How to Propagate Herbs
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Now that you have an established herb garden, you may want to share some of your healthy and hardy plants with your friends, or even plan a new garden for next year. Propagating (or creating new plants) herbs isn't difficult, once you learn how.
Making Your Garden Grow
The most common way to grow herbs is from seed, and that is how I started my first herb garden. However, there are many other ways to keep your garden growing, year after year. Of course, some herbs will only do well from seed, while others will do fine by starting from cuttings or divisions. Thyme does well from seed, and it is better to start it indoors, so you can plant seedlings in the spring. Thyme can also be propagated from cuttings, as can many other types of herbs.
Propagating From Cuttings
To create a cutting that will make a new plant, cut off a piece of the stem that has several sets of leaves intact. Cut the stem at a slight angle. Very carefully trim the lower leaves from the stem, leaving it bare for an inch or more, but leaving several sets of leaves above the bare area. Dip the cut end of the cutting into a hormone rooting powder if you desire. (It's up to you, some people do, and some people don't, with equal success.) Carefully shake off any excess powder, and insert the cutting into a sterile rooting material, such as clean washed sand, perlite, or vermiculite. These are all available at nurseries or garden centers.
Insert the cuttings at a 45-degree angle when you place them in the rooting material. It is perfectly acceptable to root different types of cuttings in the same container. Just remember to mark what they are! Let the cuttings have shade for at least a week, then give them plenty of light, but no direct sunlight. Water frequently to keep moist, but don't over water. (Don't use moss as a rooting medium, because it will stay soggy, and could rot your cuttings. The cuttings should form enough roots to transplant in about three weeks. If you aren't sure, pull very gently on the cutting, feeling for resistance. Now, they're ready to be transplanted into individual pots for a windowsill garden, or planted outside, if the weather is right.
Propagating From Divisions
Some plants just don't do well propagating by cuttings, but you might be able to propagate it by division instead. If your herb spreads, it's probably a good candidate for division. Thyme isn't a good candidate, but many others are. This is a good way to rejuvenate and invigorate older plants, too. The simplest way to propagate by division also takes less time. Spring is a good time to divide plants, but in some areas, autumn works too.
To divide your plants: dig the plant out of the ground, getting as much of the root ball as possible. Shake off the excess dirt, and carefully pull the clump of roots apart. Each section of plant with its' own root ball is simply treated as an independent plant. Sometimes several new plants will come from a large one. You may replant one of the new plants back in your garden, and repot the others. Share them with your friends, along with a special little note cared explaining their care.