Lavender is one of the most fragrant flowers in the world. It has an immense array of health benefits and looks beautiful in any outdoor space. If you have a lavender plant and want to expand on this and fill our garden with glorious violet blooms, then taking lavender cuttings is a simple and quick way to do this.
Lavender is one of the easiest plants to propagate and can be done in the summer although late spring is best. Most people find that, once the cuttings are taken, many new plants successfully develop leaving them with a free crop of stunning purple flowers.
If you’re keen to get started then our top tips on how to take lavender cuttings will give you everything you need to know.
Is It Easy To Take Lavender Cuttings?
Many people are keen to take plant cuttings but are not sure where to begin. While there are some plants that are difficult to cut and grow roots from, lavender is one of those that responds very well to propagation.
For this reason, if you are taking your first shot at this, then lavender is considered to be a good place to start.
That being said, before you start, there are a few things that you will need to consider if you want to get the best results. For example, you must make sure that any cuttings you take come from unflowered shoots from the current year’s growth.
Furthermore, you should always take lavender cuttings during the late spring to early summer months. This is because lavender will typically grow roots much more easily than at other times of the year.
How to Take Lavender Cuttings?
One thing that you won’t need to take lavender cuttings is a lot of time. This is something that can be done quickly and should be treated as one of the more minor gardening jobs.
However, there are some pieces of equipment that you will need, including the following;
- Root hormone
- 10cm pots
- Lavender plants
- All-purpose compost without peat
- Knife
- Clear polythene bag
Rooting hormone is not essential for growing cuttings as many plants will take root naturally. However, using these types of products will boost the chances of successful root growth and so we would always recommend including them.
Step One – Take Your Cutting
Take a good look over your lavender plant before taking any cuttings. This will allow you to determine the best parts to cut.
As we have already mentioned, you should choose shoots that have not flowered. In addition to this, it can be helpful to choose shoots that are at the edge of the plant.
Gently pull them back with a small strip of bark remaining. Once the cutting is free from the main plant, you will need to remove any excess flaps of bark but the heel should be intact as this is where the roots will sprout from.
Step Two – Pot
To easily insert your cutting into the potting mix, you will need to make sure that there is a portion of a clear stem. If there are leaves present on the lower part of the cutting, simply remove these.
Once you have done this, you can dip the end of the cutting into your rooting hormone powder or liquid for a few seconds.
Next, gather your cuttings in your chosen pot. The pot should be filled with your all-purpose mix and it is best to choose a gritty compost.
The cuttings can be placed around the edge of the pot but be sure not to overcrowd them. If you have several cuttings that you would like to propagate, you may need to use more than one pot.
Note: It is probably best to make a small hole a little bigger than the cutting so that as you plant it, the rooting hormone does not come off.
Step Three – Create Humidity
Once all of the cuttings are in place, cover the pots with a polythene bag. This is an important step as it will ensure that the humidity levels remain balanced, giving the plants the best chance of rooting.
Step Four – Keep Warm
Now take your pots and place them in a shaded location that will remain warm. You can expect the roots to develop over the course of about four to six weeks, although this time may vary.
Once you notice that the roots have sprouted, you will need to cut a hole in the polythene bag to improve the airflow around the plants.
Allow the lavender to grow like this for a few more weeks, at which point, you will be able to remove the polythene bag altogether.
It may take a little more time before the plants are fully rooted so do be patient. But when they are ready, you can plant them separately.
Tips For Growing Lavender Cuttings
While lavender is one of the simpler plants to root from cuttings, there are going to be problems in some cases.
However, by taking the best approach, you can feel confident that your cuttings will have the best chance of rooting. Take a look at how top tips for growing lavender cuttings.
- We have mentioned that the cuttings should not have flowered and this is because if they have, then much of the energy from that shoot will go into the flower and rooting will be much more difficult, if not impossible.
- When you choose your lavender cuttings, you must make sure that the shoots appear healthy and are not bent in any way. The cuttings should be around three to four inches in length for the best results.
- If you are new to rooting lavender from cuttings then you may be concerned about being able to tell whether the plants have rooted. The best way to do this is to gently tug on the cutting, we cannot emphasize gently enough, and if you feel any sort of resistance, this is a good sign that the roots have taken.
- Once you pot the cuttings into individual containers, you will need to make sure that you stay on top of watering them. When the soil appears dry, you should water an inch, that’s 3cm, to keep the lavender hydrated. You might also add one-quarter strength liquid fertiliser once each week.
Conclusion
Lavender is a beautiful plant with vibrant purple flowers and is extremely aromatic. It is a favourite among UK gardeners thanks to its hardiness and easy-to-care-for nature. Even those who regularly kill other plants will likely find it easy to look after lavender.
What’s more, these plants are one of the most simple to propagate and taking cuttings is a quick and easy task. Once you have taken the cuttings, it is merely a matter of potting them and waiting for them to take root, which in most cases, is very successful.
It won’t be long before your garden is filled with beautiful, colourful lavender plants that you created!
Find out here why bees love lavender too!
Garden Doctor Tips
“Take your cuttings from new growth on the outside of the plant!”
“Rooting powder is not necessary but it certainly helps. Nothing worse than going to all the effort and the cuttings fail!”
“Take your cuttings during the summer to increase the chances of your cuttings rooting!”
“Take your cuttings before flowers have formed. The formation of flowers takes a lot of energy which you will want to be used in creating roots!”
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take lavender cuttings?
In order to have a continuous supply of lavender, you should take cuttings from your plant in the late spring. Lavender is so easy to propagate that it can be grown almost anywhere! Once you know when to take lavender cuttings, all you need is some potting soil and a small pot.
Can you root lavender cuttings in water?
It is easy to root lavender cuttings in water. Simply break off a stem, add it to some water, and wait for roots to form!
Can you root lavender cuttings in soil?
Well, yes and no. Rooting lavender cuttings in soil requires patience. You need to let the plant callous over before planting it deep enough into the ground so that its roots are covered by dirt but not buried too deeply. If you bury the stems too quickly, they will rot because they cannot breathe properly under all of that dirt!
Is Lavender easy to grow from cuttings?
Lavender is one of the easiest plants to grow from cuttings. Unlike other plants, lavender can be grown in a wide variety of climates and soil types. Lavender also has a long blooming period which means you’ll get more bang for your buck!
About Me
Hi, I’m Trev and I’ve been growing things since I can remember. When I was younger, I grew up on a farm, so I have always been around plants and animals. After studying horticulture at university, I decided to start my own nursery which I have run now for 25 years. In my spare time, I run this website – which is a resource for people who want to learn more about their gardens.
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