SolveYourProblem
Roses Article Series
When
to Perform Rose Propagation
As a novice rose gardener, you might have
heard the term rose propagation, but not really known what
was meant by the term. Propagation is the term used for reproduction
in the plant world and you can propagate roses by either seed
or by taking a cutting from your current rose plant.
Rose propagation has a long and rich history. Little has changed
in terms of rose propagation since the early 1800’s when American
settlers carried stems with them into the west. You might even
remember your mother or grandmother sticking a cane from a
rose in the ground and covering it with a plastic jar to make
it grow.
Using
a cutting is a much more common method. Commercial growers
and horticulturalists do grow new rose’s bushes from seeds,
but with a seed you are not guaranteed an exact replica of
your original rose bush. The pollen that was used to fertilize
the flower might not actually come from that flower so the
seeds may be a mix of two plants. With a cutting taken right
from your rose bush, you are guaranteed an exact copy of the
original.
Rose
propagation is quite simple really. All you need to do
is ensure that you give the new cuttings a safe, moist and
humid environment so the roots have time to develop. It is
natural for any part of the plant to try to establish its own
root system so it can stay alive, but it is only through your
help that this can happen at all.
The best time to propagate is in
the spring. At this point
in the year the weather is cool and the plants are particularly
vigorous after a long winter’s slumber.
When selecting a shoot, you
should aim for a young one. Older
stems will not grow as well as young, tender ones. You want
to select a cane that does not have a bud on it yet. With a
knife, you want to cut off a piece of the shoot that is approximately
half a foot long. You want to remove the leaves at the bottom
of the cane, but leave the ones near the top. These leaves
will provide the necessary food and hormones while the roots
establish themselves. Clear an area of your garden free of
weeds and other plants and then plant the shoot in a couple
of inches of soil. It is best to plant the shoot in the area
that you want your new rose bush to be to save the stress of
transplanting. Before you place the cutting in the hole, you
can lightly score one side and dip it in compost. This will
encourage root growth.
Be sure to water
the shoot and then cover it with some kind
of plastic or glass container – this will keep the temperature
high and retain moisture so that the shoots will grow better.
You do need to think about which container will work best.
You want your new cutting to be exposed to sunlight, but you
need to make sure that there is not too much sun shining directly
on the new cutting because it can become overheated. You might
plant your cutting in an area where there is partial shade
to avoid this kind of problem.
You
should check your shoot often, ensuring that it is moist
enough. If the ground is dry, then you need to water. You can
remove the glass or plastic container if temperatures reach
at least 75 degrees, but be sure to re-cover the plant at night
when the temperature drops back down.
Don’t
expect to see results right away. On the surface the
plant may appear dormant, but all of the activity is happening
below the surface at this point. Your new rose bush needs time
to develop roots to support it. You should see some growth
after two or three weeks.
It’s important that you’re not discouraged if at first you
don’t succeed – just try again. Many inexperienced growers
can have difficulty propagating. Though the success rate for
new cuttings is very low, you can improve your odds by planting
several cuttings at a time. If by chance they all develop,
you can transplant the some of the clippings or offer them
to some other garden enthusiasts you know.
And just keep this in mind: though many gardeners practice
propagation, it is against the law to reproduce a hybrid plant
that has been patented.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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