There are many methods of propagation. Plants produced in a nursery, whatever its size, are generally of better quality. Experienced small farmers often just split their existing hedgerows, using the downhill part of the hedge as transplants for new hedgerows; this works for small numbers under proper management. Large numbers of quality, uniform slips should come from nurseries.

The cheapest, and in most cases the best, is production of bare-root planting material. In Thailand vetiver was successfully propagated by the millions in vitro, but even these plants have to go through a nursery phase. Containerized plants are very good but more expensive, and are recommended where site conditions warrant them. Other propagation methods are described in Document Center papers.

The photos below show, step by step, how bare-root vetiver slips are produced. We thank Evan Millwood of Queensland, Australia for many of them.