The herbs that propagate easiest in water happen to be from the mint family. However, if you are looking for an easier selection, start with soft wood or green wood cuttings from rosemary, thyme, lavender, sage, majoram, or oregano.
I actually have some pretty good success from hardwood cuttings from these herbs and summer savory as well, but truthfully, it’s the softwood that roots fastest in water, and if you are looking for the easy route, this is it!
For more information on this process, a full YouTube video is available:
Step-by Step Instructions:
Step 1:
Take a Cutting! Stem cuttings with brown, woody growth aren’t the right choice, but that fresh green tender newer growth will work out great! Take larger pieces if possible 4″+ long.
Step 2:
Remove the leaves from the bottom 1″-2″ (about 4 leaves will be fine). The process is called stripping. Remove the leaves by pulling them down toward the bottom of the cutting.
Step 3:
Fill a Mason jar with enough water to cover the stripped part of the stem, and place the stems in the jar. *Use distilled water if your water has a lot of chlorine.
Step 4:
Locate in a bright window, and change the water every few days if it gets cloudy. Remove stems if they die along the way.
Step 5:
Once you see roots form (roots will form at the stripped locations), wait until a considerable number of roots appear before moving the cutting into a fully hydrated soil-less medium in a 4″ pot.
Step 6:
After planting in soil-less medium, don’t over water and allow the roots to stretch and find water sources as it establishes. With that said, don’t let the soil-less medium dry out…it’s a balance. It may take 3 months or longer for the plant to establish. Be patient.
Step 7:
After the plant is established in the pot, use typical acclimating techniques before planting the new rosemary plant outdoors permanently.
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