How to Take a Slip Off of a Rose Bush
Roses are tall, elegant flowers, beloved by many gardeners around the world. People grow rose bushes in rows along their driveways, or in designated rose gardens, and they are unendingly popular in flower arrangements. Roses can be started from store-bought bushes or from cuttings taken from established plants. For the most part, rose bushes are successful when grown from cuttings, also known as slips. Take a slip from an established rose bush to propagate your own rose bushes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Take your slip from an established plant, in spring or summer. Cut 8 to 12-inch lengths of rose cane from the outside of the rose bush. Always use sharp pruning shears and standard healthy pruning practices. Always make cuts at a 45-degree angle so that the cane will find it easy to take up water while you're rooting it. Don't worry about the damage to the established plant; new growth will quickly replace what you've cut off.
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Cut the bottom leaves off the slip, leaving only the two last leaves on the stem. Cut the leaves at their base, but do not cut into the stem itself, as this could damage the slip and keep it from rooting or growing.
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Root your rose slip in the ground or in a jar of water. This transplant should be done as quickly as possible, so that the rose slip remains viable; if you leave it out in the open, it will die. If you're forced to wait a couple of days before rooting the slip, wrap the end in a wet paper towel to keep it moist and alive.
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Tips & Warnings
Take cuttings in spring and summer to guarantee healthy canes.
Choose rose stems that are disease and pest free for your rose slips, since those will have the best chance of rooting.
Fill a quart jar with water and place the slip into it. After two weeks, your rose slip will grow roots. It will be ready for transplanting to pot and soil in about 6 weeks.
Keep potted rose bushes indoors until April, when it's warm enough to plant them outside in your rose garden.
Always wear gloves when handling roses, to avoid injury.
