Propagation, for me, is the most rewarding because the cutting is usually from your own plant, that of a friend or at least taken from a rose that’s caught your eye. So you know what you’re going to get. To successfully grow roses from cuttings you need to follow some strict rules.
A pot of adequate size, 4 inch is ideal
A jar or plastic bottle, of a size that can easily envelope your cutting with a hole at one end that can be inserted into the soil
Hormone Rooting Powder, either commercial or home made
A sharp knife
Secateurs
Preparation:
When trying to grow roses from cuttings you can plant the cutting directly into the ground but if you start it off in a pot you have greater control and therefore a greater chance of success. So here I will explain the potting method which is simply what I’ve had most success with.
Whatever soil or mix you use in the pot depends on what lengths you want to go to. I’m blessed with great soil and do not use any special potting mix but if you know your soil will need extra nutrients and/or drainage then change accordingly. Use a soil testing kit if you want, they’re easy to use and widely available.
The Cutting:
Take the cutting from a plant that’s, ‘ready to root’, you can test this easily by pushing one of its green thorns gently sideways. If it bends easily or it resists to the point of actually pricking you it’s not ideal. However, if the thorn offers some resistance but then suddenly comes away with a little pop its, ‘ready to root’.
Using the secateurs cut a stem at least 6 inches long, making sure to make the cut close to the main part of a main stem or the trunk. This will simply let the host plant heal quicker. Then trim the cutting to a height of 6 inches making sure to, ‘wound’, it at the bottom by making a long diagonal cut.
Now dip this wound into either some hormone rooting powder or a home made version. I prefer home made, chop some willow twigs into small pieces and soak them overnight in a container roughly twice the volume of the chopped twigs. Using homemade, leave only your cuttings’ wound in this water overnight, using hormone rooting powder, just dip it in.
Planting:
Remove any lower leaves and place 2 inches into the soil. Firmly place the jar over the cutting but only about an inch down, water well. Now there are many differing opinions regarding this watering process but if you know the aim of what you’re trying to do you can decide for yourself.
You are simply trying to provide the best root growing conditions for your cutting and that is damp and moist without being saturated, so good drainage is a must and warmth but not heat. So a nice sunny window ledge that’s not too cold will be ideal, about 6 hours of direct sunlight is great but not much more so as to prevent burning.
Nurturing:
Now keep watching and following the same guidelines as in the planting section above. After a couple of weeks or so remove the cover, keep misting for another week, once the roots start to come out of the holes in the bottom of the plant it is ready for its permanent home.
You can grow roses from cuttings all year round if you can provide the ideal conditions but if you then want to transfer to an outside bed do so in early to mid spring.
Tips to Grow Rose from Cutting
Summary: In order to grow rose from cutting, you need some patience and a good area rich in fertile soil and moisture. Determine first the type of rose plant you need and how many of them you intend to propagate in order to know if you have adequate space for all.
If you are interested to grow rose from cutting, here are a few guidelines to help you do it correctly. This process involves cutting a portion of the stem and letting it grow into a whole new plant. The first aspect you need to consider would be to choose what type of rose plant you want to grow.
Once you have determined the type of rose plant, you need to determine the amount of cuttings you need. In order to properly grow rose from cutting, you need to check how many stems are viable enough to undergo the technique. Good candidates are green and secure stems with a pencil like thickness, measuring at least six to eight inches. As a general rule, you can do your cutting methods at anytime during the year but the best times are in the fall where the weather is beginning to get cold. The reason for this is the higher success rate of propagation when roses go into their hibernation phase during these colder months.
The next phase in the proper method to grow rose from cutting is choosing the correct location for the cuttings to grow. Ideally, they need good sun exposure for at least six hours with the rest of the day in the shade. It is best to avoid direct exposure from the sun, as this will eventually dry them out sooner. The choice of soil should be a bit sandy with some adequate drainage. Good soil rich in natural fertilizer is the best choice. The addition of some peat moss can help to retain the moisture and keep the soil slack.
Let us now proceed to the actual process to grow rose from cutting. You need a good pair of sharp and reliable pruning scissors to do the trick. Make sure that the shears are clean by dousing a little alcohol on them in order to avoid any plant diseases from harming the cut stem specimens. The correct method of cutting requires a forty-five degree angle just beneath the bud. The ideal length of the cut stems should be at least six to eight inches in length. The common mistake when following this method is mistakenly planting the cuttings upside down. To avoid this, do a straight cut at the base and pluck out the rose leaves from the lower half.
Ideally, you should immediately plant your cuttings but if your area is not ready yet, you could store them properly by putting them in a bag filled with water and storing them in an ice filled Styrofoam chest. You only have a window of a few days before your cuttings die out, so plant them as soon as humanly possible. Once you have done that you need to do some watering at least every other day to keep as much moisture as possible without harming the cuttings.
The process to grow rose from cutting requires some diligence and care. With the right equipment, technique and location for the cuttings to grow, you can successfully propagate a lot of roses that will let your garden shine in the spring.