How to Grow Roses from Tip Cuttings

Roses are one of the easiest plants to propagate from cuttings. Now you can share your favorite rose bush with friends and neighbors and enjoy the easy process of making tip cuttings.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Spray Bottle
• Potting Soil
• Pencil
• rooting hormone
• large, clear, plastic bag.
• clippers
• 4-inch plastic nursery container

1. Prepare your potting medium by placing fresh potting soil in a small, clean 4-inch plastic nursery container. Water the soil well, then set the prepared pot to the side.

2. Select a healthy rose plant you wish to propagate. The plant should be blooming, well-watered and have no sign of insect infestation, fungus disease or stress.

3. Cut a section of stem 6-10 inches long. The ideal piece should have at least one flower bud that is almost ready to open and several mature leaves growing along a straight section of stem.

4. Remove the lower leaves so that 2-3 leaf joints are visible on the stem. The leaf joints are where the roots will form. The leaves will pull away from the stem easily by hand.

5. Dip the cut end of the tip cutting into a rooting hormone to encourage rapid rooting. Only the area of the stem which will be under the soil should be treated with rooting hormone.

6. Use a pencil to poke a hole into the prepared pot. Most gardeners who make tip cuttings poke a hole rather than just pushing the cutting directly into the potting soil to avoid damaging the delicate cambium layer along the stem. The cambium is the tissue that carries nutrients up and down the stem.

7. Place the prepared cutting into the hole, then firm the soil around the stem so that it is secure in the pot. Use your finger tips to press the soil gently around the base of the stem.

8. Place the prepared cutting into a large plastic bag. The plastic bag will act as a miniature green house, retaining moisture and heat while the roots are forming.

9. Seal the bag closed and place the cutting in a warm area away from direct sunlight. Although some light is necessary, direct sun will cook the cutting inside the bag.

10. Open the bag and mist frequently to keep the moisture level elevated. Because the little plant does not have roots yet, it can't pull up water from the soil. Keep the inside of the bag humid and moist without over-watering. Reseal the bag when you are finished misting.

11. Remove the greenhouse bag after 3-4 weeks, depending on the season. The little plant should have begun to develop roots by this point. Continue misting daily or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch being careful to avoid over-watering.

12. The plant is ready to live on it's own when you begin see new growth and roots coming from the bottom of the pot. Congratulations!

Tips & Warnings

• Leaf joints are the visible scars on the stem where the leaves grow. Even after the leaf has been removed from the stem, a leaf scar and new bud are evident.

• Rooting hormone is available at garden centers and nursery supply stores, or you can make your own from willow bark tea.

• Turkey roasting bags make excellent temporary greenhouses. They are durable and can be washed and used again and again.

• Misting inside the greenhouse bag every other day should be adequate.

• Cuttings will root faster in the early spring.

• Do not use clippers to cut the leaves off the stem. The remaining stubs will rot and cause your cutting endeavor to fail.

• Keep all of your tools and work surfaces sterile by using a 10% solution of bleach to prevent disease.