How to Propagate Roses from Cuttings

Our nation's pioneers took cuttings of their favorite rose plants across the plains to plant in their new land. They used a simple method of propagating them that still works today! With patience and the addition of a couple modern tips you can grow a beautiful rose garden in no time...

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• healthy rose bush
• sharp cutters
• optional rooting hormone

1. The first secret in successful propagation is to take your cuttings from HEALTHY plants. Choose plants that have recently bloomed. Count down six sets of leaves [three on each side]. Make your first cut from the parent plant with a straight across cut. [see diagram] Make the cut just below the sixth set of leaves. Make sure your cutters are very sharp so they don't crush the stem.

2. 
   click to enlarge

   Using the diagram as a guide cut off the two bottom sets of leaves leaving the nodes. Nodes are the little joint at the base of the stem that the leaves grow out of.

3. Again, using the diagram as a guide, cut directly below the top two sets of leaves. This time make the cut at an angle.

4. You should now have a stick with two sets of leaves. Leaves these leaves on as they will help carry vital nutrients to the plant as it roots itself.

5. Find a place in the yard where the young plants will get a bit of sun. Loosen the ground with a spade or large spoon. Fluff the dirt and then pat it back down into the hole. You can add a 50-50% blend of potting soil and pearlite to help encourage root growth. My grandmother would also add a little clay based kitty litter. It helps hold moisture.

6. Make a few tiny slits in the bottom inch of the stem to encourage root growth.
   
   optional step: to help the rooting process along you can dip them in a rooting hormone available in any garden center.

7. Next, take an old chop stick, knitting needle or other such item and poke a hole in the ground you've just fluffed. Stick the stem in the hole and pat the soil around it.

8. To protect the plants from animals, children and absent minded professors place a quart sized glass jar over it. This makes a tiny little greenhouse for the plant. Twist the jars a few times to secure in the ground. Water the area well. Then, continue to periodically water the soil around the jar, otherwise the rose stem will dry out. You will not need to remove the jars to water as they will condensate and rain on the plants.

9. If your area gets too much sun cover the jars with white bags to prevent sunburn. If your plant is rooting you should start to see tiny little leaves starting to form in 3 to 4 weeks. Soon thereafter, the original leaves will wilt and fall off. The plant may take up to 8 weeks to root.

10. Leave the jars on the plants over winter. In the spring you should be able to remove them and share plants with your friends or move to a rose garden bed. Make sure you keep a good dirt ball around the roots when you dig them up to protect the new roots.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have planted different varieties make sure you label a Popsicle stick and place it in the jar with the plant so you know which plant it is.

[lovetogarden]

on 6/22/2009 Excellent article. The instructions were clearly stated. Anyone would be able to follow them. I was so keen to start, I rushed out in the garden and took two cuttings.lovetogarden.

[sandwichink]

on 3/26/2009 Great article for adding more of my favorite flowers! Love roses! :)

[ReuseItAll]

on 10/26/2008 Excellent! I've been doing it wrong and had given up!!

[pigs4fun]

on 7/13/2008 I think I can do this now.

[rleeevans]

on 6/15/2008 You are right that the sun plays a vital part. You may try locating several different cuttings with varying exposure to sunlight to find out the best sunlight for your variety. Thanks for this!