Rosemary is strong…like really really strong! If you’ve ever accidentally put too much rosemary in a dish, you’ll know the distinct powerful taste that cuts through every ingredient and ruins the whole meal. But, I guess that’s the unique thing about rosemary; you only need a little bit of it to add immense flavor to anything.
Anyways, enough of rosemary as an ingredient, let’s talk about rosemary as a plant.
This article will teach you about propagating rosemary through cuttings. And, yes, I’m well aware that there are other ways to propagate a rosemary plant i.e. from seeds, water propagation, and layering.
However, using cuttings is much more reliable and hassle-free, so why not take the simpler, more efficient route?
How To Propagate Rosemary in 4 Easy Steps
1 – Gathering Supplies
Like any other plant propagation task, you’ll need:
Start by cutting off strong and decently lively stems from a parent rosemary plant. Each piece should be 5-7 inches long and must have multiple nodes from where new roots will sprout.
2 – Planting The Cuttings
Once you have your hands on the rosemary cuttings that will serve as a foundation for your bigger plants, it’s time to begin the potting process.
In a container, put your potting soil mix and spread it evenly. Then, place your rosemary cuttings (bottom side down) in the soil and make sure they remain upright. A fairly large container should hold multiple cuttings at a time.
If you want, you can even dip your cuttings in a rooting hormone powder before potting them. This additional step can potentially save you a decent amount of time by promoting quicker root growth in the cuttings.
Another tip! You can take rosemary cuttings and place them in water for 10 to 15 days, until they take root, so the chances of them surviving when you plant them in the soil mix will be greater!
3 – Watering & Aftercare
Once your rosemary cuttings are in the potting soil, ensure that it’s provided with enough water regularly.
Newly propagated plants often require moist environments to root to their fullest potential. Avoid overdoing the water, however, as it can spoil the roots.
Sunlight is also an important factor. DO NOT place your rosemary cuttings in direct sunlight! Indirect light, like that inside a room with open windows, would be plenty in the initial stages of rooting.
4 – Transferring To Bigger Soil
Yeah…surprise surprise…you can’t grow whole damn rosemary plants in tiny containers!
Once the roots develop enough, you’ll eventually need to transfer the cuttings to your garden or a bigger pot that allows the root to spread maximally and support a bigger plant.
The transfer process isn’t that complicated. Just take the cuttings out of the potting mix container with the roots attached and plant them in your garden.
Direct sunlight exposure is okay now but the watering frequency should remain the same.
Final Words
So, there you go, you propagated your first rosemary plant!
Now, you have an endless rosemary supply every year to make the Christmas turkeys more fragrant than ever. Also, I bet you’ll be making a lot of soups and stews; rosemary just adds a new layer of depth to savory foods like that. Enjoy and…thank me later!
Are the Rosemary cuttings taken from tip cuttings or cuttings from lower on the host plant?
Hi Stephen!
Rosemary cuttings are best taken from the soft, new growth at the tips of the plant, usually about 4-6 inches long. These tip cuttings root more easily compared to older, woody stems lower on the plant. Just make sure to remove the leaves from the lower half before planting them for better rooting success! 🌿
Can rosemary bought from grocery store be used to propagate?
Hi! Yes! 😊 You can propagate rosemary from grocery store cuttings, but make sure the stems are fresh and green, not woody or dried out. Not all store-bought rosemary will root, but it’s definitely worth trying! 🌱✨
Yes, as long as the sprigs are fresh. Remove leaves from the bottom half of each sprig to use as you normally would. Take the sprig and dip it in rooting hormone, shove it in some potting soil to where there are still leaves, water & you’re done.
You said to transfer it to the garden. Are you saying to do this during the winter? I’ve never been able to overwinter my rosemary bush, and I cover it with about 6″ of mulch ( I’m in zone 7), but it doesn’t come back.
Hi Denise! 😊 I meant after the cuttings develop good roots, which usually takes a few weeks. In Zone 7, I’d wait until spring to move it outside, rosemary really struggles with our winters, even with mulch. I keep my cuttings in a bigger pot indoors through winter, then plant it outside once the frost risk is gone. That way it actually survives!
Love this! Rosemary not only adds flavor to your recipes, it also has some wonderful medicinal properties!
Hi Erin! 😊 So true. I love that it’s both tasty and useful! my mom always kept a rosemary plant by the kitchen door for cooking and cold remedies!
I have a large plant outside which I have been taking clippings from and put them in water. So far no toots and it’s been a few weeks.
Hi Judith! 😊 Rosemary can be slow to root in water, it usually takes mine 4-6 weeks (but I’ve had ones take even longer). Make sure you’re changing the water every few days to keep it fresh. Honestly, I’ve had better luck rooting rosemary cuttings directly in soil, they seem to take faster that way. Just stick them in some moist potting mix and keep it consistently damp. Give it a bit more time, but if nothing happens in another week or two, try the soil method instead!