Can Rosemary Be Grown in Water? With Illustrated Instructions for the Potted Water Culture Method

  Do you like cutting some plant stems yourself to propagate them in water? If you have never tried it, you definitely should. Most herbaceous plants can be propagated by cuttings in water, and you can place them on a windowsill or counter. And you do not have to bother choosing any soil, nor do you need to water them.

  Rosemary is a precious natural aromatic plant. During the growing season, it gives off a fresh fragrance and has the effect of refreshing the mind and lifting the spirits. Its stems, leaves, and flowers have a pleasant scent. The aromatic oil extracted from the flowers and tender branches can be used to blend raw materials for cosmetics such as air fresheners, perfumes, and soaps. The most famous toner is made with rosemary, and it can also be used in beverages, skincare oils, hair growth agents, and laundry paste.

  Rosemary likes a warm environment. In the south, it can be kept outdoors year-round, while in the north it must be moved indoors in winter or given protective measures against the cold. So, can rosemary be grown in water? Choose a clear, sunny day and try it at home!

  Materials to prepare for growing rosemary in water:

  One pot of soil-grown rosemary, pruning shears, a transparent container

  Method and steps:

  1. Cut the branches. Depending on the season, in spring or summer take green, relatively tender branches 5-10 cm long; from summer to autumn, cut grayish-white branches 10-15 cm long; in autumn, cut brown, hard branches 15-35 cm long.

  2. Use your fingers to rub off the leaves on the lower 1/2 of the branch. If the cutting is too tender, you can use tweezers to pluck them off.

  3. Put the prepared branches into a transparent container, and add enough water to reach just below the lowest leaves.

  4. Then place the plant in a place with plenty of sunlight. In the first week, change the water once every 2-3 days; afterward, change it only after the water becomes cloudy.

  5. In 5-8 weeks, will many small white roots grow from the lower part of the branches? Continue growing them in water. When the roots reach about 5 cm, you can take out some branches and plant them in soil, or continue growing them in water. However, when growing in water, you should appropriately supplement with nutrient solution.

  Precautions:

  1. Before taking cuttings, the leaves at the bottom of the cuttings must be removed. The leaves must not touch the water, otherwise they will easily rot, and this will also affect the water culture of the plant.

  2. If you choose the stems of small shrubs such as rosemary, it will take 2-6 weeks to root, while other soft-stemmed herb stems generally root in just a few days.

  3. Before rooting, change the water every three days. After rooting, you only need to change the water after it becomes cloudy, or when the water level is low.