We’ll go over the basics of starting sage plants from cuttings today.
Sage is a perennial herb with thick, woody stems that yield large, flavorful sprigs of sage when harvested. You’ve probably cooked with sage before, or at the very least, eating food that contained it.
Sage, like many other herbs, can be grown successfully in a wide range of climates, both here in the United States and around the world. An herb garden wouldn’t be complete without sage, both for its striking green color and for the delicious fresh sage that it produces in the kitchen.
However, where do you begin?
When growing sage from seed, it’s possible, but cuttings are also an option, and you don’t even need a stage plant for that!
DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD GROW SAGE FROM CUTTINGS?
Salvia can be propagated from cuttings, which is another name for this process. To propagate a plant, you divide it, take cuttings or some other method to produce a new plant that is genetically identical to the original.
Sage is one of the more difficult plants to propagate, but with a little patience and care, you’ll have your own little sage bush!
Sage can be grown from cuttings, and that’s what we’ll cover today!
SAGE CUTTINGS GROWING TECHNIQUES
Cuttings of sage can be grown from
- A 3′′ pot with good drainage is ideal for this purpose. or potting soil in the garden
- Water
- Hormone for water rooting (optional)
We’ll get into the specifics in a moment, but before we do, we should point out that growing sage from cuttings takes time. It may take up to a year, depending on your approach, before you can reap the benefits of your new sage plant and eat it.
SAGE PROPAGATION STRATEGY outlined step-by-step.
Everything you need to know about growing sage from cuttings is laid out here.
Get Your Hands on Some Wisdom!
As a first step, you’ll obviously need some sage cuttings to get things started.
Simply cutting some healthy, non-flowering sprigs of sage from your garden will do if you are growing your own. Sprigs between 4 and 6 inches in length will do just fine; no need to remove entire branches. It’s possible to take cuttings at any time of year, but the best time is when the weather is getting colder and the stems are starting to get a little woody on the ends.
If you don’t have access to a sage patch or know of anyone willing to share theirs, you can buy fresh sage at most grocery stores or farmers’ markets. If you can’t find fresh sage sprigs on the market, you can always buy some if you want to get started with the herb.
Is it better to plant in the spring or in the fall? The answer depends on where you are growing, but early fall is generally the best time of year for planting.
When plants grow thicker stems (sometimes even woody at the base), your cutting will be more stable for propagation.
Remove the bottom 2 inches of the sage sprig’s leaves.
Strip off the lower portion of the lower stem of the sage sprig — about 2 inches of the bare stem will serve as the foundation for future roots!
The sprig’s tip should be trimmed at a 45-degree angle if you plan to propagate it immediately. This will give the sprig’s core some new light.
You can keep the sprigs in the fridge in a plastic bag if you aren’t ready to propagate.
Dip the stem into a Growth Hormone (Optional)
The bare stem of the sprig can now be dipped into a rooting hormone.
Using a growth hormone is optional, especially when it comes to sage, which you’ll likely be eating in the future. It may be necessary for stronger roots in some cases, but it isn’t always necessary.
You can buy growth hormone in powder or gel form at your local garden center if you want to speed up the growth of your plant’s root system. In order to apply the growth hormone, simply dip your stem into some water.
Make sure to keep in mind that if you use a rooting hormone to grow sage, you’ll have to wait a full year before eating any of the plants.
FORM THE ROOF STRUCTURE
The stem can be planted in a potting soil mix to ensure good drainage if you choose to start the plant with growth hormone. Planting them in a small pot or pack is preferable because they are just sprigged at this point. If you need to relocate the plant, this will make it easier.
Root structure should be established before planting in the soil if growth hormones are not being used. To do this, simply submerge the sage plant’s 2″ bare stem in a glass of water. Roots should begin to emerge from the stem within a few weeks!
After a few mature roots have formed, the plant is ready for potting! The root system can only grow into the soil if the sprig’s stem is in good contact with it.
When the soil temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, perform this procedure.. A plant that struggles to take off because of the heat if planted too late may not take root if planted too early (sage is a cooler weather-loving herb).
BE PATIENT AND WAIT SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS FOR THE PLANT TO GROW
How long a plant takes to root and grow will depend on the time of year it is propagated. After about six to eight weeks, you’ll start to see some signs of progress.
If possible, keep your sage plant in a warm and humid location. For those who have a greenhouse, this weather is ideal! If that doesn’t work, you can cover the plant and container with a plastic bag. If you live in an area with a mild climate, you may be able to grow the plant outside.
There is a possibility that transplant shock is to blame if the leaves turn yellow after a few weeks. Plants, like people, dislike sudden change. Trim the yellow leaves and prepare for new growth in this case.
It’s time to take care of your new Sage!
It’s time to start treating your plant like any other young plant you would buy from a greenhouse or growing center now that it has been started. It is imperative that you provide your sage plant with adequate sunlight, water (a trickle of water on the soil’s surface is ideal), and attention.
It will eventually outgrow its pot and you can plant this perennial directly in the ground for years to come!
SAGE GROWING FROM CUTTINGS: A SUMMARY
Sage is a great herb to grow from cuttings, in my opinion! You can use these steps to spread your wisdom:
- Do you have any sage? (either from an existing plant or from your grocery store)
- Remove the bottom 2′′ of each stem’s leaves for slicing.
- Plant in potting soil after dipping the stem in a growth hormone OR
- The stem should be placed in a glass of water for a few weeks before planting.
- A humid climate and occasional watering is all that is needed to keep the stem and pot alive for 6-8 weeks.
- Plant and maintain your new sage bush!
