More than just garnish, herbs like basil, rosemary and mint provide a punch of flavor and nutrients. Fresh herbs can get expensive, though, whether you’re buying cut herbs at the market or planting a herb garden. By propagating or cloning herbs from cuttings, you can save money, turning one plant into an infinite supply of new ones. Herbs are some of the easiest, no-fuss plants to propagate and typically only take a few days to a week or two to take root.
Growing herbs from cuttings also saves time because it’s faster than growing herbs from seed. For those who don’t have garden space, this can be a fun way to grow herbs indoors all year round, close to the kitchen where you’ll use them. It’s super simple. All you need is a cutting from an herb plant and a glass of water.
Herbs that can be propagated from cuttings include:
Mint
Basil
Rosemary
Sage
Oregano
Thyme
Lemon Balm
Lavender
To propagate herbs, all you need is a cutting of about 15 centimetres. It's best to have a few cuttings not only for a good supply but also in case one decides not to take root. If you're using grocery store herbs, clip off a few millimetres of the bottom of your stem. This will allow for it to absorb more water. If your garden cuttings are a bit old, do the same for them too. It's best to cut the stem on a slanted angle to increase surface area for the cutting to use when absorbing water. Make sure to remove leaves from the bottom 10 centimetres to provide growing space for the roots. You can do this by gently pulling them off.
Next, fill a cup, glass or jar of your choice with tap water. It's best to avoid distilled water as it lacks some of the essential minerals that allow herbs to grow. Note: If you use a clear glass container, you’ll have to change the water more frequently, as algae will form more rapidly in a clear glass.
Place the herb stems in the water and place them in a spot where they get at least six hours of sunlight each day. A south-facing window is ideal.
Once the cutting has grown roots, clip each leaf as it grows to full size. This will encourage the stem to produce more leaves at the top. The stem will grow for months in this way, long enough to keep your kitchen supplied with fresh herbs until you decide to root another generation.
