How does rosemary propagate?

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub that grows in Africa, Turkey and other southern regions. The plant has a decorative appearance and is used in medicine and cooking. Growing rosemary from seeds is one of the ways to propagate this shrub. New plants are also obtained from cuttings, branches, by dividing the bush and layering.

How to propagate rosemary

There are several ways to propagate rosemary:

1. Cuttings. The tops of the shoots of an adult bush are cut off. Then they are rooted in a special substrate. Cuttings are provided with a number of conditions that promote root formation. Prepared seedlings are planted on the site.
2. Seeds. With this method of propagation, it is important to prepare planting material and soil. To increase the germination of seeds, they are processed. The seedlings are constantly looked after and a special microclimate is created in the room. When the bush grows, it is planted outside.
3. Twigs. The cut branch is kept in warm water. When roots appear, the plant is planted in a pot or outside.
4. Dividing the bush. The propagation method is used when transplanting rosemary. Its rhizome is divided into several parts, then planted in the right place.
5. By layering. The rosemary branch is bent and covered with earth. With intensive watering and fertilizing, roots appear in the shoot. Then the plant is transplanted to the site.

How to propagate rosemary from cuttings

A cutting is the upper part of a bush shoot. It is cut from mature plants and bought at markets or stores. For propagation, a cutting 8–10 cm long with 3–4 internodes is sufficient.

Procedure for planting rosemary cuttings:

1. Prepare containers and soil for planting. The substrate is bought in a store or obtained by mixing chernozem, humus, peat and sand.
2. Expanded clay or broken bricks are poured into the bottom of the container, then filled with soil.
3. Depressions are made in the soil and cuttings are planted to a depth of 3 cm. All leaves are torn off at the bottom.
4. The soil is well watered. The containers are kept in a warm, lit place.
5. When propagating shrubs, it is necessary to water the cuttings 4 times a week.
6. After 1.5 months, the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place.

In the south, rosemary cuttings are used at any time of the year, with the exception of winter. In the middle zone, cuttings are prepared in September-October. In winter they are rooted, and in summer they are planted outside.

How to propagate rosemary from seeds

It is best to plant rosemary seeds in late February or March. For propagation, the seedling method is used. Planting is done at home, then the seedlings are transferred to the ground.

Before you start propagating rosemary, it is important to prepare containers and substrate. For planting, choose pots with a height of no more than 15 cm. A layer of expanded clay or other drainage is placed at the bottom. The containers must have holes.

Prepare soil for rosemary yourself or buy a ready-made mixture. The best option is to mix garden soil with river sand and compost in a 2:1:1 ratio. Any soil with neutral acidity for indoor plants is also suitable.

Rosemary seeds are very small and take a long time to germinate. To improve germination, they are processed. First, the planting material is kept in water. When the seeds swell, begin planting.

The order of plant propagation by seeds:

1. Containers with drainage and soil are watered abundantly.
2. The seeds are distributed over the ground. A layer of earth of no more than 0.5 mm is poured on top.
3. Plantings are watered with warm water using a sprayer.
4. The container is covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm place.

Shoots appear at temperatures from +25 ^oC. The film is regularly turned over and condensation is removed from it. To prevent the soil from drying out, moisten the soil with a spray bottle every 2-3 days. The first shoots appear within a month. Then remove the film and move the containers to a lighted place. On average, when propagating rosemary seeds, seedlings wait 6 - 8 weeks.

It is not enough to plant rosemary with seeds; it is important to provide the seedlings with good care. The containers are moved to the windowsill. The room temperature is maintained at +18 ^oC.

When the rosemary seedlings have their 2nd or 3rd leaf, they are planted in separate containers. Use soil of the same composition as when planting seeds. When replanting, try not to damage the root system.

When the seedlings reach 3 - 4 cm in height, they begin to harden them. First, open the window and ventilate the room.Then the containers with seedlings are transferred to the balcony or loggia. Before planting in the ground, plants must fully adapt to natural conditions.

Bushes 7-8 cm high are planted in a permanent place. For them, choose a sunny place, protected from cold winds. The best soil for rosemary is light, fertile and well-drained. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground in May-June, when frosts have passed and warm weather has set in.

How to grow rosemary from a sprig

A large rosemary bush can be successfully grown from a sprig. It is best to choose young shoots 5 cm long. They are cut from an adult bush. I use this method of propagation at any time of the year. The branch is rooted at home.

The order of propagation of shrubs using a twig:

1. The cut shoot is placed in a jar of water. A root growth stimulator can be added to the liquid.
2. The water is changed every 3 days.
3. When the twig has roots, it is placed in a container with light nutrient soil.
4. Rosemary is watered moderately and kept in a warm and well-lit place.

When the seedlings grow up, they are planted on the plot or left in a pot. You can root rosemary with branches in a greenhouse, where the necessary microclimate is provided.

Propagation of rosemary by dividing the bush

If rosemary is already growing on the site, it is propagated by dividing the rhizomes. This method is used when transplanting a bush. Every year, shrubs over 5 years old need rejuvenation. By transplanting, you can not only rejuvenate the plant, but also get new seedlings.

The need to replant rosemary also arises when the bush grows in the wrong place: it lacks moisture or sun.It is recommended to carry out this procedure in cases where the shrub is in a lowland or suffers from excess moisture in the soil.

The work is carried out in spring or autumn, when sap flow in plants slows down. As a result, the shrub tolerates planting better and takes root faster in a new location.

Instructions for propagating rosemary by dividing the bush:

1. The shrub is dug out of the ground or removed from the pot.
2. The roots are cleared from the ground and divided into parts. Use pruning shears or other tools that are pre-disinfected.
3. Each seedling must have several roots and shoots. If there are old, diseased or dried branches, they are removed.
4. The cut areas are treated with charcoal.
5. The roots of the seedlings are immersed in water with the addition of a growth stimulator.
6. All that remains is to plant the rosemary in containers or in the garden bed.

How to propagate rosemary by layering

Rosemary is convenient to propagate using layering. The procedure is performed in the spring. To do this, choose 2 - 3 of the strongest shoots. Furrows 5 cm deep are dug under them. The branches are lowered down, secured with metal brackets and covered with soil. Part of the layering should remain above the surface of the ground. Then the shoots are watered abundantly.

Mineral complexes are used for feeding. Mullein infusion and other natural remedies are used at the beginning of the season. Excess organic matter inhibits the development of rosemary. Fertilizer is applied 2 - 3 times a month.

By autumn the cuttings will take root well. They are separated from the mother bush and planted around the site. In cold climates, it is better to transplant the cuttings into pots for the winter and move them outside in the spring.

Which way is better

The choice of method for propagating rosemary largely depends on the initial data. The timing of the work is selected taking into account weather conditions in the region. If the shrub has not yet been grown, it is better to purchase seeds or cuttings. If the plant is already on the site, then choose to propagate rosemary by cuttings or layering.

The most popular method of propagation is by cuttings. It is recommended to divide the bush during replanting in order to injure the plant less. These are reliable methods in which all varietal characteristics are preserved. Reproduction by layering is more suitable for shrubs growing in the garden. At home, it is better to choose other methods.

Propagation by seeds is the most labor-intensive method. To obtain healthy seedlings, it is important to use a good substrate, care for the seedlings and create a microclimate for them. When using seeds, the plant may lose varietal characteristics.

Conclusion

Growing rosemary from seeds is a difficult process that requires careful preparation. First, prepare containers, soil and planting material. To get seedlings, you need to create a certain microclimate at home. Rosemary is also propagated by cuttings, layering and other methods.

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