How Do I Plant Rose Bush Cuttings?
Healthy stems from rose bushes can be planted to create additional plants. Some rose bush varieties self root while others must be grafted onto root stock. Shrub roses, old garden roses and miniature roses are the easiest varieties to replant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Choosing Cuttings
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For most roses, the best cuttings are taken from the youngest stems of the current season's growth. The best cuttings from annually flowering roses are taken in the late spring, once the flowers are gone.
Cutting Health
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Healthy and disease free stems are ideal. Cuttings should have at least five leaves on each stem, and the stem should be cut during the cooler part of the day to prevent dehydration.
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Wound Healing
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Cuttings are immediately placed in a sealed bag and allowed to spend one day refrigerated between 38 and 40 degrees F. This allows the cutting wounds to seal before replanting.
Hormone Application
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Applying hormones can improve the likelihood of cuttings taking root. Dip the stems into commercial rooting hormones so that 1 inch is evenly coated. Too much powder leads to undesirable excess rooting.
Planting
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The stems are planted in moist, sterile potting mix. Several stems do well in a single pot when space permits. A stable temperature and humidity level are essential to strong rooting. Rooted stems should be dipped in liquid hormones prior to outdoor planting.
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References
- Photo Credit Roses in the sky image by JMS from Fotolia.com
