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Re: Rooting rosemary plants

 Judith Armer <jarmer@earthlink.net>wrote:
> To: seeds-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Rooting rosemary plants
> Date: July 4, 1997 1:14 PM
> 
> I am a beginner here and feel a little silly asking questions with so
many
> experts.  However, I love this list. I got great advice for my alpine
> strawberries and now have a flat of nice healthy seedlings.
> 
> I am having trouble starting Rosemary from cuttings, even in this
> mediterranean climate zone.  I know it works because I started a plant
> almost by accident many years ago from a small cutting.  I used a rooting
> hormone and placed the cuttings in soil outdoors.  Tried another tray
> covered with a clear plastic dome.  The uncovered ones dried out.  The
> covered ones wilted and died too.
> Can anyone offer a suggestion?  Thanks for you all. You are making my
summer
> so enjoyable!
> 
> Judy Armer
> San Juan Capistrano, California
> 

Hi Judith!

I often root rosemary cuttings to make miniature topiaries. (one of my
friends calls this 'torturing plants!') I look for  tip shoots that have
hardened off - these are  usually a lighter green colour than the older
parts of the branches. I choose branchlets that are about 3 to 4 inches
long.  I remove these with secateurs (pruners), and then I use a very sharp
knife  (my grafting knife, but any sharp knife will do) to make a clean
straight cut on the bottom. I also remove the bottom leaves with my
fingers. I dip the cut ends of the cuttings in a #2 or #3 rooting hormone
powder (the higher #'s are best for woody plants). I fill flats with a
well-aerated soil-less mix, such as Pro-mix, and make holes in them for the
cuttings beforehand with a skewer or a pencil. I stand the cuttings in the
holes and then water them in. I don't cover rosemary cuttings with plastic,
since they seem to rot too easily, but I do mist them three or four times a
day with a hand mister. they usually root within three to four weeks. I
prefer to do this indoors under lights with soil-less mix,  rather than
outdoors in soil to avoid pathogens, and too little or too much water or
sun!  conditions outdoors are beyond our control, and cuttings can wilt in
an incredibly short time, even in shade!  Btw, Rosemary thrives indoors as
a houseplant in a sunny south window.

Best of luck with yours!

Bernadette
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