Propagating Lavender by Cuttings 💜 QG Day 22

Spoken Garden
14 Apr 202009:11

TLDRIn this engaging video, the hosts share their quarantine gardening project of taking lavender cuttings using two different methods: soil and water, without any rooting enhancers. They detail the process of selecting healthy softwood cuttings, preparing the supplies, and the importance of optimal plant health for successful rooting. The experiment aims to discover which method promotes better root growth, with the results to be updated in the coming weeks, encouraging viewers to stay tuned for the outcome.

Takeaways

  • 🌿 The video is a day 22 quarantine update where the speaker shares a gardening project involving lavender cuttings.
  • 🧪 The speaker and their partner have science backgrounds and are excited to experiment with two different methods of propagating lavender: in soil and in water.
  • 🌱 The lavender cuttings are softwood, taken early in the season when the plants are starting to grow.
  • 📚 The speaker mentions that most literature recommends taking cuttings in the fall, but they are trying this in spring to see what happens.
  • 🏡 The project takes place in a greenhouse, with supplies including a mason jar, water, twine, and duct tape.
  • 🔪 The cuttings are prepared by removing leaf tissue to prevent rot and encouraging root growth at the submerged or soil level.
  • 🌳 The speaker emphasizes the importance of plant health for successful cuttings, looking for signs of disease or insect damage.
  • 📌 The speaker plans to update on the progress of the cuttings, expecting to see growth and perform root tests in about a week or two.
  • 🤗 The video ends with a message of unity and encouragement to stay busy and happy during quarantine.
  • 👋 The speaker signs off, promising to provide updates on the experiment in following videos.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is about taking lavender cuttings and experimenting with two different methods of propagation during quarantine.

  • What are the two methods of lavender propagation being tried in the video?

    -The two methods being tried are propagating lavender cuttings in potting soil and in water.

  • Why did the speakers choose to experiment with lavender cuttings without using root tone or enhancing treatments?

    -They wanted to see if they could successfully propagate lavender without the use of root tone or enhancing treatments, as a new and interesting experiment.

  • At what time of the year are the speakers taking the lavender cuttings?

    -They are taking the lavender cuttings early in the season, which is different from the recommended time of fall as mentioned in literature.

  • What type of cuttings are being taken from the lavender plant?

    -Softwood cuttings are being taken from the lavender plant, which are the newest growths.

  • What are the ideal characteristics of a healthy lavender cutting?

    -A healthy lavender cutting should have the least amount of disease or insect damage, be turgid, and have been growing healthily.

  • How did the speakers prepare their supplies before taking the cuttings?

    -They prepared a glass mason jar filled with water, twine, and duct tape. They also pre-filled peat pots with soil for the cuttings.

  • What was the purpose of using twine and duct tape in the mason jar?

    -The purpose was to suspend the lavender cuttings over the water in the mason jar to help them root without touching the bottom.

  • How will the speakers know if the lavender cuttings have successfully rooted?

    -They will tug on the cuttings slightly to perform a root test, and if there's resistance, it indicates that roots have formed. Additionally, they will check if the leaves remain green and haven't withered.

  • What is the speakers' goal with this experiment?

    -Their goal is to see which propagation method works best for lavender cuttings and to potentially replant and reuse the rooted cuttings in their own garden.

  • How often will the speakers check on the progress of the lavender cuttings?

    -They plan to check on the cuttings daily but will specifically look for growth and perform a root test after about a week or two.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Day 22 of Quarantine: Lavender Propagation Experiment

The video begins with the host greeting the audience on day 22 of quarantine and introducing a gardening project. The hosts, both with science backgrounds, are eager to share their experiment of propagating lavender plants using two different methods: in soil (potting soil) and in water. They emphasize their approach of not using any root-enhancing treatments, aiming to test the natural rooting capabilities of the lavender cuttings. The video provides a tour of their greenhouse, where they have prepared a glass mason jar filled with water and supplies like twine and duct tape for suspending the cuttings. They plan to use softwood cuttings from their early-season lavender plants and will be taking 12 cuttings in total, stressing the importance of plant health and selecting the right type of cuttings for propagation. The hosts also discuss the general guidelines for taking cuttings, such as avoiding diseased or insect-damaged stems and choosing healthy, turgid, and well-watered plants for the best results.

