Buying Lavender Plants From Garden Centers, Internet And Mail Order

Pruning Lavender - What You Need To Know

 

Lavender cuttings are a great way to multiply your lavender plants. You’ll end up with the same plant as the mother lavender plant. Sometimes, when you start plants from seed you’ll end up with a different variety than what you expected. With lavender cuttings you know exactly what you’re getting with every cutting.

Rooting Lavender Cuttings

There are different methods for plant propagation and some work really well. This method is from another lavender grower and I’ve tried her methods with great success. The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah B. Bader

Tools for the Job

• Sharp knife or razor blade
• Rooting hormone, liquid or powder form
• Rooting soil – propagation soil sold at garden centers
• Clean, sterilized container to hold the soil with holes for drainage
• Heating mat
• Grow lights (optional)

Hardwood Cuttings – Option A

 

Find a lavender hardwood branch for cutting and feel for a bump known as a leaf node. Then with your sharp knife cut a 3 – 4 inch piece at a 45 degree angle just below the node.

Follow step 2 of Option B below..

Softwood Cuttings - Option B

 

1. Find a branch on the softwood which is new growth and pliable; take a 3 – 4 inch continuous piece from the tip of a growing stem.

 

2. Next, pull off the leaves from the bottom 2 inches. Either option above can be done following these steps.

 

3. After that use a sharp knife that’s clean to scrape off the skin off the bottom 2 inches on one side.

 

4. Then put the rooting (propagation) soil in a clean sterilized container and water it well. Dip the cutting in the rooting hormone and stick it into the soil.

 

The key to success is to keep the soil moist and the cutting warm throughout the growing process, which can take up to four weeks. Place the cutting on a warm heating mat and under a grow light for the best results. Place a plastic bag over the cutting to retain moisture in between watering.

 

After a few weeks (2 weeks) you can tug on the cutting gently to see if roots have formed.

 

Softwood Lavender Cuttings – Option C

 

1. First, take a nice small young branch about 6 inches. Grasp the tip and gently pull by breaking it off. It needs to have a piece of union or heel (where it was joined) in order to grow properly.

 

2. Take off the lower stems or leaves only leaving the upper leaves to grow.

 

3. Dip the broken off part into water and then immediately into rooting powder.

 

4. Then plant into the ground next to the mother plant by making a hole with your finger or dowel. Then stick the cutting into the hole leaving only an inch above ground.

 

5. Another option is to create a plug pack for growing a tray of lavender cuttings.

 

6. When preparing the lavender tray use plant propagation soil or seed starter. Add a little powdered lime and bone meal to ensure a healthy start.

 

7. The soil should be moist and the hole already prepared so you can work quickly making sure the broken stem end doesn’t dry out before it’s planted.

 

8. Keep the new cuttings watered with excellent drainage so the roots are moist, but not continuously wet or soggy.

 

9. These plants will be smaller than the mother plant, but still viable healthy lavender plants.

 

This can be done in mid to late spring when new growth has started to form and after the last frost date.