In spring, making lavender, rosemary and sage cuttings is a simple and effective way to multiply your favorite aromatic plants. With little attention, you can get new specimens to be grown in pot or garden.
Cultivating new plants from Talea is not only a useful technique to save, but also an almost therapeutic gesture. Just a sunny morning, a well -sharpened sheer and a pinch of patience to give life to something new. It is an activity that reconnects with natural rhythms, with that slowness that today seems almost a luxury. And you don’t need a huge garden: even a balcony is enough to see the first results.
And then, do you want to put the satisfaction of seeing such a cutting and growing strong? It is a small act of trust in life that is renewed, a way to learn the wait without stress. These are small daily magic that nature offers without too many efforts, but with so much meaning. Each sprout that appears is a signal: something new is starting.
When to make lavender, rosemary and sage cuttings
The ideal period to withdraw the spring cuttings It is between April and June, when the aromatic plants are in the middle of a vegetative recovery. At this moment, the new jets are quite mature to be able to take root, but still young and flexible. There are no great knowledge from gardener: just observe the mother plant well and choose healthy branches, without flowers and about 10-15 cm long. Better if taken in the morning, when the plant is well hydrated and the environmental conditions are more favorable.
A detail that makes the difference? Always cut with one sharp blade It is slightly inclined, just below a knot (i.e. the point where a leaf is born). This stimulates the emission of new roots and reduces the risk of rot.
How to prepare and plant cuttings: practical advice
Once the lavender, rosemary or sage cuttings are obtained, we move on to the actual preparation. Here it is important not to be in a hurry and take care of every detail:
- Remove the lower leaves, leaving only the upper ones.
- If the sprig is too long, slightly shorten it.
- Immerse the base in a little radical (optional, but useful) hormone.
- Prepare a vase with a light and draining mix, type peat and sand in equal parts.
- Plant it the cutting for about a third of its length, slightly pressing the ground around.
- It water with gently and positions the vase in a bright but not exposed place to the direct sun.
In the first days, it is useful to cover the cuttings with a transparent bag or a mini greenhouse: a humid microclimate is created that favors rooting. But watch out for condensation: if too abundant, it can make the sprig rot.
How long it takes and how to understand if the cutting has attracted
One of the most frequent questions is: How much does a cutting take root? The response varies, but on average they need 3-6 weeks. In the meantime, do not touch the cuttings too much. Just observe: if they remain turgid, it’s a good sign. When new leaves begin to sprout, it means that the radical apparatus is developing. At that point you can think about transplantation.
Lavender and rosemary tend to be slower, but once you start, they are very resistant. Sage, on the other hand, is a bit faster, but requires more humidity in the initial stages. Each plant has its time and needs, but that’s exactly what makes everything more interesting, right?
The transplant must be done gently: the cutting is transferred to a larger vase or directly on the ground, if the temperatures are mild. Add a little fertile compost or soil and continue to water in moderation.
The spring cuttings are not only a simple method for multiplying aromatic plants, but also an opportunity to learn to observe the nature more closely. Every sprig that takes root tells a small story of growth, expectation and care.
It is worth trying, even if only to see with your own eyes how to a simple gesture something new can be born.
And maybe, the next time a sage leaf is sniffed or a sprig of rosemary is collected, you will remember that morning when everything started with a precise cut and a little ground in your hands.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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