How to Root or Transplant a Rose

Take several cuttings to ensure you will have some that will root.

Create more rose bushes for your home landscape by propagating cuttings to root a new rose bush. This method is less expensive than buying new bushes. However, it's a trial-and-error experience, so it is best to cut more than one for rooting. You can take cuttings anytime of the year, but November to February is ideal. Take your cuttings from a healthy rose bush.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Rooting hormone powder
• Willow twigs
• Small flower pots
• Potting soil
• Sand
• Plastic bag
• Yarn

Instructions

1. Cut a rose stem 6 to 8 inches long from your rose bush. Use a sharp knife and cut at a 45-degree angle. Take off flowers and leaves at the bottom but leave a couple of leaves at the top.

2. Dip rose stems into a rooting hormone powder such as Rootone, advised the University of California Cooperative Extension. Shake off any extra rooting hormone powder. Another alternative instead of the hormone powder is to soak the stems in a mixture of water and willow twigs overnight.

3. Place two-thirds of the rose stems into individual small pots with potting soil and sand at the bottom for drainage. Mist the cuttings and water the soil just enough to keep it moist.

4. Put a plastic bag over the potted rose stem and tie with yarn. Place the pots in an area that receives indirect sunlight.

5. Transplant the rose cuttings with roots the following fall to their new home in your landscape that receives six hours of full sun during the day. Don't feed with rose fertilizer until mid-spring.

References

• University of California Cooperative Extension: Propagating Roses by Cuttings
• Texas A&M University Extension: Rose Propagation
• "Rose Magazine": Propagating Roses From Cuttings