How to Start a New Rose Bush

Roses make any garden special. They can be expensive to purchase especially if you live in a cold climate and the roses don't make it through the winter. Starting new bushes takes longer than splitting a larger bush but is much gentler on the roots of the bush.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rose bush for cutting
• Rooting hormone
• Empty 2 liter soda bottle
• Potting soil
• Scissors
• Bright but not a sunny location

1. 
   Prepared Soda Bottle

   Prepare the recycled soda bottle by cutting it in half then cut three or four drain holes in the bottom of the bottle. Fill ¾ full with potting soil.

2. 
   Stem

   Cut a three or four inch piece of stem from a newly growing rose bush cane. The piece should have actively growing new leaves and the stem should be soft and pliable.

3. 
   Prepared stem

   Cut off all but three leaves, then cut each leaf in half. Dip about ½ inch of the stem into the rooting hormone. Shake off excess. Gently place the cutting into the soil and water lightly.

4. 
   Finished Stem in Soda Bottle

   Place the bottle in a protected, shady area with bright light, not sun. Set the upper half of the bottle back on top without the bottle cap.

5. In a few weeks there should be new growth from the crown or base of the plant. When the new rose bush is three months old it can be transplanted. The roses will still need to be protected from too much hot sun for the first year of growth.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the new rose bush daily to make sure the soil is still moist and the plant is not sitting in the hot sun.
• If the bottle has steam vapors on the inside, remove the cut top half and let the plant dry a little. The bush should not be too wet or too dry.
• Start the new bush in early spring to give the roots time to develop.
• Feed the new bush with leftover black coffee and tea for a gentle fertilizer.
• This method works well with all types of roses.
• Not every cutting grows into a new bush, don't be discouraged, just try it again.

Resources

• How to Go Green with Black Coffee

[kossmore]

on 10/19/2009 Sweetierose, since the roses are already in pots, just wrap them securely with newspaper and heavy plastic. When you arrive in the USA, give them just a little water. They still will need to be placed in a sheltered area since the roses are in pots. You may want to water them just a little during the winter because the soil could dry out.

I thought the plants were in the ground where you live.

[sweetierose]

on 10/19/2009 Dear kossmore,
Thanks a lot for the advice.However, I need to know something.I had purchased the potted roses from the nursery, they were already trimmed to 20cms length, sold in 2L pots, and have started giving new shoots.
if i remove the soil, won't it harm the secondary roots? Can I wrap the root( with soil)in wet tissue papers while packing them?
You mentioned that the roots should be moisture free, in one of the comments I came accross a post which said to wrap the roots in damp tissue papers before pacing them in plastic bags, will this harm the roots?

kindly advice

[kossmore]

on 10/12/2009 they will be in a pot instead of the ground. The pots themselves need some protection depending on what part of the country you are moving to. If the temperature drops below 32 degrees, the pots should be stored out of the wind.

In the spring, feed them with rose food as soon as you see new growth, around April or May.

[kossmore]

on 10/12/2009 Since you are coming from so far away, snip all of the roses to six inches. Remove as much soil as you can and pack the roots with shredded newspaper. I would also cut the tips off any thorns to make the plant easier to handle. The roots should be free of moisture before packing them. Do the same for the rose canes but they should be done separately. Wrap the plants with thick plastic to they are secure and no light will get into the plant. (They should be ok like this for several days.)

When you arrive in the US, after you find an apartment, purchase a larger container for each rose along with potting soil. Plant them right away and give them just a little water. I am assuming your roses are outdoor roses so they need the cold weather in order to set flowers next year. The containers should be placed in a sheltered area and also protected with some type of covering since they will ...

[sweetierose]

on 10/12/2009 hi,

I'm mailing from France, seeking help.

We'll be shifting to the US (Hampton), for 2 years, & I require guidance on transporting my rose plants.

I have both propagated rose cuttings, which I did myself & purchased a few potted rose plants. I would like to know how to ship them, the procedure would be different for either of them, I guess.

Secondly, we need to search an appartment on our arrival at Hampton so until that time how do I conserve my rose plants ?

I'd be very obliged if you could help me out as it's my first experience in gardening, & I chose to begin with roses, as I adore them.

thanks,
Hazel