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Propagation: Cuttings, Division & Grafting

The complete small-space manual for salvias, herbs, ornamentals and edibles — windowsill, balcony or kitchen table.

Download Full Handbook (PDF)

Workspace, Hygiene & Permissions

Set up a tiny station

  • Tray or baking sheet to contain mess
  • Knife or secateurs + rubbing alcohol + kitchen roll
  • Labels + pencil, small pots/cell inserts, clear bag/dome
  • Mix: 50:50 peat-free compost : perlite (or 60:30:10 compost : bark fibre : perlite)

Sterilise between plants: quick wipe with alcohol keeps damping-off and rot at bay.

Ethics & permissions

  • Propagate only from plants you own or have permission to take from
  • Some ornamentals carry Plant Breeders’ Rights (don’t sell clones)
  • Never collect in the wild unless explicitly permitted

Healthy mother plants make the best babies. Feed and water the donor a few days before taking material.

Propagation Media Recipes

Use Recipe Why it Works
Softwood cuttings50% compost · 50% perliteAir + moisture, lowers rot risk (salvias, herbs)
Semi-ripe / woody bases40% compost · 40% fine bark · 20% perliteBark adds structure and fungal balance
Water-prop potting-on60% compost · 30% bark · 10% gritHolds moisture but drains fast for fragile water roots
Hardwood sticks1:1 sharp sand : compostCool, free-draining bed over winter

Pre-moisten mixes like a wrung-out sponge. If you can squeeze water out, it’s too wet.

Propagation Methods

Softwood Cuttings Spring–Early Summer

Great for Salvia nemorosa, S. microphylla/greggii, basil, mint, oregano, thyme, sage, pelargonium, coleus.

  1. Take 8–10 cm non-flowering tip below a node. Strip lower leaves.
  2. Optional: dip in rooting powder. Insert into 50:50 compost:perlite. Firm.
  3. Water. Cover with a clear dome or bag held off foliage.
  4. Bright, indirect light. 18–22 °C at base. Vent daily. Root in 2–4 weeks.

For salvias, several small cuttings beat one chunky stem — faster strike, better branching.

Semi-ripe & Hardwood Cuttings

Use semi-ripe late summer for rosemary, lavender, many salvias. Hardwood in late autumn–winter for currants, willow, dogwood, figs.

  1. Semi-ripe: 8–12 cm tips with some firmness; 40/40/20 mix; gentle bottom warmth helps.
  2. Hardwood: 15–20 cm leafless sticks, pencil-thick. Two nodes buried in cool, gritty mix.
  3. Keep barely moist. Shelter from hard frost. Root across winter into spring.

Most woody failures = cold + wet compost. Err on the dry side and ventilate.

Division

Fast multiplication for clumps: chives, mint, oregano, thyme, Salvia officinalis, daylily, hosta, grasses, strawberries via runners.

  1. Water the parent plant the day before.
  2. Tip out, tease or slice into sections each with roots and shoots.
  3. Pot into fresh mix. Trim top growth by one-third. Shade 2–3 days.

Divide culinary sage and chives every 2–3 years to keep growth vigorous.

Layering

Zero-drama propagation for trailing strawberries, thyme, oregano and woody salvias with arching stems.

  1. Nick underside of a low stem at a node. Pin to compost in a neighbour pot with a paperclip.
  2. Keep moist. Roots form in 2–4 weeks.
  3. Cut free and pot on.

Layering is brilliant for older salvias that sulk as cuttings.

Water Propagation

For basil, mint, coleus and many soft salvias. A confidence booster on a bright sill.

  1. 10 cm tip cutting below a node. Strip lower leaves.
  2. Jar of water covering nodes. Change every 2–3 days.
  3. Pot up when roots are 3–5 cm. Shade lightly for 2–3 days.

Water roots are fragile. Don’t let them get long and feathery before potting.

Grafting (Advanced, Optional)

Common for tomatoes and cucurbits to improve disease resistance and cool-summer vigour. Rarely needed for salvias.

  1. Raise rootstock and scion to similar stem width (3–4 mm).
  2. Cut both at 45°, align cambium, clip with silicone grafting clip.
  3. High humidity and shade for 5–7 days, then wean to normal light.

