Hi everyone,
I have a big lavender plant that is growing lots of little braches along its stems. I think that they may make good cuttings.
What is the best way to get them to root?
thank you.
lavender cuttings???
Haven't done it myself but read about simple sticking them in course sand - use a 2 liter bottle cut (almost) in 1/2 - drainage holes at bottom and lid off of top. Hmmm, might give it a try now that you brought it up though...LOL
I stuck some this spring, and out of about 30 cuttings, only 1 rooted - guess they aren't that easy to root.
I haven't tried myself but I read somewhere the easyest way is with layering...
I'm having *great* success with lavender cuttings this year. Sometimes it's just *when* you take your cuttings that makes a difference.
The ones that didn't root, did they die of damp-off? You probably need to wait until they are a little woodier.
I look cuttings afew weeks ago from a large bush of lavender, put them in my own potting medium (1/3 peat moss, 1/3 sharp sand, 1/3 vermiculite or similar.) in small pots. I strip them, dip them in powdered rooting hormone and stick them into the little pots and put them in a tray to hold water and put them on my north-facing porch, which has a very high roof, so it's extremely bright shade, and keep them damp through watering the trays under the pots.
My cuttings were semi-soft wood. Not extremely bendy, but not really hard either. I use aquariums over things too, but it's not so good with softwood cuttings. They tend to mold. Too damp in there I guess.
Melis
Melis, what kind of rooting hormone do you use?
currently using 'Green Light', Lowes carries it, in the past used Rootone 'F' and I think a liquid one by Ortho.--M
Did you notice any difference between those 3? I use Rootone but I couldn't really tell you if it's increasing my rooting chances or not..
Roberta
They seem about the same. I like the liquid more for pouring on new plantings to stimulate it to make new roots out into the new soil. I think the Rootone F, which was originally for evergreen cuttings, I think, and the Green Light powder are about the same. It helps a bit, but to have good success there are also a lot of other things you need to do right in addition to the powder if its going to work.
You need *bright* shade, because some sun is needed for a plant to form roots, scratching up a cutting helps, each kind of cutting has it's own preferences for hard or soft wood, different times of the year to be cut, how long a cutting to take, whether it works better in water, soil or whether it works best to root before or after you cut the cutting from the main plant...some of those things you just have to take your chances and keep trying different things until you find what works. It's nice when you can talk to others doing the same plant to see what's working for them. I know I take my cues from those more experienced when I can and it helps up my percentage of success.
that's what these forums are so great for.
Melis
Speaking of Lavender, I just got the cultivar "Provance" (hope I spelled it right) Missed the blooms but love the foilage, can't wait to try cuttings. Anyone else grow this one?
Whenever I have more than one cutting of a plant, I like to experiment with different types of medium. For ex, I'll do one in water and the other in potting soil...
Next time I need to buy more rooting hormone I'll buy the liquid or gel too!
Viola, I have Provence too. Did you notice how even the leaves are fragrant?
R
Yes, th leaves are deliously fragrant, that's why I couldn't resist! How were the blooms?
Rob, please call me Vi, K?
Vi, the blooms smell just like the leaves when you brush your fingers on them!
And, BTW, out of all of my lavenders...Provence has by far the best scent...IMHO ^_^ Good choice!!!
I've always detected a difference in the perfume of the flowers and that of the leaves, and I much prefer the leaves. whenever I make potpourri I put in the leaves instead of the flowers. I save them for little gift boquets and sachets for friends.
Melis