In the world of gardening, roses have always held a special place. Their beauty and fragrance has not only made them a beautiful addition to many gardens, but their symbolism for love and other traits mean they are one of the most popular flowers in the world. Another factor in the rose's popularity is the fact they are relatively easy to grow. if you have been successful and been able to take care of your rose bush, you may want to try to grow more. Instead of buying new seeds, you can propagate the roses by using cuttings.
At oneHOWTO, we show you how to propagate roses from cuttings. We show you how to make the cuttings so you protect the existing bush and give the clipping the best start in life.
What are rose cuttings?
The easiest way to grow a new rose bush is through cuttings. Cuttings, or clippings, are the stems taken from a rose bush with which we can grow a new plant. The term for this type of propagation is called striking. The cutting will grow new roots and develop into a completely new plant, even though it originates from a different one.
This method of propagating new plants has different advantages. One of them is the ability to continue the lineage of a certain plant species. If we have a particularly healthy rose bush, using cuttings from this bush is a great way to ensure the next one will be similarly healthy. It is also very economical which doesn't rely on sourcing new seeds.
If you propagate a rose bush from clippings, you will have a new plant which is genetically identical to the original. This means there is less likelihood of surprises once the new plants grow. However, not all plants will strike as easily through clippings. Some varieties may develop more easily than others, so we should have patience if the new roses don't appear by spring.
Once your rose plant is growing strong, it can be weakened by various insects and diseases. Our article on how to get rid of pests from rose bushes will show you how you can best protect them.
How to plant a rose cutting without roots
There are several factors that go into multiplying a rose bush through cuttings. At oneHOWTO we recommend using the following steps to ensure the best possible chance of growing a new rose bush. To plant new roses from cuttings you will need to:
- Identify the ideal time to make your cutting: specialists recommend taking the cuttings in spring or autumn. These are known as softwood cuttings. Keep in mind that the best cuttings are those which come from a rose stem which is one year old or less. The bush itself can be older, but the stem shouldn't be too mature.
- Select a good cutting: you will know that it is the ideal cutting if the stem in question is between 6 and 10 millimeters thick. The age of the rose bush from which you intend to take the stem also matters, since the stem must be semi-mature or mature. Too young or very old branches (older branches are known as hardwood) will not work. If a flower has already emerged from that stem, you will know that this is a perfect specimen.
- Cut your cutting to the appropriate size: the ideal length is between 15 and 20 centimeters long. As a precaution, ensure the stem you choose has at least one bud. You must make the cut in a bevel (i.e. at a diagonal) and always above the bud or shoot.
- Prepare your cuttings carefully: remove all the leaves and use rooting hormones to promote the emergence of the roots so that the new rose bush has the best start in life. You can choose to remove the bark from the stem or make a small cut at its base to facilitate the sprouting of the roots.
- Plant your cutting: there are various methods that exist to propagate a rose bush through cuttings. In any case, the important thing is to keep the cutting away from direct sun (around 20 ºC of temperature) and to ensure that high humidity does not end up damaging the new rose bush.
If your ar successful at propagating a new rose bush through your cutting, you will obtain a healthy bloom. Your care does not end here, so take a look at how to prune a rosebush for more information.
How to pant rose cuttings in pots
The germination of the cutting can be obtained through hydroponics. This can be of varying levels of complication, but essentially requires the stem to be grown in water. However, this can be difficult for novices as too much humidity can be detrimental for the new rose. For beginner or novice gardeners, planting the rose cutting in a pot is a great way to start the new bush. We can always re-plant it in a planter or flowerbed in the future.
How to plant roses in pots with cuttings
- To plant your potted rose cuttings, start by selecting an appropriate receptacle. Take into account the pot's dimensions must be between 30 centimeters deep and 24 centimeters in diameter.
- Pour a mixture of substrate and peat into the chosen pot. You can add other components such as special substrates for cuttings or seedlings, but the most important thing is to moisten the substrate well before planting.
- Open a hole in the substrate and introduce your previously prepared rose cuttings. Each stem should be planted about 15 centimeters deep, leaving about 8 centimeters between one and another.
- Finally, if you are in a warm place, you can cover the pot with plastic to avoid excessive perspiration. Remember that at all times the pot must be well irrigated and away from direct sun.
When your rose cuttings have abundant roots, you will have to place each one of them in its own pot. Now your rose bush is on its wat and you can prepare to design the space you want to put it. Once you do, you will need to know the best way to care for a rose plant.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Propagate Roses From Cuttings, we recommend you visit our Gardening & plants category.