How to Cut a Confederate Rose Bush & Replant it
The confederate rose isn't a rose at all. It is a large rose mallow, distantly related to tropical hibiscus flowers. Confederate rose mallow produces double flowers that grow up to six inches in diameter, and will tolerate partial shade. In zones north of Zone 9, it dies back to the ground every winter, but re-emerges in spring. The plant propagates easiest through cuttings, which may be taken anytime during the growing season. Cuttings reproduce best during the spring season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pruning shears
- Rooting hormone
- Peat moss
- Plant pot
- Plastic bag
- Water
- Plant mister
Instructions
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Select a branch that is strong and healthy, but has no flower buds on it. Branches that have flowers will put all of their energy into blooming rather than into producing roots.
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Cut the branch perpendicular to the stem just below the point where a leaf emerges, known as the leaf node. The cut section of the branch should be approximately 6 inches long.
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Strip off the leaves from the bottom 2/3 of the cutting.
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Dip the cutting base in rooting hormone.
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Fill a 4-inch container with peat moss. Water until the peat moss is the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.
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Insert the branch 2/3 of the way into the pot. Cover with a plastic freezer bag.
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Set the pot into a sunny windowsill with south-facing exposure. Check the plant daily to make sure the soil has not dried. Mist the soil to keep it moist.
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Remove the bag when roots develop. Wait to transplant until the plant is one year old.
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Select a sunny location with well-drained soil to plant your new plant.
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Dig a hole that is a little larger than the root ball. Place the plant in the hole and push soil over the top of the root ball. Pat to dislodge air bubbles. Water well.
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Tips & Warnings
Your cutting will develop roots if you simply stick it in a bucket of water. But a confederate rose will sometimes produce water roots with this method. Water roots have difficulty developing into true roots when placed in water.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit mallow bud image by Trevor Allen from Fotolia.com
