Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) Propagation
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Cecile Daudet
Posted on: July 12, 2007

I have some Lavendula angustfolia which is doing really well dispite the fact that I live in Quebec, Canada ( South of Montreal) and didn’t protect it in the winter. My neighbors would like to grow some from my plants but I have no idea how and limited knowledge of the botanist’s vocabulary .

The easiest way to propagate the plant is to let it set seed and harvest the seeds when the seed heads turn yellow. Your neighbours should plant the seed that fall and it will come up next spring, because it germinates much better if it gets some frost.

Another way is to try to make cuttings and root them. This works best in spring. Take a fresh shoot about 10cm long, strip off the leaves on the lower half, dip into rooting hormone (this must be fresh, since it denatures quickly) and stick into a well-draining soil that has been sterilized by pouring boiling water onto it (and then allowing it to cool before inserting the cutting). Water, allow to drain and put pot into a new Zip-lock bag. Put the bag into a bright window out of direct sun-light. When the cutting starts to grow, gradually remove the bag and then after a few days, move it into the sun. When sturdy new growth has been produced it can be planted outside, but don’t move it there if the season is so advanced that it won’t have enough time to root properly. Protect with newspapers at first to avoid shock.

Once your plant becomes very large and bushy, you might be able to nick one branch, put fresh rooting hormone on the wound, pin the branch down so that the wound is in contact with the soil, pile a bit of soil over the wounded area, add a rock and keep the area moist. Check every now and again -very carefully- to see if any roots have formed. Once there are roots, sever the stem from the mother plant with sharp clippers - without disturbing the rooted portion. Keep moist and shaded and once the stem begins to grow you can give it away!

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