The rose (ros) is a perennial (all year round) plant that is favored for its beautiful blooms formed from a delicate, multi-layered flower crown. One of the best ways to propagate new roses is to cut rose stems from existing plants and grow them into a new rosebush. If you propagate roses by cuttings, cut the stems of the roses from healthy plants and plant them in soil so that they grow into independent plants. However, you can also propagate roses by splitting existing plants, but this method requires more effort than stem cuttings. To propagate roses from division, you must dig up a rosebush, split the root tissue in half, then replant the two plants separately.
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Method 1 of 3: Growing Roses from Stem Cuttings
Step 1. Choose a good time
Growing stem cuttings is the most popular method for breeding roses. The best time for cutting and planting is when it is warm outside, but not hot. Choose a time when the rosebush is thriving. The ideal time is in late spring or early summer.
- You can still grow roses from stem cuttings when the weather is cooler, but the process will take longer and the chances of success are lower.
- If you don't have a cutting rosebush, ask a friend or neighbor if they have cutting plants.
- You can also look for bushes of wild roses that can be bred.
- You can ask your local nursery or florist if they allow you to cut one of the roses.
Step 2. Gather equipment
To propagate roses using this method, you will need to select a healthy rose plant and cut the stems. For this project, you will need gardening tools, cutters, and pots, including:
- Clean pot measuring 5 cm
- Land ready to plant
- Sterilized sharp cuttings
- Root hormone
- Clear plastic bag or mason jar
Step 3. Prepare the pot
Fill a small pot with ready-to-plant soil. For best results, replace a quarter of the soil with perlite, peat moss, vermiculite, or a combination of these. This mix will improve airflow and drainage, and give the stem cuttings a better chance to grow roots. If the soil is dry, water it thoroughly and allow any remaining water to drip out to evenly moisten the soil.
In addition to the pot, you can also use a small mason jar or the bottom half of a large plastic bottle (cut off the top)
Step 4. Select the stem you want to cut
Choose healthy plants that are large for stem cutting. Stems must come from the top and sides of the clump, and must have at least three leaves. Ideally, look for stems that have just finished flowering. Choose young stems that are mature and sturdy with a length of about 15 cm.
- Stems from the top and sides of the clump are the best choice because they take root better than stems from the center or bottom of the clump.
- It doesn't matter if the stem you choose still has buds and flowers, but choose a stem where the flowers are starting to wither. This indicates that the stem has just finished flowering.
Step 5. Cut one rose stem
The best tools for cutting stems are sharp cutting shears or a knife cutter. Cut the stem from the plant at a 45-degree angle, just below one of the lowest leaf nodes (where the leaf attaches to the stem).
- Make sure cutlery is sterilized to prevent the spread of disease.
- To sterilize your cutlery, you can heat it on a fire until it's red hot or boil it in boiling water for 30 minutes.
Step 6. Remove flowers, buds and some leaves
Using the same cutting tool, cut the wilted flowers and new flower buds where they attach to the stem. If any fruit has also started to form, cut it and throw it away.
- Cut the leaves that are in the lower half of the stem.
- Leave the top two to three leaves to help with photosynthesis. Cut these leaves in half to reduce moisture loss.
Step 7. Slice the cut
Slicing is the process of making a split at the bottom of the stem. This method will stimulate root growth. Using the same cutting tool, make a 2.5 cm long cut in the lower bark of the stem.
Make three or four incisions in the bark to give the roots more room to grow
Step 8. Dip the stem cuttings in root hormone
Dip the bottom 5 cm of the stem so that the cut, wedge, and base of the stem are buried with hormones. Shake gently to remove excess hormone.
The use of root hormone is not a mandatory step in the rose cutting and breeding process, but it will increase the chances of the rose cuttings growing well
Step 9. Plant and water the rose stems
With the tip of your finger or a pencil, make a hole 5 cm deep in the soil, in the center of the pot. Insert the base of the stem into the hole. Cover the hole around the rose stem with soil and use your hands to compress it.
Water the soil until everything is damp
Step 10. Cover rose stems with plastic or mason jars
To cover the roses with plastic, stick two rods or wire 20 cm high into the soil on each side of the stem to support the plastic. Cover the pot and rose stems with a clear plastic bag and tie the plastic around the pot with rubber or twine. If you are using a mason jar, simply cup a large mason jar over the stem.
Covering the roses with glass or plastic will create a mini-greenhouse effect and this will block the heat, moisture, and ultraviolet light that roses need to root and grow
Step 11. Provide plenty of sun exposure and plenty of water while the roses are growing
Every day, the plant will need plenty of bright sun, but not too much heat. Place the plant in a bright area that receives plenty of indirect sunlight, especially around noon.
