Cilantro also known as coriander is a fresh herb that adds exquisite flavor to our dishes. Even for the people who do not like cooking, can add cilantro in their garden as a fragrant addition to it. Cilantro is loaded with great health benefits. Consuming it regularly leads to healthy skin and it is also known to reduce inflammation. It is an easy-to-grow plant and can also be grown from cuttings.
How to Grow Cilantro (Coriander) from Cuttings?
Cilantro or coriander is a plant that grows very rapidly if it receives sunlight for 5-6 hours per day. The process of growing this plant from cuttings is also easy and can also be tried by first-time gardeners. Let us understand the steps involved in growing coriander from cuttings.
#1 Select a healthy cilantro stem
For growing cilantro from cuttings, the first and most important step is to choose a healthy stem for the plantation.
You can either pick a stem from someone’s garden or if that option is not available for you, you don’t need to worry, as cilantro can also be grown from the stems that you have in your refrigerator! Grab a healthy stem from the bunch and move on to the next step.
#2 Keep the cutting in water
Once you have clenched a healthy stem, you need to keep the cutting in water for some days. Make sure that you do not dip the stem in too much water as this will damage the cutting completely and destroy your plantation of cilantro even before it has begun.
Take a small container, preferably transparent. Add water to the container and keep the cutting in it. It will be easy for you to check the progress of roots in a transparent container.
Keep the container at a place where it receives indirect sunlight. Avoid the plant from getting direct sunlight, as this can potentially kill your plant. Within a week or two, roots will eventually grow on the cutting.
Also Read: How To Grow Mint From Cuttings?
#3 Prepare soil for plantation
While the roots are still in the process of growing, prepare the soil for plantation of your cilantro plants. Check if the soil where you wish to plant the cuttings has the required nutrients for supporting the growth of healthy cilantro plants. If the soil lacks in nutrients, add fertilizers to make up for the loss.
Just like food is essential for human beings to survive, plants depend on the nutrients in the soil to grow and remain healthy. Therefore this step must not be skipped.
Check the availability of nutrients in the soil and take the necessary actions. It is advisable that you use water soluble fertilizers as they are effective in adding nutrients to the soil
#4 Plant the cutting in soil
Once you notice the growth of roots on your cutting, the next step is to plant the cutting in soil. Do not place the cutting or stem too deep in the soil as this might not be good for the health of your cilantro plants.
Regularly water your herbs, and do not let the soil dry out. Allow your plant to receive sunlight for at least 6-7 hours of the day.
Also Read: Can You Plant Potatoes that Have Sprouted?
#5 Harvest you herbs
Cilantro plants grow rapidly and require minimal efforts. They are usually ready for harvest within 45-50 days. There is no hard and fast rule for harvesting the herbs.
You can either cut the plant entirely from roots or you can also cut it from the stem. When you cut it from the stem, the plant regrows itself and you can have a continuous supply of the fragrant herb in your garden.
Things to keep in mind while planting cilantro from cuttings
The entire process of growing cilantro from cuttings is easy and can be completed in just a few steps, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind while doing so. Let us have a look at them.
- Always select a healthy stem or cutting for growing the herb. If you choose a weaker stem for your plantation, the cutting will dry out within a few days and will not be able to generate a healthy harvest.
- Do not keep the cutting in too much water. This can lead to rotting of the entire stem. Instead, keep it in a small container with 2-3 inches water.
- Change the water every day, otherwise it will turn yellow and invite pests. This can severely damage the cutting and hence prevent the roots from growing.
- While the cutting is kept in water, keep it at a place where it receives indirect sunlight. Access to direct sunlight at this stage must be avoided, as this can severely damage the cutting and can also potentially kill the stem.
- Before planting the stem into soil, check the quality of the soil as well as the location where you wish to plant the stem. Confirm the availability of essential nutrients in the soil and also make sure that the location which you choose has access to sunlight for at least five to six hours during the day.
- Add fertilizers to the soil if necessary. Using water-soluble fertilizers would lead to better results.
- Water your plants regularly. As is true for every other plant, do not water your plant. Overwatering does more damage than good to your plant. Check the level of moisture in the soil and if it feels dry, then add water to it. Overwatering can rot the roots thereby damage your entire harvest.
Be vigilant. Carefully observe the changes happening in your plant and take the necessary steps as and when required.
It can be seen that growing coriander or cilantro is not a very tough task. Even beginners can try their hands at growing this healthy and fragrant herb. Moreover, it can also be grown indoors. Yes you read it right. Cilantro is an outdoor as well as indoor plant and can be grown at any location that best suits you.
It is super easy to grow cilantro from cuttings indoors as well. Let us have a look at the process of growing cilantro indoors with the help of cuttings.
