How to Take Lavender Cuttings: Step-by-Step Guide
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If you're anything like me, the sight and scent of lavender can instantly uplift your spirits.
It's not just a plant; it's a little piece of aromatic heaven that can transform gardens with its vibrant colors and soothing fragrance. Now, imagine being able to multiply this joy by taking your own lavender cuttings.
It sounds like a specialist task, doesn't it?
But here's the good news: it's surprisingly simple, and you definitely don't need a green thumb to succeed.
In this guide, I will walk you through the steps to take healthy lavender cuttings that promise to grow into robust plants.
Whether you're looking to expand your own lavender collection or share the love with friends and family, mastering this skill will open up a new world for you.
To learn more about growing lavender, check out my guides:
What You WILL Need
Before you begin, gather these essential items:
Taking Lavender Cuttings: Step by Step
Step 1: Select Your Cutting
Lavender plants produce two types of cuttings: softwood and hardwood.
Softwood cuttings are green and flexible and are taken from the current year's growth, usually in the spring.
Hardwood cuttings are taken in late fall or winter, from the previous year's growth.
For best results, choose a mature lavender plant that is healthy and vigorous.
Look for shoots that are approximately 4-6 inches long and cut just below the node (the point where leaves join the stem) with a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears.
These pruning shears are perfect for the job:
Step 2: Prepare the Cutting
Once you've taken your cutting, the next step is to prepare it for rooting.
Start by removing the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Be gentle to avoid damaging the stem.
This area is where the roots will sprout.
Step 3: Optional Rooting Hormone Application
Although lavender cuttings can root without the aid of a rooting hormone, using one can increase the odds of successful rooting, especially for hardwood cuttings.
Dip the end of your cutting in the hormone before proceeding to the next step.
Here is the rooting hormone powder I recommend:
Step 4: Plant the Cutting
Prepare a pot with well-draining potting soil.
Make a hole in the soil with a pencil or similar object and insert the lower end of the cutting into the hole.
Firm the soil around the cutting, ensuring it stands upright.
Here is the potting soil for propagation I recommend using.
Step 5: Encourage Humidity
To help your cutting retain moisture, cover the pot with a clear plastic bag.
This acts as a mini greenhouse, allowing light in while maintaining a high humidity level that promotes root development.
However, ensure the plastic does not touch the cutting as this can cause the cutting to rot.
Step 6: Caring for Your Cutting
Water your cutting thoroughly, then place it in a bright location out of direct sunlight.
You'll need to maintain a moist environment, so water lightly if the soil dries out. However, avoid overwatering as it can lead to root rot.
Your cutting will start developing roots within 2-4 weeks.
You can gently tug the cutting after this period - if you feel resistance, it's likely that roots have formed.
Once the plant has a strong root system, it can be moved to a larger pot or planted out in the garden.
Keep in mind that not all cuttings will successfully root, so it's a good idea to take several at once to increase your chances of success. Remember, patience is key when propagating plants, as they require time to grow and establish their roots.
With the right care and environment, you'll soon have an abundance of new lavender plants to enjoy.
Want to learn more about propagation? Check out my guides:
Can You Take Lavender Cuttings in Winter?
Lavender plants are quite hardy and versatile, allowing them to be propagated at various times throughout the year, including in winter.
The type of cuttings typically taken in the colder months are called hardwood cuttings.
Hardwood cuttings come from the mature, woody parts of the plant that have grown in the previous season. They are usually taken from late autumn to late winter when the lavender plant is in its dormant stage.
The benefit of taking hardwood cuttings is that they are typically more robust and less likely to succumb to rot or fungal diseases compared to their softwood counterparts.
Here are a few tips if you're planning to take hardwood lavender cuttings in winter:
Choose a Healthy Plant
Select a healthy, mature lavender plant to take your cuttings from. The parent plant's health can significantly influence the success rate of the cuttings.
