GROWING ROSE CUTTINGS

Growing rose cuttings is probably by far the most popular method for amateur rose growers to increase their stock of roses.

The method for growing rose cuttings is easy enough, there are, however, a couple of issues to be aware of.

1. It generally takes about 3 years for a rose grown from cuttings to reach maturity.
2. Different types of roses are more suitable than others. Not each rose type is a suitable candidate for growing using cuttings.  Hybrid Tea rose types especially do not propogate successfully through cuttings as very often their root system is too weak.  This is particularly the case with the yellow flowering types.

Growing rose cuttings from climbers, ramblers, floribunda, and shrub roses, in general should not present a problem.

Method for growing rose cuttings

1. Take your cuttings in September.
2. Choose a healthy shoot of the current year’s growth.  This should be about the size of a pencil.
3. Just keep the very top 2 leafs.  Remove all others.
4. Using sharp secateurs you will need to cut it to about 8 inches.  Cut at a 45 degree angle, approximately, below a bud.  Leave the bud.
5. Dip the bottom of the cutting into a hormone rooting powder.  Shake off any excess powder.
6. Dig a trench with one straight back wall, in a lightly shaded part of your garden.  This trench only needs to be about 6 inches deep.  Place about 2 inches of sharp sand in the base of the trench.
7. Place the cuttings in the sand, against the straight back of the trench, with the lower of the two leaves just above ground level.
8. Firm in the sand around the rose cuttings and then fill the trench with soil.  Again, make sure to firm the soil in around the rose cutting.
9. When growing rose cuttings, the firming in of the sand and soil around the cuttings is vital.  Give the cuttings a good watering.  If you have some hard frosts, re-firm the soil.  Keep the cuttings watered during the following spring and summer.  If any flower buds appear make sure to remove them.

By the first November after taking your rose cuttings they should be ready for planting.  That is how you achieve success with growing rose cuttings. As you can see it is a very simple process and is a great introduction to growing roses for beginners

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