The Popular Herb That Just Needs A Little Bit Of Water To Propagate

If you've ever considered the convenience of growing your own herbs at home, advancing your collection may be easier than you think. Sage (Salvia officinalis) serves as an excellent starter plant since it is a low maintenance and evergreen herb. From just one healthy sage plant, you can grow many through water propagation. Once you have mastered the simple process, there are at least 26 delicious herbs you can easily propagate from cuttings to kickstart your herbal collection. Whether you choose to propagate as a means of beginning or progressing your crop, growing your own sage yields fresh results, as well as pride.

Water propagation is not overly complicated and can be a first step for many plants. It is cost effective since you don't need to purchase soil or pots to start, and it allows the gardener to watch and gauge the readiness of the plant's new roots as they grow. Once your plant is ready to transfer to soil, there are many genius ways to use sage around your home and garden.

First, you will need to gather supplies — patience included. Begin with a healthy, nonflowering sage plant. Perhaps it was a gift from a friend's thriving garden or maybe you already grow sage and just want more. You will also need a small container of water and a pair of scissors, but remember that using dirty tools is a mistake too many people make when propagating plants.

Cut the sage stem diagonally just below a node to between 3 and 6 inches in length. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the stem, freeing the section to be submerged. Place the cutting into the glass with a couple inches of clean water. Keep the container in a warm, well-lit area out of direct sunlight, and change the water every few days. It should take a few weeks to begin growing roots.

Once your cutting has grown roots of 1 to 2 inches in length, you may move them either to a pot or your outdoor garden. Sage plants grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. Plant it in soil with good drainage and where it receives partial or full sun. Just make sure to wait until the plant has matured before harvesting it.