Here’s how to propagate basil cuttings into new plants by rooting them in soil or water.
Growing basil from cuttings is easy.
For best results, take cuttings from healthy stems.
Credit:Jacob Fox
Avoid propagating plants that are actively flowering.
Flowering consumes a lot of plant energy, and stems that are blooming wont root well.
When taking cuttings, cut the stem directly above a leaf node on the plant.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Alwaysuse sterilized pruners or scissorsto reduce the chances of disease as you take your cuttings.
Some cuttings may not root, so take a few more cuttings than you think you need.
Remove the lower leaves.
Carefully pinch or clip away any leaves that are growing on the bottom third of the cutting stems.
Basil roots quickly, so theres no need to treat the stems withrooting hormone.
Prepare the planting pot.
Fill a small, 4- to 6-inch-diameter pot with pre-moistened potting mix.
Wait for the roots to develop.
It takes about two to four weeks for basil cuttings to root in soil.
Cut several 4- to 6-inch-long stem cuttings from healthy basil plants using scissors or a sharp knife.
Make the cuts at a slight angle just above a leaf node.
Place the cuttings in water.
Wait for the roots to develop.
When basil is propagated in water, cuttings should start to root in about two weeks.
Transplant the rooted cuttings into soil.
After transplanting, care for new basil starts like mature basil plants.
Soil and water propagation both have advantages and disadvantages, and neither technique is necessarily better than the other.
Cuttings root faster in water, but theyre more likely to rot before roots develop.
Soil propagation produces studier roots, but it takes longer.
