[SAJ]

Hi, Greenie -- Here's a Q for the group. I'm trying to clone a very healthy rosemary plant via cuttings, or cortes as they're called here.

Duly did the research, Internet sites, called Shaw's Garden in StL, and so forth.

Then, I got smart. Asked a local pro gardener about the details of doing it right...and he was puzzled. Took out his garden shears, cut off two 7-inch branches, and -- with NO other prep of any type -- pushed them down into some nice loose fertilised soil where I wanted them. Took all of 60 seconds.

His parting advice? Pona mucha agua cada dia hasta las raices comenzan.

"Water them very well every day until the roots start growing."

Well, that's simple enough. Assuming he's right and the cuttings do prosper (and he has the very GREENEST of thumbs, btw), here's the question:

Why the devil does everyone I consulted have a list of 10 or so materials and 20 or so steps to go through just to make a healthy cutting? I don't get it.

[greeneyes]

LOL. Ya got me. Some people are just verbose?LOL

[lee martell]

To address your question; Why such complex responses for a basic planting task? I think some enjoy the mystique of gardening, the fact that no matter how much experience one has, you can be contradicted and dramatically humbled by the course of natural events.

Gardening is part science/ botany, part methodical thinking, and part an Artistic Expression, that says; Hells Bells, throw the bucket of seeds up in the air, where it lands, I don’t even care. Let it grow, let it grow!”

Last answer, many gardeners want to be known as The Plant Expert Who KNOWS How to Make Things Happen, so they tend to ‘embroider’ their routine a little bit, hoping to make it so impossible for you, that almost no one could reproduce their result, this would ‘prove’ to that Plant Expert that they were right all along, it is this person alone who has the GREEN THUMB!! (them, not you-yet).

[afraidfortherepublic]

My grandmother could make a cutting of anything she touched grow like crazy. I don’t think she ever BOUGHT a plant — she just gave homes to snippings from her neighbors’ yards.

[left that other site]

That is exactly how I would have done it!

[Ellendra]

I’ve seen the same thing with tomato cuttings. People make it out to be more complicated than it is. I keep the soil for tomato cuttings moist (almost waterlogged) until they put out new leaves. That way I know the roots have grown without having to disturb the soil and look for them.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

SAJ:" Hi, Greenie -- Here's a Q for the group. I'm trying to clone a very healthy rosemary plant via cuttings,
or cortes as they're called here." personally , I would have used a razor sharp knife/ clippers and cut in a 45 degree angle, used fresh rooting hormone ( this years)
compress the soil, and then water vigorously until roots occur to support the plant.
If I was willing to gamble , do it just as stated.
If I wanted to assure rooting, I would cut 45 degrees, using rooting hormone , and keep well watered.
Frequently , it is in the learned technique ( razor knife/appropriate 45 degree agle/loose friable soil / well watered) that one takes forgranted !

He doesn't even think about it ,because he does it naturally (learned behavior)