SolveYourProblem Article Series: Roses
How
To Prepare Rose Cuttings Properly
The art of propagating roses through rose
cuttings has been used since the Victorian Era, and was popular
with the pioneers who journeyed across the United States looking
for a new life. They brought along cuttings from their gardens,
tucking them into mason jars and looking for new land to plant
them in.
Using rose cuttings to propagate new plants is still one
of the simplest and most fun garden projects that any gardener
can undertake with relative ease. And what better way to start
off a beautiful rose garden on the cheap? There is no right
way for preparing rose cuttings. In fact, everyone seems to
have their own special recipe propagating roses. Here a few
suggestions to get you started in the ancient art of preparing
and planting rose cuttings. You may want to experiment with
different methods to find what works best in your garden.
The Stick in the Ground Method
This is the easiest and most basic way to get started in rose
propagation. The first step in preparing rose cuttings for
planting is to find a good stem. Most gardeners interested
in rose propagation already have a plant in mind. Maybe you
have access to a rose bush that you love, but which is not
commercially available. In this case, look for a healthy green
stem that measures about one foot in length. The best cuttings
usually come from rose bushes that have recently bloomed, but
whose buds have not yet swelled (indicating that active growth
has not started). Also, it is best to remove a stem from a
plant that has been recently watered, so it will still be relatively
hydrated when you plant it.
If you have the option, choose a stem with smaller, rather
than larger, buds. Ideally, the stem you pick should have at
least three buds. It should be completely disease free. Once
you have found a suitable stem, use a pair of sharp pruning
shears to cut it from the plant. Remove any remaining bloom
parts and foliage.
Once removed from the rose bush, prepare to trim the stem
to a workable size. Make sure you are holding the stem so that
the buds point up and outwards. Hold your pruning shears at
a 45 degree angle, position the shears just above the top bud
and make a clean cut. Now, position your shears just below
the bottom bud of the stem and make a similarly angled cut.
Once your stem has been trimmed, it is ready to plant. Select
a location in your garden where the cutting will be protected
from winter weather and interference from animals or foot traffic.
Ideally, the spot you select will have relatively fertile soil,
receives an adequate amount of sunlight, and have good drainage.
Make a small hole with a trowel, and plant the root cutting.
Push the root cutting about halfway down, and pat the soil
around it to ensure it will not fall over easily. Keep the
rose cuttings moist at all times. Note its proper name and
location with a garden marker—you don’t want someone to come
along and accidentally remove it! The
Mason Jar Method
For this method, cut a stem from your favorite rose as described
in the Stick in the Ground method. Remove any leaves from the
stem, and plant it in the ground. Cover it with a mason jar.
Water the soil around the jar periodically so the stem does
not dry out. If you’re lucky, after approximately two months
you should begin to see new leaf growth from your rose cutting.
The Potting Method
For this method, prepare small two-inch plastic garden pots
for planting. Fill them with potting soil. One popular planting
mix combines one part potting soil with one part perlite. This
light medium helps encourage new root growth.
Push the rose cutting into the planting mix, and place the
pot in a sunny location. Water the rose cutting regularly.
The potting method is favored by many root cutting enthusiasts
because it allows you to place the cutting in a spot where
you can keep a watchful eye on its progress. Also, if you’re
rose cutting grows; it is easy to transplant it later on if
it is already in a pot.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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