How to Root Cut Rose Flowers
If you're lucky enough to have a large, established rose plant in your garden, you've likely thought about introducing more roses. With a little planning, you can root cuttings from your rose plant and create new plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden clippers or sharp knife
- Rooting hormone powder
- Container
- Potting soil
Instructions
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Wait until the weather is cool and cloudy. In warmer climates, late fall or winter is the best time of year to take cuttings. Those in colder climates can take cuttings in spring or late summer.
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Look for suitable roses to cut. The rose flowers that will root easiest will be just past bloom. Look for withered roses and cut the stem off 6 to 8 inches below the bloom using a sharp knife or clippers held at a 45 degree angle. Cut the withered bloom and stem back to the first set of healthy leaves.
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Strip away foliage from the lower part of the cutting. Dip the rose cutting into the rooting hormone powder. Rooting hormone is not necessary but it improves your odds of growing a new plant from a cutting.
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4
Prepare a container with potting soil. You can grow your rose cuttings outside in the ground if you prefer, but having them in a container makes it easier to monitor their condition. Roses prefer indirect sunlight, shielded from hot afternoon sun.
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Remove your rose cuttings from the rooting hormone and place them in the prepared container, submerging approximately half of each cutting in soil. Tamp the soil around the cuttings and water thoroughly. Water whenever the soil is nearly dry. Do not let the cuttings dry out. The plants will begin to root after one to two months and will develop strong root systems within six to nine months. During this time, protect them from any cold spells under 40 F and continue to keep the soil moist.
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Tips & Warnings
Ideal soil for rooting rose cuttings contains one-quarter peat moss or compost for added nutrients.
Rooting roses work best when you cut the flowers just before placing them in the rooting hormone, although they can be kept moist and cold in a plastic bag or plastic cooler if need be.
