Growing Roses from Cuttings

Not all roses grow readily from cuttings. Older ramblers, climbers, miniatures, polyanthas many modern patio roses and ground-cover roses are relatively easy to propagate from cuttings.

Hybrid Teas and Floribundas are more difficult to grow from cuttings but they can be successful - take many more cuttings to improve the chance of success

While cuttings can be taken at any time during the growing season, hardwood cuttings taken in autumn have the best chance of success.

• A year old branch is best - one that has flowered this season. Old growth does not root easily and soft new growth is likely to wilt and more likely to die.

• The ideal cutting should be about the length and thickness of a pencil, and contain three or four bud eyes. Cut just below a bud eye from the middle of a branch. Remove all the leaves and thorns. The top two leaves can be left attached. Some roses have a naturally twiggy growth habit and therefore thinner cuttings. These are  are fine as long as there is enough leaf nodes.

• Place the cuttings in water until they can be planted. A soak overnight in 'willow tea’ ^* is beneficial. Or use a commercial rooting hormone.

• Plant the cutting into a pot of sharp river sand, pumice or into the open ground. Cuttings can be poked into the soil around the drip line of the parent bush.

• The container size doesn’t matter but it does need to be 15cm or more deep.

• Before placing the cutting into sand/soil cut the stem again with very sharp secateurs or a razor blade. Try to ensure a clean non-bruising cut. If using a rooting hormone, apply it now. Plant the cutting with two or three growth buds under the surface (usually around two-thirds of the cutting).

• Make a hole with a pencil or stick so that the base of the cutting is not damaged when inserting it.

• Put cuttings of one variety close together in the same pot. There seems to be a symbiotic relationship that encourages rooting.

• The container can be enclosed in a clear plastic bag to keep it humid and moist, but keep an eye on it. In warm weather open up the plastic so the cuttings don't over heat. And to prevent disease remove the bag and allow a free flow of air for a few days before replacing.

• Place pots in dappled shade and don't let them dry out.

• When planting cuttings in open ground - dig a narrow trench in a shady sheltered part of the garden that isn't going to be in the way. Place sand or pumice in the bottom of the trench.

• Water the planted cuttings as needed. Ensure they don’t dry out, but also take care not to overwater.

  
  

• Rooted cuttings can be transplanted in the following spring but it's better to leave them for a year.

* Willow Tea

Cut a few tips of stems and leaves of willow, chop them, put them in a jar and fill with slightly

warm water. Soak the rose cuttings in this tea for a few hours or overnight.