July 3, 2013

How To: Grow & Propagate Basil From Cuttings


Basil is one of the easiest and fastest plants for propagation and summer is the perfect time to experiment in your own garden. Propagating basil cuttings is a great way to keep your basil supply going strong all season long, and a fun way to create new starter plants that make great hostess or parting gifts for all those summer get togethers. We've been trying it ourselves over the past couple of weeks and are already seeing success!

To propagate basil, cut about a 3-4 inch stem of new growth just above two leaf nodes:


Give the rooted plant that was just cut a good watering so it can start to regenerate itself.


Prepare your cutting by gently removing the lower leaves on the stem, leaving the two smallest at the top:


Then place in a dish of fresh water by the windowsill to sit. Over the next several days, keep the water in the dish fresh and covering the stem of the cutting.


After a week in the water (right around 7-8 days), we began to see our stem already sprouting new roots:


They just sprung right out from the base of the stem:


It's now been 2 weeks since we took the cutting and the roots have continued to grow. We'll continue to let them grow and establish longer and thicker roots before planting it in soil, but this is where we are today:


Pretty amazing, right?

Here's how the mother basil plant is fairing since the cut we made:


As you can see, since we cut just above two leaf nodes, the small plant generated two new stems with leaves, creating a bushier plant:


As each of these stems continue to grow longer and stronger, we'll be able to take new cuttings from each. This will allow us to get more basil started, while keeping the mother plant full and bushy instead of tall sparse. This cycle can go on and on, providing you with lasting basil all season long.

We'll keep you posted with how it goes for us. Have you had success regenerating basil or other plants — what methods seem fail proof for you?

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32 comments

  1. HelenJuly 9, 2013 at 10:01 AM

    Loved this post, have been meaning to propagate more basil given that my plant went through a decent beating the past few months! Fingers crossed the little one propagates!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17apartJuly 14, 2013 at 3:05 PM

      I am sure you will do just fine. This really is easy!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 12, 2015 at 5:55 PM

      I tried this b4 following these instructions, but, since I'm in Florida, I think the sun magnified through the window & fried my basil sprout. So, I'm trying it again, but I'm keeping it outside in moderate shade & hoping it'll grow.

      Delete
  2. ByJodiJuly 10, 2013 at 2:19 AM

    Oh my goodness! You just saved my plant! We are newbies at growing our own food and this was perfect!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17apartJuly 14, 2013 at 3:06 PM

      So happy to hear! You can check out all of our gardening tips here

      http://www.17apart.com/p/gardening.html

      Thanks for following along!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousNovember 25, 2014 at 9:47 PM

      Hey! I am kinda desperate with my basil and no one here knows a thing about it. If I sent pictures of mine to you could you help me with them?

      Delete
    3. AnonymousNovember 25, 2014 at 9:48 PM

      Hey! I am having some trouble with my basil, and no one here knows a thing about it. I know you already give tips about it, but if I send pictures of mine, would you help me?

      Will risk and try your advice now.

      Delete
  3. UnknownFebruary 25, 2014 at 8:10 AM

    Keep it up and help us to know more about gardening thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. GeraldineMarch 16, 2014 at 8:06 AM

    Thank you for the very detailed post and lots of pictures. Very helpful :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMay 19, 2014 at 2:14 AM

    You can do the same thing with mint and rosemary and I think tomato. I am current testing the tomato. I want to learn all the plants that can be cloned like this.

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    Replies
    1. Sandra WhiteMay 31, 2015 at 1:35 AM

      Mint will multiply on its own....stems will spread on the ground and root. Just cut off that part and you will have a new plant. Mints are best kept confined in a pot or corner as they spread so fast that they will take over everything before you know it !!!!

      Delete
  6. UnknownJune 4, 2014 at 9:32 PM

    Thanks so much! My neighbor has bountiful basil growing and offered me some cuttings to start my own. Just what I needed. Love the photos and the directions. I can't wait! Bless

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dr. RiceJune 13, 2014 at 8:51 AM

    You all are great! Seriously. Basil is my favorite. Thanks for the tips.

