Basil can grow new roots from a piece of stem. Start with a healthy plant you like, a clean container and a place with bright indirect light. This guide follows one cutting from the parent plant into its own pot.
Take a healthy basil stem, cut below a node, remove the lower leaves and root the bare lower stem in water. Move the rooted cutting into potting mix once it is ready.
Go straight to the stepsBefore you begin
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), starting with an identified, healthy plant.
What you’ll need
- Clean sharp pruning snips
- A clean jar and fresh water
- A small pot with drainage
- Good-quality potting mix
- A healthy sweet basil plant
Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Inspect the shoot
Choose a healthy shoot about 3–5 inches long with several leaves. Check both sides of the leaves and the stem for pests or damage. Clean your work surface and use clean tools and containers. Starting with unhealthy material gives the cutting a poor start.
- 02
Cut below a leaf joint
Find a node, the point where leaves attach to the stem. Cut just below it. Remove the lowest leaves and any flower buds, leaving leaves at the top. Keep the exposed lower stem clear so leaves will not sit beneath the water.
Cut below a node, then remove the lower leaves before placing the stem in water.Open full-size image - 03
Stand the cutting in water
Put room-temperature tap water in the jar. Submerge at least one bare node while keeping the remaining leaves above water. Stand the cutting upright, with its growing tip at the top. Place it in bright indirect light rather than hot direct sun.
- 04
Refresh the water
Replace the water every 3–5 days and keep the lower stem immersed. Watch the stem and emerging roots as you work. Roots can take days or weeks to appear; check the actual cutting rather than treating a calendar date as a guarantee.
- 05
Pot it once roots develop
When roots reach roughly 1–2 inches, transfer the cutting into moist potting mix. Make room for the roots, settle mix gently around them and keep the plant upright. Handle the roots carefully. Continue giving the newly potted cutting bright indirect light while it establishes.
- 06
Grow a leafy basil plant
Basil needs warmth, good light and regular water as it grows. Once established, give it a sunny growing position. Begin with small harvests; as the plant gets larger, pinching stem tips encourages branching. Remove flower buds when they appear if you are growing basil for leaves.
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Choose the parent plant
Sweet basil varieties differ in size, color and fragrance. Choose an established plant whose flavor and growing habit you like.
A dim winter windowsill
Basil needs strong light indoors. A dark winter window may be insufficient; additional growing light can be needed to keep the plant productive.
Leaves sitting underwater
Remove lower leaves before placing the cutting in water. The submerged part should be bare stem; decaying leaves create an avoidable problem around the developing roots.
Taking a large first harvest
A small new plant has little foliage to spare. Keep early picking modest and let the plant get larger before harvesting whole tips regularly.
A quick final check
- The cutting came from a healthy plant.
- Lower leaves stay above the water.
- The new roots move gently into moist potting mix.
Common questions & sticking points
Do I add fertilizer to the jar?
No. The cutting has stored resources for developing roots. Keep the rooting water plain.
Are all sweet basil plants green?
No. Sweet basil includes purple-leaved varieties, such as Opal. Healthy purple foliage is normal for those plants.
What happens after potting?
Continue normal basil care as the plant establishes. Keep it well watered, provide a sunny growing position, and pinch growing tips later to encourage a fuller plant.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
- Illinois Extension: A beginner’s guide to plant propagation
- Montana State University Extension: Cloning at Home
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing basil in home gardens
- UC Master Gardeners: plant propagation for home gardeners