05:00

🌱 Preparing and Planting Lavender Cuttings

In this segment, the hosts demonstrate the preparation and planting of the lavender cuttings. They explain the process of removing leaf tissue from the submerged part of the cuttings to prevent rot and disease, which could hinder the rooting process. The hosts show how to trim the excess stem just below the leaf nodes to encourage root growth at the desired location. They then proceed to plant the cuttings, with six placed in soil and six in water, using the prepared glass mason jar and peat pots. The hosts acknowledge that their initial idea of suspending the cuttings in water with twine did not work as expected but are optimistic about the experiment. They discuss the general care for the cuttings, including maintaining the water level and ensuring the soil is watered. The video concludes with the hosts expressing excitement about the outcome of their experiment and promising to update the audience on the progress. They sign off with words of encouragement for staying safe and busy during quarantine.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Quarantine

Quarantine refers to the practice of isolating individuals or objects to prevent the spread of diseases or pests. In the context of the video, it indicates the period of confinement the speakers are undergoing, which has led them to engage in various projects, including plant propagation.

💡Lavender

Lavender is a popular flowering plant known for its aromatic qualities and uses in herbal medicine, cosmetics, and as a culinary herb. In the video, lavender serves as the subject of the propagation experiment, showcasing the speakers' interest in gardening and their desire to expand their lavender plants.

💡Softwood Cuttings

Softwood cuttings are stems from a plant that are taken from the new growth, typically during the growing season, and are used for plant propagation. They are called 'softwood' because they are less hardened than 'hardwood' stems and are more flexible and easier to root.

💡Rooting

Rooting is the process by which plants develop roots, typically from a cutting or a section of the plant. It is a critical step in plant propagation, allowing the new plant to absorb water and nutrients and become independent.

💡Experiment

An experiment is a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. In the video, the speakers are conducting an experiment to compare two different methods of propagating lavender plants and to observe the outcomes.

💡Greenhouse

A greenhouse is a structure with walls and roof made primarily of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. In the video, the greenhouse serves as the location where the speakers carry out their propagation experiment.

💡Peat Pots

Peat pots are containers made from peat, a type of decomposed plant material, which is used in gardening for its ability to retain water and nutrients. They are biodegradable and can be planted directly into the soil without the need to remove the pot, which is beneficial for plant growth.

💡Duct Tape and Twine

Duct tape and twine are common materials used in various DIY projects and gardening tasks. Duct tape is strong adhesive tape, and twine is a type of cord or string. In the video, these materials are used to suspend the lavender cuttings over water, serving as a means to support the cuttings during the propagation process.

💡Desiccation

Desiccation is the process of drying out, often used in the context of plants losing moisture, which can lead to a loss of viability. In the video, the speakers aim to prevent desiccation of the lavender cuttings by quickly placing them into a growing medium after they are taken.

💡Plant Health

Plant health refers to the overall condition and vitality of a plant, including its ability to grow, resist diseases, and thrive. A healthy plant is more likely to produce successful cuttings and propagate effectively. In the video, the speakers emphasize the importance of selecting healthy lavender stems without disease or insect damage for their propagation experiment.

Highlights

Day 22 of quarantine and the project involves taking lavender cuttings.

The hosts have science backgrounds and are excited to try two different methods for propagation without using root tone or enhanced treatments.

The experiment includes taking softwood cuttings from lavender plants in early season, which is different from the common advice of taking cuttings in the fall.

The supplies prepared for the experiment include a glass mason jar, water, twine, and duct tape.

The plan is to suspend cuttings over water using twine and to plant others in peat pots with soil media.

The goal is to compare which medium, soil or water, results in better rooting for the lavender cuttings.

The hosts are in their greenhouse to carry out the experiment, emphasizing the importance of the environment for plant growth.

When selecting cuttings, preference is given to long stems with soft tissue, indicating health and vitality.

Healthy plant material is crucial for successful propagation, with considerations for disease or insect damage.

Softwood cuttings are chosen for this experiment because they are easier to root compared to hardwood.

The process of preparing the cuttings involves removing leaf tissue to prevent rot and encourage root growth.

Cutting just below the leaf nodes is recommended to stimulate root development from those areas.

The experiment consists of six cuttings in soil and six in water, providing a controlled comparison.

The hosts will monitor the cuttings daily and perform a root test in a week or two to check for resistance and successful rooting.

The outcome of the experiment will be shared with the audience, with updates on the health and growth of the cuttings.

The hosts encourage staying busy with projects like these during quarantine to stay happy and productive.