Lavender cuttings

[Rosie51]

I would like to take some cuttings from my lavender plants. Right now my lavender plants are about to bloom, probably in another 2 weeks or so.

My question is: When is the best time to take cuttings? I hope to have them rooted and ready to plant by this Fall.

[!potatoes!]

we're talking softwood cuttings? in my experience you want to take them when the plant is in full-on grow-mode, before flowering. do you have some rooting hormone to help a little?

[applestar]

Don't know if this will work for you -- tried it on a whim myself so maybe I just got lucky: When I cut back winter-killed tips of the lavender earlier this spring -- probably mid-April or late-April, I stuck 3" pieces of the mid-shoots -- I.e. tips cut off, the next 3" or so part of the stem -- around the cabbages and cauliflowers to see if that would help repel the cabbage butterflies. Well, some of those shoots are still alive and growing tiny little flower shoots/buds of their own now so I guess they "took". Maybe you could still do this with tip cuttings of non-flowering stems or with flowering shoots cut off.

BTW, I'm trying the same with tip cuttings of garden phlox (not around the cabbages but in a semi-shaded location) Seems to be working.

BOTH were stuck in a sand mulch (about 1/2" layer of sand).

[Kisal]

There is some good information about the process at this link:

https://www.herbcompanion.com/Gardening/Growing-Herbs-from-Stem-Cuttings.aspx

I'm still trying to master stem cuttings. I want to reproduce a couple of my rhodies and one of my azaleas with stem cuttings. I tried once before and failed, but I refuse to give up.

[applestar]

Try ground-layering. pd has a website with detailed instructions.

[IndorBonsai]

I have had really good luck using long fiber sphagnum moss in starter pots for growing cuttings off trees and bushes.

[Rosie51]

Wow--thanks everyone. I just read through the links that were given. Thanks so much!! This was very helpful!!!