Species Cheat Sheets

PlantBest MethodRoot TimePotting-onNotes
Salvia nemorosaSoftwood (spring)2–4 wksWhen 3–4 cm rootsPinch tips after first potting to bush out
Salvia microphylla / greggiiSemi-ripe (late summer)3–6 wksRoot ball holds togetherHates cold wet; airy mix and shelter
Salvia officinalis (culinary)Division / semi-ripe3–6 wksFirm roots showingDivide clumps every 2–3 yrs
RosemarySemi-ripe4–8 wksNew growth flush visibleBottom warmth speeds rooting
LavenderSemi-ripe4–8 wksAfter gentle tug resistsGritty mix, bright light
Basil / MintWater-prop or softwood1–2 wks3–5 cm rootsPot early before roots tangle
PelargoniumSoftwood2–3 wksFirst new leafLet cuts callus 1–2 hrs before inserting
StrawberryRunners (layering)2–3 wksOnce anchored roots seenCut umbilical after rooting
Roses (modern & heritage) Hardwood or semi-ripe 6–10 wks (longer in cold) Spring or autumn Take 15–20 cm stem from healthy, non-flowering growth. Remove lower leaves & thorns, dip in rooting hormone, insert two nodes. Keep cool, just moist, and shelter from frost. Shrub & climbing types root best.

Humidity, Light & Airflow

  • Dome or bag for humidity, but vent daily to prevent fungus
  • Bright, indirect light. Avoid midday scorch behind glass
  • Gentle fan or cracked window reduces mould and strengthens stems

If leaves sweat inside the dome, raise it with pegs or chopsticks.

Potting-On & Hardening

  • Pot when a gentle tug meets resistance or roots reach 3–4 cm
  • Feed at half-strength 7–10 days after potting
  • Harden off for 7–10 days before living outdoors full-time

Newly rooted salvias often flop for a day after potting. Shade and they perk up.

Rooting Hormones & Natural Aids

Propagation Calendar (UK, Balcony & Patio)

Month Focus Good Targets Notes
JanHardwood prepCurrants, dogwood, willow, rosesCool, gritty bed; minimal water
FebHardwood continuesFigs, vines, rosesLabel sticks clearly
MarEarly softwoodPelargonium, coleusBright light indoors
AprPrime softwoodSalvia nemorosa, herbsBest strike rate
MaySoftwood peakSalvias, basil, mintVent domes daily
JunSemi-ripe beginsRosemary, lavenderBottom warmth helps
JulDivision, runnersChives, mint, strawberriesShade post-division
AugSemi-ripe strongGreggii/microphylla salvias, rosesAiry bark mix
SepLayeringWoody salvias, thymeRoot in place
OctLast softwoodPelargonium cuttingsOverwinter frost-free
NovHardwood startsCurrants, figs, rosesCool frame, low water
DecTools & labels—Sharpen, clean, plan mother plants

Troubleshooting

Blackening stems

  • Too wet or too cold. Refresh cut; switch to drier airy mix
  • Warm the base, add airflow, reduce dome time

Leaves wilt, then crisp

  • Heat or sun stress. Move out of midday sun; mist lightly
  • Reduce leaf area by a third on floppy salvias

No roots after 4–6 weeks

  • Material too old or too cold — take fresher softwood or switch to semi-ripe timing
  • Try a smaller cutting and refresh the mix

Rooted but stall after potting

  • Pot too big or too rich — step up gradually; feed half-strength
  • Shade for 2–3 days and keep just moist

FAQs

Water-prop vs soil: which is better?
Water is fast and visible for basil and mint. Soil produces tougher roots for woody salvias, rosemary and roses. If you water-prop salvias, pot early and use a very airy mix.
Can I root flowering stems?
Pinch off flower buds — rooting energy should go to new roots and leaves, not blooms.
Do I need heat mats?
Not essential, but gentle 18–22 °C base warmth increases success for semi-ripe cuttings.
How big should the first pot be?
Start small 7–9 cm. Step up as roots fill. Oversized pots stay wet and promote rot.

Quick Guides — Edible Herbs

Basil / Mint — Quick Guide (PDF) Chives — Quick Guide (PDF) Lemon Balm — Quick Guide (PDF) Oregano / Marjoram — Quick Guide (PDF) Rosemary — Quick Guide (PDF) Sage (Salvia officinalis) — Quick Guide (PDF) Tarragon (French) — Quick Guide (PDF) Thyme — Quick Guide (PDF)

Quick Guides — Edible Fruit

Strawberry — Quick Guide (PDF) Fig (juvenile) — Quick Guide (PDF) Currants (Ribes) — Quick Guide (PDF) Grapevine — Quick Guide (PDF) Raspberry — Quick Guide (PDF) Blueberry — Quick Guide (PDF)