Knowledgebase

propagating lavender #416074

Asked July 22, 2017, 2:31 PM EDT

I want to grow some lavender from cuttings.  I have been looking it up and have found good information but some contradicts a bit and I want to know what to do here in Lakewood, Colorado.  One item is when to  take the cuttings.  Some say early spring others say in the late summer or fall then overwinter them.  Early spring is so unpredictable here, well all the seasons are these days, so I don't know which is best.  Some say to use growth hormone, other's say you don't really need it.  I can propagate in soil or water but they say that it is harder to plant the ones done in water.  How so?  I prefer using water because of how my living space is.  Finally some say that lavender does poorly or not at all in clay soil and you should amend it with sand.  I have also heard that sand is a bad idea for everything.  If sand is a good thing how deep would it need to go.  My one lavender plant was planted directly into the ground and it is fine.  Thank you.

Jefferson County Colorado

Expert Response

Hello,
CSU Extension has a Fact Sheet just for you:  Growing Lavender in Colorado  http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07245.pdf.  As you will read on page 2,
" Propagation The best time to take cuttings from lavender plants is right after they have bloomed. Take cuttings from stems with no flower buds on them. Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and insert it into well-draining sterile potting soil or horticultural vermiculite. Rooting hormones are not necessary. Be sure the cuttings are labeled as to cultivar name and date the cutting was collected. Water well and mist regularly. They should root in about three weeks. Transplant rooted cuttings into pots 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Once the plants have developed a vigorous root system they can be planted in the garden."

Plants that have been rooted in water may have a difficult time adjusting to the lowing moisture levels after being planted in soil.  Lavender grows well in our alkaline soils.  If your soil is very clayey, amend with compost rather than sand (remember that sand + clay = concrete!).

Best regards,
Mari Hackbarth Replied July 24, 2017, 3:31 PM EDT

Thank you.  This is very helpful.  I had never connected the concrete thing.  Wow, and I thought this clay that you could throw pots with was a pain. 

Shannon

The Question Asker Replied July 24, 2017, 5:29 PM EDT

Loading ...