How to propagate basil through cutting and water

Basil a Mediterranean herb that love full sun and well drainage soil. A lot of varieties to choose from such as Italian basil, Napolitano-Lettuce Leaved basil, Dark Opal basil, Crimson King basil, Licorice basil and many more. The basil leave are the most use part in basil plant, with the sweet aroma can be used in either culinary or medical. Green are the typical color for basil, but it also available in red to purple that make the basil plant more appealing and suitable for any flower and decorative garden, and you can make pesto out of it too!!

Basil propagation via cutting are super easy and it will produce fast growing plant compared than you sow from seeds. This article will discuss how to propagate basil using plant and water. What you need is just basil cutting, water, jar and sun. Just follow this simple steps, and you will reproduce new basil plant for your cooking and garden.

Step 1:

Get any cutting of basil plant: it can be from your existing plant, or you can buy any fresh cutting form supermarket. To cut your own basil, try to use the top 4-6 inches of the new growing stem that still soft. Never use the woody stem.

Cutting from my existing basil bush

Step 2:

Peel off any leaves and branches on the stem until the top two leave, by doing this you promote the energy to development a new roots not the leaves.

Step 3:

Put your basil stem in a jar of water. Place it in the place that get morning sun or shade. Don't used ceramic cup or any jar that can block the sun to your basil stem/leave, the plant will die. Used clear cup/jar instead. Change the water every other day or so.

Basil, Oregano in my window sill

DON'T USE Ceramic cup, or your plant will die

Step 4:

Wait until few roots shoot from the stem. It will take about 4 to 10 days for root to appear, depending on the variety that you try to propagate.

Basils root in water

Red basil shoot roots

Step 5:

Transplant the cutting with root to your garden bed or container. Water it as usual.

Step 6:

Enjoy your new Basil!!

Happy Gardening.