For those of us who grow herbs and want some fresh ones all winter, now is the time to take cuttings to root. I have basil and marjoram rooting in a 50/50 mix of perlite and vermiculite. All my other herbs will overwinter in the barn, and be available for snipping. The basil and marjoram will be on an east-facing window sill in the kitchen. They survived last winter (being moved to the counter on particularly cold nights). Fresh herbs, particularly in the winter, are a true joy!
I am having a hard time rooting my stevia cuttings, It's sad because I enjoy just chewing on the leaves in general :/. But i have a bunch of basil, though I haven't tried cuttings with anything else. *ponders*
Shawchert, I've found that stevia is harder to root than most herbs. However, if you take 8 to 10 cuttings, immediately dip them in rooting hormone (I use a powdered hormone available at most nurseries and also big box stores) and place them in a 50/50 mix of perlite and vermiculite that is well-dampened; keep them under a plastic cover with some air circulation (use 2 liter clear plastic pop bottles with the bottoms cut off and the cap off, lifted from the medium by a 1/4" or so) and out of direct sunlight; then you may get about 50% rooted. I hope this helps.
For those that like to use herbs but are short of growing space,,,I pick, wash and chop mine when they are growing best in summer. Then put them in plastic ice cube trays and freeze with a TBSP or so of water. Then just label a plastic freezer bag, and drop in the cubes and keep in the freezer. If you are rooting them, take twigs from a willow tree and soak in water. After a week or so you can just dip your cuttings in that water before putting them in the pot or dilute a bit and water the cuttings with it. Willow exudes the same hormone as the rooting hormone you buy. That's why you can stick a willow twig any moist place and it will root and grow. Works great for any hard to root plant.
Thanks I suppose I will as my last stevia didn't root again, they do well in just plain water but if you put it in the soil it just dies; I will have to find somewhere that sells root horomones around my area so I can get started soon, I don't think my main stevia plant has much time left in it!!
Shawchert, many nurseries carry rooting hormone, as do Lowe's and Home Depot. A hint--put a bit of the hormone in a plastic bag or small jar and use that for dipping the cuttings. That way, if there is any disease, it doesn't affect the entire supply of hormone. Plants rooted in just plain water develop a different type of root than those rooted in a medium, such as potting soil or perlite, etc. Water developed roots are much more tender and easily broken, and also don't easily take up the needed nutrients when they hit soil. I hope your stevia roots for you!
I have picked up some new mint plants from our nursery this year as: orange mint, pineapple mint, apple mint. I already have lemon herb, peppermint. So a few weeks ago i rearranged my herbs I have growing in pots but they have found their way into the soil anyway I have taken cuttings and brought some inside. anyone with stevia I have been looking for cuttings or seeds please.
