Cloning Herbs - Basil, Mint and planting some Leek. Never buy them ...

Hello dear people, today we're going to clone some basil and some mint.
I never done this before with basil or mint but I've got a 100% success rate with another herb using this method so I'm convinced that this method will work.

On the market the other day we bought some fresh mint and basil. You don't see that many fresh herbs around here which has probably a lot to do with the climate. They were quite expensive as well so I decided to clone them and hopefully we don't have to buy them again.

Cloning is a great way to rejuvenate your plants as well. The other herb dies after flowering but by taking clones before they start flowering you can grow them forever. The clones that I'm talking about are already in their tenth generation and are almost 2 years old.

Basil and mint are not only very tasty but very healthy as well.

Here are some health benefits of basil:

It fights cancer

Basil contains two antioxidants that fight free radical damage. It protects the DNA structure and the cells. The antioxidants protects the chromosomes from being altered which might result in cell mutation and cancer.

It protects your heart

Basil contains essential oils that lower inflammation. Inflammation is the root of most diseases like heart disease. It also promotes healthy blood pressure.

It makes you happy

Basil has a positive effect on our brain function by stimulating the neurotransmitters that regulate hormones which makes us happy.

It helps your sex live

Probably by increasing blood flow and energy levels, basil can increase libido and arousal. In the Hindu religion, holy basil is seen as the "elixir of life" and it's used to promote healthy sexual functioning.

I use ordinary potting compost. I see people using rock-wool or expensive cloning cubes but I believe that's not necessary. A big advantage by using potting compost and using a fair sized pot that you don't have to transplant them immediately after rooting. And it's much cheaper.

Fill your plant containers and thoroughly water them.

Let them drain and slightly squeeze the compost to drain any excess water.

The compost must be firm and wet. Make a little hole about an inch deep.

Cut of a stem of basil and remove all but the top leaves. In this case the basil is flowering, I removed all the flowers.

Cut the stem at a 45 degree angle with a new, clean and sharp razor blade. The length of the cuttings are about 4 inches.

Immediately dip it in some rooting gel or rooting powder.

Immediately stick it into the compost. Press the compost around the stem.

Immediately put a plastic baggie over it and tie it with a rubber band.

Use a straw to keep the plastic bag up. You can also attach a label to the straw for info like species, date etc. Use the straw to blow up the plastic bag.

Store them in a light area but don't expose them to direct sunlight but this depends on where you live and the climate.

I put them under a grow light. Nowadays you can buy very powerful LED grow lights. The light spectrum of these lights are optimised for photosynthesis and flowering. They are not cheap and use a lot of electricity but they work really well.

Normally we use these lights for the other herb. We make medicinal oil that fights many diseases like cancer, epilepsy and diabetes. We sell it at cost prise to a professional acupuncturist and herbalist. The feedback that we get is very positive. It has cured or controls one young man's epilepsy for example. Maybe I'll write about this miracle oil, and how to make it, in the future.

Cloning mint works exactly the same. Take a cutting, remove all but the top leaves.

Cut it in a 45 degree angle. Put it in your rooting gel. Stick it into the compost and put a plastic baggie over it.

It's that simple.

Never buy leek or spring onion again. Ever!

Here we have some spring onion, the roots are still white and fresh. Cut away most of the plant and simply plant the base of the leek. The leek will continue to grow and you can keep cutting it back, Forever....