🌿 How to Propagate Lavender Now (So You’re Not Spending $$$ Next Year)

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Lavender is one of those plants we all want more of—fragrant, resilient, healing, and downright beautiful. But if you’ve ever tried to load your garden with it, you know how fast those nursery pots add up. Here’s the good news: you can propagate lavender right now—for free. All it takes is a few cuttings, a bit of patience, and a recycled plastic bottle or two.

✂️ When to Propagate Lavender

Late May to early June is the sweet spot for taking softwood cuttings. These are the young, flexible tips of new growth that haven’t turned woody yet.

🛠️ What You’ll Need:

  • Healthy lavender plant
  • Sharp scissors or pruners
  • Rooting hormone (powder or gel)
  • Small pots with drainage
  • Potting mix (50% sand/perlite + 50% soil or compost)
  • Plastic bottles, domes, or cloches (DIY or store-bought)
  • Optional: cinnamon (natural antifungal)

🌱 Step-by-Step: Lavender Propagation

1. Take Your Cuttings

Snip a 3–4 inch softwood cutting from the non-flowering part of the plant. Choose healthy, green growth with no buds.

2. Strip the Leaves

Remove the lower leaves from the bottom half of the stem, leaving a few leaves at the top.

3. Dip in Rooting Hormone

Dip the cut end into rooting hormone (or cinnamon if you’re going fully natural). Tap off excess.

4. Plant & Press

Stick the cutting into a small pot filled with damp potting mix. Gently firm the soil around the stem.

5. Create a Humidity Dome

Cut the bottom off a clear plastic bottle and place it over the cutting to create a mini greenhouse. This keeps humidity in while allowing airflow.

6. Place in Indirect Light

Keep the pots in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun—it can overheat your mini domes.

7. Wait, Water, Watch

Mist lightly if the soil looks dry, but don’t soak. In 3–6 weeks, roots should begin forming. Give them a gentle tug—resistance means success!

🌸 Why This Matters

When you grow lavender this way, you’re not just saving money—you’re building a self-reliant herbal garden. You can tuck lavender along garden paths, in pollinator pockets, or next to your tomatoes (hello, pest control!). Plus, you’re cultivating medicine: lavender helps with sleep, skin, and stress.

đź’š Bonus Tip:

Keep a few extra cuttings growing in pots so you can give them as gifts, market bundles, or event favors later in the year.