Tips on Starting Roses From Clippings
You propagate roses through clippings, cutting a small segment of a plant from the parent and then using it to root a new plant. The new plant is a clone of the parent plant, giving you predictable flower coloration and hardiness. Clippings are also known as cuttings and are a reliable way to propagate your favorite rose bush. It's a straightforward procedure and knowing a few key facts makes the process even simpler. Does this Spark an idea?
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Sharp Cutters or Knife
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When taking the cutting the key is to keep the wound as clean and as straight as possible. Using dull clippers or shears crushes the stem of the cutting, which reduces the amount of water and nutrients the young clipping takes in. Use a pair of sharp cutters or a sharp knife to reduce the trauma to the cut and make sure that any implement that you use near the cut is clean to prevent infection or disease.
Favorable Conditions
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Store your rose clippings in a place with good air circulation and bright sunlight. Watch carefully to make sure the young plant does not get burned. If the leaves show signs of wilt, filter the sunlight or move it elsewhere. Keep the rose clipping constantly moist. Only pot your rose clipping in pots that are very clean. If you have used them before, wash the pots with a solution that is 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, rinse thoroughly and then allow them to dry completely before use.
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Preparing Cut
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When you are ready to place the cutting in a pot, take a 1- to 2-inch sliver from the side of the cutting near the cut. This is a very slender sliver, exposing the inner bark of the clipping's stem. This gives the rose cutting more surface area that can take in water and nutrients. Dust the cut end of the clipping with rooting hormone before placing in in the pot.
Be Patient
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It takes a rose clipping between one and two months to put out roots. If you take your cutting in late fall, when the roses have recently ceased blooming, be prepared to keep your rose clipping inside until the following spring. The longer you keep the clipping, the stronger the roots will grow and the more hardy the plant will be when you plant it in the garden.
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References
- Photo Credit red roses image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