Also Read: What Not to Plant With Cucumbers?
How to Grow Cilantro Indoors from Cuttings?
The process of growing cilantro indoors is very much similar to that of growing it outdoors. Here are the steps you need to follow while doing so.
- The first step in growing cilantro indoors is also to select a healthy stem for your plantation. The healthier the stem the better are the chances of it developing into a healthy plant.
- Clean the stem to eliminate the chances of the presence of unwanted insects.
- Take a transparent container, add 2-3 inches of water and place the cutting in it.
- Leave it in the container for 2-3 weeks. The cutting will take this amount of time for growing roots.
- While the cutting is still in the transparent container, prepare a pot for the plantation of your herb.
- Take good soil, or soil which is rich in nutrients to support healthy growth of the herb. Add nutrients to the soil in case of deficiencies.
- After roots have developed on the cutting, plant your herb in the pot.
- Ensure the pot is kept at a place where it receives direct sunlight for a minimum of 4 hours during the day.
- Since you are planting the herb indoors, do not water the plant regularly. Only water it once you notice the soil has become dry in the pot.
- Prepare to harvest your plant in 40-50 days.
Growing plant indoors is not much different from growing it outdoors. However, indoor gardeners must be extra cautious and should keep these things in mind.
Things to keep in mind while growing cilantro indoors
- Begin with choosing a healthy stem.
- Keep it in a transparent container. Having a transparent container allows the you to keep a check on the root growth in the cutting.
- Avoid access to direct sunlight in the initial stages. At this stage, the cutting is adapting to the changed environment and it is therefore essential that you do not place it in an area where it gets direct sunlight.
- Keep changing the water in the container regularly.
- Choose a pot for planting cilantro which has proper drainage holes. The lack of good drainage facility will keep the soil moist for long hours and this can damage the plant.
- Since you are planting cilantro indoors, the chances of root rot become significantly higher. Therefore, you must ensure a good drainage facility in the pot that you choose for your plantation.
- Allow the plant to receive direct sunlight once it is planted into the pot.
- When planting cilantro indoors, you can easily over-water the plant. To avoid this, check the level of moisture in the soil before adding water to it. If the soil feels dry, only then add water to it. Do not follow a daily routine of watering cilantro at regular intervals, as this can lead to the rotting of roots.
You must have noticed that the entire process of growing cilantro, outdoors as well as indoors is identical. The only difference is that you need to be more careful in the latter.
Let us also briefly discuss the procedure for growing cilantro using seeds.
- Take the cilantro seeds and place them in soil. For a healthier harvest, it is advisable that you keep the seeds in separate containers/ small pots containing soil. This will ensure that more number of cilantro plants develop into plants and therefore you can have a better and continuous supply of the herb in from your garden.
- Do not keep the pot containing seeds in areas where it will receive direct sunlight.
- Water the soil regularly, but also make sure that you do not over water it.
- Allow the seeds to sprout. When you notice the growth of stems from the seed, place the newly cultivated plant in a pot or your garden.
- Water the soil, when it feels dry.
- Your harvest will be ready within 50-60 days.
Growing cilantro is easy, and it does not require a lot of effort whether you are growing it from cuttings or seed. The great benefits that the plant has, makes it worth growing in your garden.
Also Read: Why Are My Tomato Seedlings Wilting or Dying?
Benefits of including cilantro in your diet
Cilantro is great flavoring agent and has a very good smell. Let us discuss the benefits of including this herb in your diet-
- Cilantro is known for improving indigestion. Its regular consumption helps in overcoming the problem of indigestion.
- Cilantro rejuvenates your skin and promotes healthy skin.
- Cilantro is rich in nutrients that boost the immune system of the consumer.
- It is helpful in overcoming stress and anxiety.
- According to some researches, cilantro protects the heart health of the consumer.
- It is rich in anti-oxidants and also has anti bacterial properties.
- Regular consumption of cilantro can also help in maintaining the cholesterol level of the consumer.
- According to various researches, cilantro is also known to have a soothing effect on pain and inflammation.
Conclusion
Consumption of cilantro or coriander is beneficial to humans. It helps in getting rid of digestive upsets, helps fighting against oxidative stress, lowers anxiety, improves the quality of sleep to name a few. It is therefore a great choice for gardeners. Moreover, the herb is easy to grow and can be grown indoors as well as outdoors. It can be grown from seeds or from cuttings.
Now that you have the complete information regarding how to propagate cilantro from cuttings, you must try your hands at growing this herb. It will not only add a great fragrance and flavor to your recipes but also, give you nutritional benefits. Hope this information provided in the article and start your journey of having your own continuous supply of this essential herb.