Cinnamon Basil Propagation

Remember the Cinnamon Basil I welcomed to my garden just over a week ago?  Although it was brand new to my garden family, it looked tall enough and I was aching to propagate something.  So I cut about a 6-inch stem, removed the leaves at the bottom and placed it in a glass of water.  I submerged about 2/5 of the stem.  After about 3-4 days, it looked like picture 1:  it already had small roots!  Isn't that cool?  The following day, I moved it to one of those plastic seedling containers.  Check it out in picture 2.  Today, it looks just fine.    I was so happy with the result that I took another look at the mother plant.  It was still tall!  I made another cutting and it's now in a glass of water.  By this Sunday, I can probably plant it again.  So for those interested in propagation, it's not that hard.  I just make sure the mother plant gets enough sun, water and soap solution spray.  I also threw in some diluted "organic fertilizer".  I also pick a leaf every now and then just to smell the nice cinnamon scent.

Cinnamon Basil Care

• Moist, but not waterlogged soil
• 6.5 PH soil
• Lots of sun!
• Leave 4 leaves after harvest (you know, like when you decide to make pesto).  Harvest anytime.  If you don't harvest often and flowers grow, the plant will stop producing
• Keep away from slugs and snails
• Pinch back often.  Personally, instead of pinching just to encourage growth, I'd combine the pinching and the propagation cutting.
• Fertilize every 2-3 weeks

Cinnamon Basil Use & Benefits

• Potpourri
• Companion plant of tomatoes 
• Repels insects if placed over bowls of food
• Add to food!  (towards end of cooking)
• Fights against bacteria 
• Basil oil is used as preservative 
• Protects cells from environmental pollutants, free radicals and radiation
• Massage oil!

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