How to Plant a Rose Stem Slip
Starting a brand new rose from an older bush is simple when you start with a "slip," which is a softwood cutting taken from an older bush. Starting a rose from a slip is a great way to share your favorite rose bush, or to create a start from strains that are hard to find or are no longer available. Take several cuttings because, chances are, a few of them won't survive. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Rose bush
- Sharp knife
- Razor blade
- Rooting hormone
- Zip-loc bags
- Potting soil
- Compost
- Mulch
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut a rose stem with a rose that has just finished blooming. Remove the bloom. The stem should be about 12 inches long. For best results, use a sterile, sharp knife and cut the stem where it connects to the cane. Be sure the stem has at least four or five sets of leaves.
-
2
Use a razor blade to slice the bottom of the stem lengthwise, making an "x" that extends about ½-inch into the stem. Dip the freshly-cut end into rooting hormone.
-
-
3
Fill a Zip-loc bag about half full with good quality commercial potting soil. Fold the bag down a few inches to keep it clean and out of the way; potting soil on the zipper part of the bag will prevent it from sealing properly.
-
4
Jiggle the bag carefully until the potting soil is settled and the bottom of the bag is flat so it will sit evenly. Then mist the soil lightly with a spray bottle. Fill a bag for each slip.
-
5
Wash your hands and create a 2-inch hole in the potting soil with your finger. Poke the slip into the hole and tamp the potting soil around it. Seal the top of the bag, except for about 1-inch at one end. Blow air into the bag and finish sealing it.
-
6
Place the bags where they will receive indirect light. Check the bags often. If the soil appears to be drying out, open the top of the bag and mist the soil. The slips should develop roots in about two weeks.
-
7
Choose a sunny spot in your garden or flower bed for the new rose. Dig a hole and work a handful of compost into the bottom. Plant the rose and water it deeply. Put a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch around the cutting, but don't let it touch the bush, because it will be too hot on warm days. Water the plant deeply one time each week.
-
1