Cut at the Right Spot
Look for a piece of stem that is firm and mature, but not overly thick or woody. The ideal cutting is about 4-6 inches long, taken just below a node (the place where a leaf joins the stem).
Prepare the Cutting
After taking the cutting, remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. This prevents moisture loss and encourages root development.
Rooting
Plant the cuttings in a container with well-draining potting mix, and place it in a protected location like a cold frame or a sheltered spot outdoors.
Unlike softwood cuttings taken in spring or summer, hardwood cuttings don't require a high humidity environment, so there's no need for a plastic bag covering.
Patience
Rooting hardwood cuttings takes longer than softwood cuttings. It may take several months before you see any signs of growth, so patience is key.
Care
Once spring arrives and growth begins, care for them as you would any young lavender plant. Ensure they are watered regularly (but not waterlogged) and are in a location with good sunlight.
Check out my guide: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Electric Propagators.
How Long Do Lavender Cuttings Take to Root?
The time it takes for lavender cuttings to root can vary, often depending on the type of cutting (softwood versus hardwood), the specific variety of lavender, and the conditions in which the cuttings are kept.
Generally, lavender cuttings can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to root.
Softwood Cuttings
These are cuttings taken from new growth in the spring or early summer. Softwood cuttings usually root faster than hardwood cuttings.
You can often expect roots to start forming in approximately 2-4 weeks under ideal conditions.
Hardwood Cuttings
These are cuttings taken from mature, woody growth in the late fall or winter.
Hardwood cuttings are generally slower to root, potentially taking anywhere from 6-10 weeks or even longer.
Here are a few factors that can affect the time it takes for lavender cuttings to root:
Environment: Providing a warm, humid environment can speed up rooting.
Covering the pot with a clear plastic bag can help maintain humidity and warmth.
Care: Regular watering, without overwatering, can promote quicker root development.
The soil should be kept moist, but not waterlogged.
Light: While lavender cuttings should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent drying out, they still require good light for rooting.
A bright, indirect light source is ideal.
Rooting Hormone: Using a rooting hormone can also expedite the rooting process, but lavender can root successfully without it.
While it can be tempting to tug on your cuttings to see if they've rooted, it's best to wait at least a few weeks before testing them.
By providing the right conditions and care, your lavender cuttings will eventually form roots and grow into new, healthy plants.
Why Do My Lavender Cuttings Keep Dying?
This could be due to several factors, including overwatering, inadequate light, or disease.
Ensuring the right growing conditions and care are critical to successful propagation.
1. Overwatering or Underwatering
Maintaining the right moisture balance is key when rooting cuttings.
Overwatering can lead to rot, while underwatering can cause the cutting to dry out and die.
The potting mix should be kept consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
2. Poor Lighting
While cuttings need to be protected from direct sunlight, which can dry them out too quickly, they still need plenty of indirect light to promote healthy growth.
Lavender does really well in west facing gardens.
3. Incorrect Temperature
Lavender cuttings root best in warm conditions.
If they're too cold, they may not root properly and could die off. Aim to keep your cuttings in a location where the temperature remains consistently between 60-70°F (15-21°C).
4. Lack of Humidity
Humidity can help prevent the cuttings from drying out before they have a chance to root.
Covering the pot with a plastic bag or placing it in a propagator can help maintain a humid environment.
5. Fungal Diseases
If cuttings are too wet or are kept in poor-quality soil, they can fall prey to fungal diseases like damping-off, which can cause them to suddenly wilt and die.
6. Unhealthy Parent Plant
The health of the parent plant can significantly affect the success rate of the cuttings. Always take cuttings from a robust, healthy lavender plant.
7. Timing
Timing can also play a role. Softwood cuttings are usually taken in the spring and early summer, while hardwood cuttings are taken in the fall and winter.
8. Too Much Fertilizer
While it may seem that providing extra nutrients would help your cuttings grow, too much fertilizer can actually harm young cuttings, causing root burn and potentially killing the plant.
Here are a few tips to avoid these issues:
Monitor your watering to ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
For more watering tips, check out my guide How to Use Watering Globes.