    ReplyDelete
  8. edelweizaJuly 3, 2014 at 4:38 AM

    New reader here. Basil is one of my fave herbs. I'm learning a lot from your regrowing practices (celery, onion, etc.). I plan to do the same soon, for sustainable living, of course. Thanks a bunch! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17apartJuly 8, 2014 at 10:12 AM

      We are happy you found us! Please stay in touch.

      Delete
  9. UnknownAugust 19, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    Does this concept of a bushy plant applies to mints as well? Or other herbs?

    ReplyDelete
  10. tinaosgoodOctober 9, 2014 at 1:23 PM

    I am a newbie at growing my own food. I really thank you for this. I helps me out a lot with my basil plant. If i take a cut from my rosemary, parsley, and mint and do the same thing you did here will i get the same results from the these other herb plants as well?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17apartOctober 9, 2014 at 4:39 PM

      Thanks so much for giving it a try and yes those will work. If you go to the bottom of this post you will see a link for rosemary mint and other herbs we have been successful with! Happy growing!

      Best, Tim and Mary

      Delete
    2. AZsinbadJune 12, 2016 at 6:25 PM

      What is that link as I do not see it?

      Delete
  11. JosieMarch 22, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    Great! I have two extremely tall, sparse and leggy basil plants that aren't producing much foliage, so with these tips I should be able to lop the tops off and start anew. Will keep on top of the pruning this time to get bushier plants!

    ReplyDelete
  12. JosieMarch 22, 2015 at 12:48 PM

    great! I have two extremely tall, sparse basil plants with few branches that are struggling to produce enough foliage- with these tips I should be able to lop the tops off and give them a second chance. Perhaps I'll keep on top of the pruning this time round!

    ReplyDelete
  13. JS MariazetaMay 13, 2015 at 10:30 PM

    Thank you so much for this post. I was able to grow roots in six days! https://instagram.com/p/2pErRGn7By/
    I'll propagate my basil using this method. Starting with seeds is taking longer time now. However, I'm still waiting for roots to grow in my mint cuttings. Thanks again! 😙😙😙

    ReplyDelete
  14. JS MariazetaMay 13, 2015 at 10:34 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownJuly 14, 2015 at 4:45 PM

    Thanks a million for this valuable post. Your skills saved my Basil.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownAugust 11, 2015 at 4:51 PM

    Yes, thank you for this post! After leaving my clippings in water for a week and a half or so mine have grown a lot of roots! I've just planted two clippings in soil, how much/often do you suggest I water it?

    ReplyDelete
  17. D'onnaAugust 27, 2015 at 2:54 PM

    Does anyone have any ideas on how we could keep these new "startings" to last through the the fall and possibly winter? Grow lights?

    ReplyDelete
  18. AZsinbadJune 12, 2016 at 6:23 PM

    Somehow I have started numerous basil plants but never tried it this way. I have noticed small ones coming up in the ground around the grown plants. Just wondering if the flowers at the top fall of and basil grows from them? I have done nothing and then see these growing in the rocks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2017 at 11:37 PM

    Great post! This was super helpful and extremely clear!Good job :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nicole Genez MindekMay 13, 2017 at 4:03 AM

    Thanks for the great information. Basil is so tasty wuth tomatoes...

    ReplyDelete
  21. AZsinbadMay 13, 2017 at 2:50 PM

    9 times out of 10 the cut stem turns brown instead of forming roots. Then the remaining leaves just shrivel up and dry. :( Very difficult to get them to the potting stage and then if you do they still die off.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ApatheticJanuary 21, 2018 at 9:40 PM

    @Sindi Stack, I share the same sentiment. I wonder what I did wrong? I replaced the water every day.

    ReplyDelete

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