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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 26, 2007 22:51:20 GMT -5
Are lavender cuttings easier to root than it is to start lavender from seed?
How large should the cuttings be in length?
I have a small lavender plant that was started from seed last Mother's Day. It's finally starting to show some decent growth. I'd like to take some cuttings from it to root if this is not too difficult??
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 27, 2007 19:43:27 GMT -5
Take your cutting from semi-ripe wood (still growing, but snaps when bent over). Remove the bottom leaves, and dip in rooting hormone. Root in damp, soil less mix. The cuttings can be anywhere from 2 to 4 inches long. I think it's easier to get lavender to grow from cuttings than from seed, personally.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 27, 2007 22:34:29 GMT -5
Thanks Lav. I don't really think it's large enough yet to divide, but I'll take a look on the weekend.
P.S. When I finally have a decent lavender crop will you teach me how to make lavender bath oil like the one you sent me for Christmas?? Pleezzzzzzzzzzzz
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 28, 2007 5:16:56 GMT -5
No problem! I can't tell how tickled I am that you enjoyed it. It's hard to send stuff to people you've never met, you know? I fretted and fretted over that gift. I really got lucky that Helen had my name - she was very generous!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 28, 2007 22:09:54 GMT -5
Yes, she's good to her friends, that's for certain.
But you needed have fretted. I'm just a complex person who lives a simple life. Just a few seeds or a cute card with chickens on it can make my day. But a box full of homemade herbals and a jar of local honey was really wonderful..
Now back to this rooting of lavender. I looked at the gel rooting system again today. I think I might buy one because I know how problematic starting lavender can be for me..
Ooops. Forget to measure the plant. Be right back..
Okay. 7 Branches. Longest is 3-1/2 " . Think it's established enough to take cuttings?
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 29, 2007 5:14:25 GMT -5
I wouldn't take more than a cutting or two, just to make sure I didn't compromise the mother plant. How many cuttings would make the gel rooting system a worthwhile buy? I don't think I've ever seen one of those. I don't root very many things, - between kids and pets, it isn't unusual to have an almost rooted plant destroyed in a race through the house that gets out of control. (and that's usually, ME, running away from THEM!)
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 30, 2007 9:06:29 GMT -5
Flowerpower posted on TV to say that she uses the water from soaking willowbranches as a rooting medium. Think I'll try that. We've got lots and lots of willow out by the streambeds. I can get free plants from free rooting medium. What could be better than that?
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 30, 2007 9:34:07 GMT -5
I saw that post, too, and thought "Shoot, no shoots!" (I absolutely love 'free'!) Good luck with the lavender!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on May 18, 2007 8:23:15 GMT -5
I didn't even get a chance to try taking cuttings. The darn thing is dead? I guess I forgot to water it this week??
Lavender and I just don't seem to have a future together, LOL
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Post by mbrown on May 18, 2007 10:14:06 GMT -5
Lav and Blue,
I understand lavender is very fragrant and blooms for a long period. Does it take a large planting to fill the air with scent?
I'm not sure if it would grow well here with our hot dry summers and alkaline soils. My wife really wants me to create a "fragrant garden" to fill the air with scent while we sit and watch the birds.
Mike
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Post by bluelacedredhead on May 18, 2007 11:46:59 GMT -5
Mike, Obviously I'm not the one to ask about growing lavender, LOL.
ACtually, I'm not even one to ask about flowers. HOwever, Lavandula & Flowerpower are both very accomplished flower gardeners. I'm sure they can give you some excellent tips on which plants to grow for your wife's enjoyment.
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 18, 2007 17:47:27 GMT -5
Mike - the lavender should do just fine for you, and yes, it does fill the air with scent, as long as you touch up against it every once in awhile. Other great dry condition fragrant plants are Russian Sage (kind of a menthol scent, I think), real sage, artemesias (these are wonderful - think wormwood and it's cousins) thyme, oregano... all of these are wonderfully scented and thrive on neglect in my garden. For color, I bet you'd get good results from rudbeckia, which is drought tolerant, and from a lot of daylilies, although the alkaline soil may need some small amendment for them. By the way, there are some creeping thymes that stand up to foot traffic pretty well, and smell heavenly when you walk on them. I like creeping lemon thyme, myself.
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