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- Fast, reliable herbs you can root on a windowsill
- Mint family and aromatic greens that thrive indoors
- Woody Mediterranean herbs perfect for pots
- Rosemary — take woody cuttings in late spring
- Sage — fast indoor replacements for holiday cooking
- Oregano — compact flavor from simple stem cuttings
- Bay laurel — grow a potted bay tree from softwood cuttings
- Lavender — woody stems and well-draining mix
- Tarragon — propagate the variety that resists seed germination
- Marjoram — small cuttings, soft light
- Lemony and tall-stemmed herbs that freshen recipes
- Bold, tropical, and lesser-known herbs worth propagating
Fresh herbs on a sunny windowsill transform cooking and cut grocery costs. Regrowing plants from cuttings is cheap, quick, and forgiving. Below are easy, kitchen-friendly methods to propagate 24 popular herbs from stems, bulbs, and grocery finds. Follow the simple steps and you’ll have a steady supply of flavor within weeks.
Fast, reliable herbs you can root on a windowsill
Basil — quick cutting propagation for constant pesto
Basil roots readily from stem cuttings. Use sharp, clean scissors and cut a 4–6 inch piece just below a leaf node. Remove the lowest leaves and place the stem in clear water.
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- Keep water fresh and the jar near indirect light.
- When roots reach about 2 inches, pot in well-draining soil.
Parsley — beat slow seeds with stem propagation
Parsley is famously slow from seed. Cut a 6-inch stem at a node and set it in water. Transplant when roots are visible and soil is kept damp until established.
Cilantro — root cuttings for faster harvests
Cilantro cuttings will form roots in a glass of water. Snip 4–6 inches from a healthy stem, remove lower leaves, and wait for fine roots. Move to a pot once roots reach a couple inches.
Dill — delicate stems that like bright light
Choose young, flexible dill stems for cuttings. Trim below a node and strip bottom leaves. Change the water weekly to prevent rot and transplant when roots appear.
Thyme — small cuttings, big flavor
Thyme roots easily from short green shoots. Cut 3–4 inches, remove the lower leaves, and set the stem in water or damp mix. Avoid removing more than one-third of the mother plant.
Chives — propagate clumps or blade cuttings
Chives can be divided or started from 6–8 inch cuttings. Make shallow holes in moist potting mix and plant each cutting 2 inches deep. Keep evenly moist until new growth shows.
Mint family and aromatic greens that thrive indoors
Peppermint — vigorous roots in water
Peppermint cuttings root fast. Choose non-flowering stems, strip the lower leaves, and immerse the bottom inch in water. Keep in bright light and transfer to soil once roots form.
Spearmint — water rooting keeps it compact
Spearmint tolerates direct sun and will root for weeks in water. Include at least three nodes on each cutting and change the water every few days.
Lemon balm — citrusy scent, gentle care
Lemon balm roots like other mints. Use a 4–6 inch cutting and place in bright, indirect light. Fertilize lightly after roots are well established.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) — spiritual herb, easy to regrow
Tulsi responds to the same method as basil. Cut a 4–6 inch stem, remove the bottom leaves, and set in water on a warm windowsill. Keep temperatures above 70°F for best results.
Perilla (Shiso) — Asian herb to start in perlite
Perilla makes a great indoor specimen. Use a 4-inch cutting, plant it in damp perlite, and cover with clear plastic to keep humidity high. Roots should appear within two weeks.
Catnip — low-maintenance and cat-approved
Catnip cuttings are forgiving. Trim 6-inch stems, remove lower leaves, and place tips in damp mix. A sunny south-facing spot will encourage bushy growth.
Woody Mediterranean herbs perfect for pots
Rosemary — take woody cuttings in late spring
Use 6-inch cuttings of firm rosemary stems. Strip the lower leaves and root in water or gritty mix. Plant each rooted cutting in its own pot and give full sun and light watering.
Sage — fast indoor replacements for holiday cooking
Snip 4–6 inch young stems for sage cuttings. Place the bottom 2 inches in water or moist soil. Keep temperatures near 70°F and provide indirect light as roots form.
Oregano — compact flavor from simple stem cuttings
Oregano roots quickly in water. Remove lower leaves from a 4–6 inch stem and place in a sunny spot. Transplant to an 8-inch pot when roots are sturdy.
Bay laurel — grow a potted bay tree from softwood cuttings
Take 6-inch cuttings from new growth and root in water. Move to a large pot when roots reach about ½ inch. Bay needs room, humidity, and bright light.
Lavender — woody stems and well-draining mix
Choose mature non-flowering stems for lavender. Scrape a thin strip of bark from the base to stimulate rooting. Plant in a mix of sand, compost, and vermiculite and cover to keep humidity up.
Tarragon — propagate the variety that resists seed germination
French tarragon rarely sets reliable seed, so cuttings are best. Trim young stems at an angle and consider dipping tips in rooting hormone to speed root formation.
Marjoram — small cuttings, soft light
Marjoram only needs 3 inches of stem to root. Place cuttings in moist potting mix and spritz daily. Provide bright light and thin out any leggy growth.
Lemony and tall-stemmed herbs that freshen recipes
Lemon verbena — bright citrus notes from cuttings
Lemon verbena likes humidity and moisture. Take cuttings similar to parsley and dip in rooting hormone if available. Keep soil moist and cover with a bag to hold humidity.
Lemongrass — regrow grocery stalks in water
Buy stalks with bases intact. Stand them in 3–4 inches of water and place in bright indirect light. When roots reach ~3 inches, transfer to deep, well-draining potting mix.
Fennel — start from the bulb for speedy growth
Cut off the bottom inch of a fennel bulb and set in a shallow dish of water. Once roots and shoots emerge, plant in a deep pot to support its taproot.
Bold, tropical, and lesser-known herbs worth propagating
Culantro — a strong-flavored cousin to cilantro
Culantro thrives in pots and tolerates lower light. Use a 6-inch stem and place its bottom 2 inches in damp potting mix. Roots usually appear within two weeks.
Cuban oregano — succulent, trail-ready flavor
Cuban oregano prefers dry, warm conditions. Treat cuttings like basil but give them sparing water. This fuzzy-leaved herb performs well in containers and hanging pots.
