lavender (lavender spp.) is an aromatic plant widely valued for its medicinal and ornamental characteristics. Its beautiful silvery foliage and vibrant flowers make it a charming addition to any garden. In addition, lavender has relaxing and therapeutic properties, making it a versatile and sought-after plant. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to produce lavender cuttings and propagate this wonderful plant in your own garden.
This tutorial is valid for the different types of lavender that exist, such as broadleaf lavender.
Contents
Step by step to make cuttings of lavender
Step 1: selection of the mother plant
To obtain successful lavender cuttings, it is essential to choose a healthy and vigorous mother plant. Look for a plant that exhibits sturdy growth, with strong stems and healthy leaves. Be sure to select a variety of lavender that suits your climate and growing conditions.
2nd step: preparation of materials and tools
Gather the necessary materials before beginning the cutting process. You will need clean, sharp pruning shears, light, well-drained soil (like a mixture of peat and perlite), and small pots or growing trays. As an additional alternative to speed up the process, you can also choose to use rooting hormones.
Step 3 – Cut the Cuttings
Identify the vigorous young shoots of the lavender mother plant. Using pruners, cut the cuttings about 7 to 10 centimeters long, just below a node or bud. It is important to ensure that each cutting has at least 2-3 pairs of leaves and that the cut is made diagonally, to increase the area of the cut exposed to root production.
As an added tip, it’s a good idea to prepare several lavender cuttings in case one goes bad.
Step 4: removal of lower leaves
Remove the lower leaves from each cutting, leaving only the upper ones. This will reduce moisture loss and promote better rooting.
Step 5: preparation of cuttings for rooting
If you want to increase the chances of rooting success, dip the base of the cuttings in a rooting hormone. Although not strictly necessary, it can speed up the process and improve results. Most of the products that can be found on the market are composed of easily impregnable powder or gel for the base of the cut.
Step 6: plant the cuttings lavender
Fill the pots or growing trays with the previously prepared substrate. Poke holes in the substrate with a pencil or toothpick and carefully place each cutting into a hole. Make sure the substrate stays moist but not soggy throughout the rooting process.
A good mixture of substrate to optimize the rooting of any type of cutting is the following:
Step 7: Care and maintenance
Place the lavender cuttings in a warm, bright place, but avoid direct sunlight. Keep the substrate moist and provide adequate ventilation, but no drafts. If you use individual pots and live in a low humidity environment, you can cover them with a clear plastic bag to create a humid environment.
There good humidification of the support This is the most important factor in rooting lavender cuttings. There is a perfect ideal humidity average which is obtained by watering little but very frequently (about every 2 days).
Step 8: rooting and transplanting lavender cutting
after about 4-6 weeks, the cuttings will begin to develop roots. To check this, tug the cuttings gently and watch for resistance. Once the roots are long and strong enough, transplant the cuttings into individual pots or into your garden, making sure to provide them with good drainage and enough space to grow. If the pot is big enough, you will save the transplant process and the stress generated in the process.
Don’t forget to keep stimulating your little lavender plant with organic matter, a little low concentration fertilizer or biostimulants (amino acids and seaweed extracts).