Tag: rooting cuttings

Plant Tips – Propagating in Water Update/Rooting Roses in a Potato

On By TimelessladyIn Plant Tips2 Comments

I’ve rooted several cuttings in water from my outdoor garden. Most sent out roots, some didn’t. I found the Pineapple Sage was one of my best plants for rooting in water.

I rooted two types of Firecracker Plants in water. I’m not sure if the variety made a difference, but it reminded me of an old post. Plant Tips – Green Glass for Quick Rooting. The cuttings on the right were rooted in a green vase, the plants on the left in clear glass. I think I need to keep a few more green vases/bottles around the house.

Recently, three stems from a bouquet of florist roses sent out shoots. I couldn’t resist an experiment. I’ve seen YouTube videos on rooting rose cuttings in a potato. This seemed the perfect time to attempt an experiment since new growth had already begun. I went the traditional way with one stem and rooted it in soil. I sealed off the top of the stem with glue gun first to keep moisture from escaping.

I popped the second into a hole I made in the potato. Easy-Peasy.

The third was also popped into a potato, but then I placed the potato in soil. All three stems were then encased in a ziplock bag to seal in moisture. None of the stems had any sign of roots when I planted them. I’ll update in a few weeks.

Plants – Herb Whisperer

On By TimelessladyIn Plants12 Comments

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed…” Genesis 1:29 (KJV)

Years ago, my mother surprised me with this gift, a rack of bottles for floral arrangements, or as in my case, a place to root plant cuttings. From the day I received this gift, until now, my bottles have not been without sprigs of plants. Placed in a bright window, without strong direct sunlight, the cuttings thrive. My home is filled with plants I have rooted in these bottles.

Lavender

A week or two ago, I cut a piece of lavender from the garden with hopes of enjoying it through the winter. Lavender is a plant I find hard to start from seed or cutting, but it is not impossible. Even if this sprig doesn’t root for me, I will still enjoy its soft scent through the cold months. I consider myself a herb whisperer of sort. I can imagine you shaking your head, “A what?” you ask. Yes, a herb whisperer. I coax a whiff of beautiful fragrance from my herbs by gently running my hand over the leaves. I don’t need to press. I don’t need to rub. A soft brushing of my fingertips against the foliage releases the oils, and the scent reaches my nose, instantly elevating my mood and energy level.

Peppermint

Whether it is the calming effect of my lavender, or the invigorating swoosh of peppermint, or the contentment found in the fragrance of rosemary, not many days go by without me calling up the herb whisperer within my character.

Rosemary

In winter two of these herbs are still easy to find, peppermint and rosemary are often sold in local supermarkets in the produce section. Lavender might be a bit more difficult to locate in the winter, but if you have a dormant plant in your garden or in a friends, cut a sprig and bring it inside, it will reward you with weeks and weeks of subtle fragrance.

Aromatherapy effects:

Lavender – calming, mood enhancing, cures insomnia and headaches. Read more here: Benefits of Lavender

Peppermint – anti-inflammatory, kills viral infections, clears lung congestion. Read more here: Benefits of Peppermint

Rosemary – aids in digestion, eases stomach cramps, relieves headaches. Read more here: Benefits of Rosemary

More on the care and culture of these three herb plants can be found in the links below:

Lavender
Peppermint
Rosemary