albiflorus - flower color is white;
• Roseus - flowers are pink in color;
• Seven Sea and Tusken Blue - the height of the bushes of these varieties is no more than half a meter.

This species also has a variety - prostratus, or prostrate rosemary: this evergreen subshrub reaches 0.5 m in height, and it can grow one and a half meters in width. The foliage of this variety resembles spruce needles, namely, it is leathery, dense, bright green, and has a white vein in the center. During flowering, small flowers of lilac or blue color are formed. Gardeners often use rosemary as a ground cover plant. This variety has several common varieties:

• Corsica Prostratus;
• Venzano Prostratus;
• creeping;
• lavender - this shrub is characterized by slow growth, and is decorated with small, rich green leaves and blue flowers.

Properties of rosemary: benefits and harms

Medicinal properties of rosemary

Since ancient times, rosemary has been a symbol of prosperity, abundance and longevity. That is why newlyweds were given a wedding gift in the form of a sprig of rosemary. This shrub was also used as a medicinal plant with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, tonic and wound-healing effects. This plant was used in the treatment of rheumatism, hypotension, exhaustion, radiculitis, sexual weakness, and it was also used for menopause. This shrub is also used in the treatment of certain heart diseases, colds, and it also helps to rejuvenate the body and stimulate blood circulation. It is also used as an effective remedy in the fight against cellulite and obesity.

Rosemary oil is highly valued. They treat boils, acne, infected wounds and eczema. Oil is extracted from leaves, young shoots and flowers by treating them with steam. Ordinary rosemary is also used in cooking as a seasoning, for example, it is added to meat and fish dishes, as well as to sauces, salads and tea.

Rosemary Medicinal Properties

Propagation of rosemary by dividing the bush

If rosemary is already growing on the site, it is propagated by dividing the rhizomes. This method is used when transplanting a bush. Every year, shrubs over 5 years old need rejuvenation. By transplanting, you can not only rejuvenate the plant, but also get new seedlings.

The need to replant rosemary also arises when the bush grows in the wrong place: it lacks moisture or sun. It is recommended to carry out this procedure in cases where the shrub is in a lowland or suffers from excess moisture in the soil.

The work is carried out in spring or autumn, when sap flow in plants slows down. As a result, the shrub tolerates planting better and takes root faster in a new location.

Instructions for propagating rosemary by dividing the bush:

1. The shrub is dug out of the ground or removed from the pot.
2. The roots are cleared from the ground and divided into parts. Use pruning shears or other tools that are pre-disinfected.
3. Each seedling must have several roots and shoots. If there are old, diseased or dried branches, they are removed.
4. The cut areas are treated with charcoal.
5. The roots of the seedlings are immersed in water with the addition of a growth stimulator.
6. All that remains is to plant the rosemary in containers or in the garden bed.