Learn how to grow basil from cuttings through propagation.
I love cooking with fresh herbs, but I hate how they charge like $4 for one of those tiny plastic containers at the grocery store.
Fortunately, you can spend the same amount of money on a live plant that will give you fresh herbs all season long! I’ve used this technique for years, and now that we have a yard to plant #alltheplants, I thought it was high time to share my personal tips with you.
P.S. You might also like to learn how to grow tomatoes in containers!
Buy 1 Basil Plant, Grow 10 Free!
It probably sounds too good to be true; or you might think you need a green thumb; but I swear anybody can do this!
I’ve seen a few different tutorials or advice posts for propagating herbs this way, but if you want to know how to grow basil from cuttings without getting too technical, read on for the easy way I do it — without any unnecessary steps!
Instructions for How to Grow Basil from Cuttings
1. Start with a big, bushy basil plant. Get one straight from the store — no need to nurture it ahead of time!
2. Snip a cutting a few inches below its top set of leaves, above a lower set of leaves.
Tip: Cut at an angle. This gives the cutting more surface area to take in water later.
3. If you have an extra set of leaves in the middle of your cutting, pinch (or snip) them off. Yout want a good few inches of bare stem.
4. Place your newly-naked stem into a jar, glass, or vase.
Tip: Use a clear container (rather than something opaque like a coffee mug or can) so you can see when the roots begin to grow or when it’s time to change the water.
5. Once you’ve clipped and prepared all your cuttings and stuck them in a container, fill it up with water.
6. Place your basil babies near a natural light source, but don’t leave them in direct, strong sunlight, or they can scorch and die.
7. Change the water daily (or when it becomes cloudy or stinky) by pouring it out and adding new room-temperature water.
After approximately a week, you’ll start to see tiny white, hair-like roots sneaking out from the stem. As you can see in the photo above, they’ll grow out of anywhere along the stem given the opportunity, just like these guys!
8. Once the roots have gotten thicker and a little more sturdy, you can plant the basil in a pot or directly into the ground!
Can you use the flowers from basil as well to grow new roots like this?
Great question, Sarah. I’ve never tried it, but it would certainly be worth a test, since the flowers don’t have any other use!
My plants usually dont stay alive long. Will definatelly try this. Thanks
I definitely used to have the same problem, and I still struggle with tropical plants. Best of luck!!
You are so right, I hate paying for basil too! 🙂
It’s the worst, isn’t it?! 🙂
Totally doing this!!! How many days did it take your cuttings to sprout new roots?
It’s SO satisfying! It took around a week. 🙂
I love this! Basil is my fave fave, too.