Learn how to grow lavender from stem cuttings!
I recently did a tutorial on how to propagate rosemary, and today’s post is similar! We’re talking all about how to propagate lavender from stem cuttings. I love the smell of lavender and find that it’s extremely easy to grow.
It doesn’t require much pruning, it throws out cute little flowers, it fills up a landscape nicely, and—if it’s a perennial type—it comes back every year! Learn how you can grow it using stem cuttings so you can fill your yard with the sweet smell of lavender 🙂
-OVERVIEW-
- Take a cutting from the tender tip of a stem; avoid the thicker, woody parts.
- Remove leaves from the bottom few inches of the cutting.
- Plant in well-draining soil; keep moist and put in a warm, bright area.
- Roots should develop in 1-2 months.
Supplies you’ll need
- Lavender cuttings
- Scissors or shears
- Well-draining potting soil
- Small pot with drainage holes
- Optional: Rooting hormone
Step 1. Take cuttings
The first step is to take a cutting from the tip of a stem. Don’t take a cutting from an older part of a stem near the base of the plant. This part of the stem is woodier and thicker to support the plant, and it has a much lower likelihood of rooting.
The first picture below shows an example of a woody stem. The second photo shows a more tender stem cutting from the tip of a stem. This type of cutting is much more likely to root!
Step 2: Remove bottom leaves
Next use your fingers to gentle remove the bottom leaves from the cuttings. This is the area you’ll plant in soil. You can dip it in rooting hormone if you’d like to, but it isn’t necessary. I sometimes use it when propagating, I sometimes don’t.
Step 3: Plant in soil
Next plant the cutting in a small pot with fresh well-draining soil. No propagation is ever 100% successful for me, so I like to take a few cuttings and plant them together in a pot. Keep the soil moist and put the pot in a warm, bright spot.
Step 4: Inspect & pot up
After about a month, I recommend carefully dumping the pot, including the soil and all of the cuttings, out to inspect root growth. If your cuttings are showing signs of root growth, you can pot them up separately to give them more room to grow.
Below is an example of a cutting that has been rooting for a few months. This one is ready to transplant into the ground. Make sure to water regularly after first planting the new plant to help it establish its root system. And that’s it! Endless lavender 🙂
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Brittany is a seasoned DIY home and garden expert, running a creative brand since 2014 that inspires others with approachable plant care guides, woodworking tutorials, and decor projects. She is a certified project manager and has completed extensive coursework in the art and science of growing your own plants. Her work has been recognized by major publications, and she routinely collaborates with fellow DIY industry leaders—but her favorite thing to do is inspire you! Learn more about her here.
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