- A mason or plastic jar will help keep the soil and rose cuttings moist. However, add water when the rose stems or soil begin to appear dry.
- Placing a heating mat under the plant can help stimulate root growth.
Method 2 of 3: Dividing the Rose
Step 1. Choose the right time
The ideal time to divide parenial plants is in early spring or late fall. This is the time when the plant is in the dormant phase, and this will minimize shock to the plant and improve root growth.
- It is also important to divide the parenial plants during the dormancy period because at this time the plants will not flower. Do not divide the rosebush while the plants are in bloom.
- This method of propagation of roses by dividing is less common than the method of stem cutting because dividing the rosebush is more difficult and time consuming. The process requires you to dismantle the growing plants, divide them in half, and replant them both.
Step 2. Prepare the equipment
To propagate roses using this method, you will need a healthy, mature rosebush, as well as gardening tools and supplies such as:
- A sharp, sterilized machete or knife
- Garden shovel or fork
- Thick gloves
- Two for a big bucket
- Wet newspaper
- Planting holes that have been prepared in garden beds
- Fertile soil
Step 3. Choose healthy plants to share
To ensure these divided roses thrive and produce healthy flowers, choose healthy, mature plants to divide. Healthy plants will:
- Has a lot of leaves
- Has leaves that are evenly distributed throughout the clump
- Produce lots of flowers
Step 4. Water the rosebush
To minimize shock to the plant before you dismantle the roots and divide them, water the rosebush thoroughly. Watering will also help loosen the soil around the roots, making it easier to lift the plant from the soil without damaging the root tissue.
Step 5. Carefully dig up the rosebush
Using a shovel, dig into the soil a few inches deep from the stem of the rose. You should dig up the rosebush, but don't dig it up and damage the root tissue. After digging the area around the clump, use your hands to clean the soil and expose the roots.
Once the roots are exposed and the area around the plant has been dug up, carefully pull the rose bush out of the soil
Step 6. Split the plant into two equal parts
Lay the rosebush on the ground or place it in a handcart. With a sterilized machete or knife, divide the rosebush into two equal parts by splitting the roots right in the middle of the clump.
To sterilize cutting tools, heat the metal over high heat until it's red hot, or boil it in boiling water for 30 minutes
Step 7. Keep the roots moist
Once the plant has been divided, put each part in a bucket and move the bucket into the shade to protect it while you prepare your new planting site. To keep the rosebush moist, cover it with damp newspaper.
Ideally, keep the humidity around 50% to keep the plant moist without soaking it
Step 8. Prepare a new planting site
Where you are dismantling your rosebush, replace the excavated soil with fertile soil or organic matter to provide plenty of nutrients in the garden bed for new plants. Use your hands or a shovel to mix up the new soil and spread it all over the garden bed.
Good organic materials to add to the soil include compost or weathered manure
Step 9. Replant both rose bushes
Dig two holes in the prepared garden bed to the same depth as the original clump. Give the distance between the holes as far as 60 cm. Plant both rosebushes in the hole and cover the roots with soil. Compact the soil around the roots with your hands.
- Water the plant thoroughly.
- Keep the rosebush moist during the first year until the plant grows strong.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Roses Healthy
Step 1. Make sure the roses get plenty of sun
Roses need 6 to 8 hours of sun exposure each day. When choosing a place to plant roses, choose a place that gets a lot of direct sunlight.
- In areas with very warm climates, choose a location where there is indirect sunlight in the middle of the day, which is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Suitable places include near trees that provide protection when the sun is at its hottest.
- In colder climates, plant roses in front of a south- or west-facing wall or fence to give them added protection and reflect heat.
Step 2. Water the roses frequently
Roses should be watered thoroughly, especially during their first year of growth and during the summer. Water thoroughly twice a week in the summer to keep the soil moist.
The best way to water plants is with a drip irrigation system or a hose that concentrates the water droplets on the base and roots of the plant. Wet flowers and leaves can cause disease, mold, and rot problems
Step 3. Apply fertilizer
In addition to water and plenty of sun, roses also need regular fertilization, especially before and during the flowering period. In spring and summer, between April and July, provide the following nutrients monthly:
- Granular fertilizer with a composition of 5-10-5 or 5-10-10
- Fish emulsion
- Seaweed Extract
- Compost or rotted manure
- Alfalfa meal (protein feed for livestock)
Step 4. Prune the roses frequently
Roses will thrive if pruned regularly because pruning is useful for removing diseased stems, flowers, and leaves, as well as increasing circulation throughout the plant. In spring, use shears to remove dead flowers, diseased stems, and old leaves.
