I am propagating long stemmed cuttings into my washed recycled milk carton pots

The long stem method, with a rooting hormone (Indole Butyric Acid) to encourage fast root growth produces good results. Honey is also meant to be a way of encouraging root growth (see this comparison experiment by Stanley Barker).

Plants that are very easy to proagate are lavendars, wormwood, buddleia (butterfly bush) and salvia, and I have even put in some cuttings from my grafted olives to see how they go.

More adventerous is my "hedge in a box" - 24 Westringia cuttings.

Salvia

^ Here I have cut off the tops of the milk cartons - neater, and takes a bit less propagating mix!

The propagating mix I have used is just a basic potting mix with no added fertaliser, and no wetting agent.

Many propagating mix recipies on the internet.

Secrets of successful propagation:

• Clean pots
• Take firm young growth from the mother plant, 20cm long
• Remove large leaves, clear length of stem of all growth and dip in rooting hormone
• Use a dibbler (stick) to push a hole into the potting mix, push in the cutting and firm
• Water in well, and keep well watered
• Weed free, and free draining potting meduim
• Handle cuttings out of the sun and keep moist at all times
• Keep in a humid shady position and then harden the plants in a shade house before planting on

^ Use as described on the container!

^ My test olives, lavender, some buddleia (black knight)

^ Wormwood for chook owning friends, native hybiscus

^ Lavendar and Westringia hedge in a box

Mint just from roots of orriginal plant - double box to make wet conditions

Video:

ABC Gardening Australia - Propagating hebs

Links:

http://www.australianplants.org/fspsixte.htm