Plants to Propagate in October

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Rosemary:

  • Select Stems: Choose healthy, flexible tip growth (semi-hardwood) that is green and bends instead of snapping; avoid woody, brown bases or flowering tips.
  • Make the Cut: Using disinfected, sanitized pruners snip a 4-to-6-inch piece Strip Leaves: Gently pull the leaves off the bottom 2 to 3 inches of the stem.
  • Rooting: Dip the end in rooting hormone (optional) and place it in a well-draining mix (such as perlite and peat or potting soil) or water.
  • Overwintering: Keep the pots indoors near a bright window or under grow lights, cuttings need to be protected from freezing winter weather.
  • Transplant in Spring: Roots typically develop over several weeks to months. New plants can be individually potted or planted in the garden when spring arrives

 

Lavender:

  • Select Stems: Choose healthy, non-flowering side shoots from the current season that are firm and slightly woody at the base, but still flexible at the top (semi-ripe or hardwood). Avoid thick, old wood.
  • Make the Cut: Using disinfected sanitized pruners, snip 3- to 6-inch cuttings just below a leaf node where growth hormones are concentrated
  • Strip Lower Leaves: Remove the leaves from the bottom half to two-thirds of the stem, leaving only a few tiny leaves at the top.
  • Apply Rooting Hormone (Optional): Dip the bottom node into a rooting hormone powder to encourage faster root development.
  • Pot in Well-Draining Soil: Insert the cuttings into pots filled with a fast-draining propagation mix, multi-purpose compost, or a mix of compost and grit. Space them out along the edge of the pot.
  • Water and Create Humidity: Water the soil thoroughly to settle it. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag supported by small plant canes, like a bamboo skewer, securing it with an elastic band to maintain high humidity (remove the bag periodically to let air circulate and prevent mold).
  • Overwintering keep the potted cuttings indoors on a bright windowsill, or in a greenhouse. Do not let them freeze or sit in  waterlogged soil.
  • Transplant in Spring: Roots typically develop over several weeks to months. New plants can be individually potted or planted in the garden when spring arrives