Imagine a tiny rosemary tree sitting on your kitchen windowsill, delighting the eye with its silvery green foliage against the backdrop of a winter landscape outside… A rosemary bush can be grown as a tree, despite its tendency to “spread out.” It’s not difficult to create a DIY bonsai from rosemary, as it doesn’t take up much space, is easy to prune, and grows back relatively quickly.
DIY Bonsai from Rosemary: Where to Begin
You can start with a bush grown from a cutting or seeds. Cuttings root quickly, and propagation via cuttings is a more reliable method of growing herbs than sowing seeds. As the plant grows, trim the lower shoots, but don’t overdo it—rosemary needs enough foliage to receive adequate nourishment. If your rosemary variety is too creeping, choose the healthiest and strongest stem and attach it to a support. If the creeping rosemary has several strong stems, you can weave them together. Your goal now will be to lengthen the trunk over the next 2-3 months.
Shaping the Bonsai Canopy
Once the bonsai has reached your desired height, you can stop its vertical growth by pinching the crown. This will encourage more active growth of the side shoots. Pinch off the shoots to encourage bushier growth. Shoots on the trunk should either be removed or entwined with the trunk. All trimmings don’t go to waste—they can be used as a spice or cuttings for new plants.
Caring for the Bonsai
By periodically pinching the tips of the stems, you’ll maintain the tree and keep yourself supplied with a Mediterranean spice. You can also grow rosemary from seeds at home .