Use a clear plastic bag or propagator to create a mini-greenhouse and increase humidity.
Place your cuttings in a warm, well-lit area away from direct sunlight.
Always take cuttings from healthy, disease-free plants.
Wait until the cutting has rooted and established before introducing any kind of fertilizer.
Equip your urban green space with my recommend top tier tools.
Can you plant lavender cuttings directly in soil?
Yes, you can plant lavender cuttings directly in soil, but it's generally best to root them in a small pot or propagation tray first.
This allows for better control over the environment they're in, making it easier to provide the ideal conditions for root development.
If you want to try planting lavender cuttings directly in the soil, here's a basic guide:
Prepare the Planting Area
Choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sun and has well-drained soil.
Lavender does not do well in areas with poor drainage or where the soil stays damp. You can improve the drainage of your soil by adding compost or sand.
Prepare the Cutting
Take a cutting from a mature lavender plant. The cutting should be 4-6 inches long and taken from below a node (the point where leaves join the stem).
Remove the lower leaves, leaving only a few at the top.
Plant the Cutting
Dig a hole that's deep enough to accommodate the lower half or third of your cutting. Place the cutting in the hole and backfill with soil, firming it gently around the base of the cutting.
Care for the Cutting
Water the cutting lightly, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. After the initial watering, allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Remember, cuttings planted directly in garden soil face a tougher challenge than those rooted in pots, as they're exposed to harsher conditions and potential pests.
Therefore, it's often recommended to start lavender cuttings in pots or propagation trays, then transfer them to the garden once they've developed a strong root system. However, with good care and attention, direct soil planting can be successful too.
Learn how to use lavender as a natural cat repellant in the garden with my guide Plants That Deter Cats: A Natural Solution to Keep Cats at Bay.
How to Propagate Lavender from Seed?
1. Source Your Lavender Seeds
Be aware that lavender seeds can take a long time to germinate and the germination rate can be low, so you may want to start with more seeds than the number of plants you're aiming for.
Here are the organic lavender seeds I recommend:
2. Preparing Your Seeds
Before sowing, it's a good idea to stratify your lavender seeds. Stratification involves mimicking the natural process that seeds would go through over winter, which can increase germination rates.
To stratify your seeds, place them in a sealed plastic bag with damp sand or a damp paper towel and store them in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.
3. Sow Your Seeds
After stratification, sow your seeds in a seed tray or pots filled with seed compost.
Lightly cover the seeds with additional compost or a layer of vermiculite.
Do not bury them too deep, as lavender seeds need some light to germinate.
4. Maintain Humidity
To help retain moisture, cover the seed tray or pots with a clear plastic bag or place them in a propagator.
Keep them in a warm location, ideally between 70-75°F (21-24°C).
5. Watering and Care
Water your seeds carefully to avoid washing them away. The soil should remain consistently damp, but not waterlogged.
Germination can take anywhere from 2 weeks to a few months. During this time, it's important to keep the growing medium damp and the environment humid.
6. Potting On
Once your seedlings have produced their first set of true leaves (not to be confused with the initial seed leaves that appear), they can be carefully transplanted into individual pots. At this stage, they're still very delicate, so handle them gently.
7. Growing On
Continue to grow your lavender plants in a sunny, warm location. Water them regularly, but avoid overwatering as lavender prefers well-drained conditions.
Once they've grown larger and the weather is warm enough, they can be acclimatized to outdoor conditions and eventually planted out in the garden.
Lavender grows really well in a west facing garden.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of plant propagation can be a truly fulfilling gardening venture. Through taking cuttings and nurturing new plants, you create an opportunity to multiply the beauty of your garden, starting from a single lavender plant.
Each step of the process, from carefully choosing a mature shoot to removing the lower leaves to focus growth energy, offers a fascinating insight into plant development and life cycles.
With the practical knowledge shared in this guide, you're well on your way to successfully propagate lavender and create a blossoming haven.
