Have you ever dreamed of your garden smelling like a Provençal market on a July morning? But the price of potted plants at the nursery made you sigh? Well, we have good news for you: you can grow your own lavender. No seeds. No botanical doctorate. Just one healthy bush, scissors, and a little patience.
Let's see how a beautiful, fragrant bush grows from a simple stem lavenderSpoiler: it's easier than most people think – and yes, you can do it too, even if your cacti are still dying of thirst.
Why grow lavender from cuttings?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's explain why this method is worth every drop of sweat:
- Almost free: One bush can give you a whole plantation. With a little luck and lots of pots.
- Faster than seeds: Cuttings grow faster and stay true to the original plant – no more lavenders with a personality crisis.
- Satisfaction guaranteed: Watching a fragrant beauty grow from a cut stem? This is gardening magic without the tricks.
Step 1: Choose the right plant
Not all lavenders are created equal. English lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia) and French (Lavandula dentata). If you have an exotic variety, you may need a little more luck.
Search:
- A healthy, at least one-year-old bush
- Strong, non-flowering stems
- No signs of disease or pests
And don't forget: old, woody branches are great for fire, but not for propagation.
Step 2: Take cuttings
Arm yourself with sharp and clean scissors (no, the ones from the kitchen drawer don't count).
Instructions:
- Cut a 10–15 cm long stem, ideally in the morning when the plant is still fresh and not in the 'it's too early for me' stage.
- Choose soft, green stems – not the kind you would mistake for a toothpick.
- Cut just below the leaf node – that bump where the leaves grow out.
- Take a few more cuttings, just in case. Not all of them will survive. We know, brutal, but true.
Step 3: Prepare the stems
Once you have your cuttings, they need to be prepared like VIP guests before a spa treatment:
- Remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem.
- Gently scrape the bottom of the stem with your fingernail - this will 'wake them up' a bit and encourage them to root.
- Optional: help end in growth hormone. Not essential, but adds a few points in the 'let it grow!' game.
Step 4: Plant the cuttings
You will need a small pot or tray with a well-draining soil mix. The magic formula:
- 50 % flower substrate
- 50 % perlite or coarse sand
Now the action:
- Make a hole with a stick or pencil.
- Gently insert the cutting and firm the soil around it.
- Water lightly – don't drown! Lavender is more for dry jokes than watery fun.
Advice: Put several cuttings (3–5) in one pot. Once they have rooted, you can separate them like graduates at a graduation ceremony.
Step 5: Make a mini greenhouse
Lavender needs moisture, but not tropical downpours.
This is how you make a homemade “greenhouse”:
- Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or dome.
- Use straws or chopsticks to keep the plastic from touching the leaves.
- Place in a bright spot with indirect light – no direct sunlight, please.
Step 6: Wait and watch
This is where the Zen exercise of patience comes in. Roots don't appear overnight.
- Check every few days for mold or rot (if the cutting is softer than a banana in August – bye).
- The soil should be slightly moist, not muddy.
- After 3-6 weeks, gently tug on the stem. If you feel resistance, you have roots. Congratulations!
Step 7: Transplant them
Once you have rooted cuttings:
- Transplant them into individual pots with regular substrate.
- Gradually accustom them to more light (called “hardening off”).
- After a month or two, they are ready to be moved into the wild – sorry, into the garden.
Bonus tips
- Best time: Spring or late summer
- Don't crowd.: Good airflow = no mold
- Warm, not hot: Ideal 18–24 °C
- Mark varieties: If you have more than one – lavender is not resentful, but it likes order.
Most common mistakes
Even simple tasks can go wrong – here are some pitfalls:
❌ Flower stalks – too busy blooming to think about roots.
❌ Too much water – lavender hates wet feet.
❌ No light – even if he doesn't like the sun sauna, he can't do without light.
Conclusion: Lavender season is here, dear gardener!
Once you get the hang of it, you'll be making cuttings like a conveyor belt. Your garden will smell like a boutique perfumery, your friends will ask you for advice, and you'll just smile confidently and say, "Ah, it's not that hard."
You have one bush? In a few weeks you'll have five. Or ten. Or a whole purple avenue!
So – grab your scissors, find a bright corner, and start your own lavender dynasty. It really is easier than you think.
