How to root a broken rose branch
Can I Re-Root a Branch That Came Off My Rose Bush? | Home Guides
By SF Gate Contributor Updated November 06, 2020
Prized for their showy flowers and versatility, roses (Rosa spp.) are a common sight in landscaping within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Most rose varieties are propagated vegetatively using cuttings to duplicate their attractive traits. You can take cuttings directly from the shrub or from a pruned branch. However, the branch must be newly pruned because older discarded branches lack the vigor for successful rooting.
Tip
You can re-root a branch that came off your rose bush. The best time to do this is late summer.
Clean Your Tools
Clean tools will help prevent the transmission of potentially harmful pathogens, so it is important to prepare cutting blades before use. It is particularly important if the cutting blades have been previously used to prune other roses because they may harbor bacteria and fungi to which the cuttings are especially susceptible.
Scrub the blade in hot, soapy water to remove any large pieces of plant matter, then soak it in a solution of half rubbing alcohol and half distilled water for five minutes to sanitize it. Rinse off the cleaning solution with hot water and let the blade dry thoroughly before use.
Select A Cutting
A stem that has previously bloomed will root best, so inspect the branch for a likely candidate for propagation. Look for a 6- to 8-inch-long stem with plenty of foliage, a diameter equal to a pencil and a slightly swollen base where it attaches to the main branch. Snip off the stem where it connects to the branch using the clean cutting blade. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle for the best results. Remove all the foliage, as well as any buds or old flowers. Trim back the tip of the rose stem so the total length of the cutting is 4 to 6 inches, but make the cut straight across so the tip and base are easily distinguishable.
Rooting The Cutting
Rose cuttings generally root reliably without hormones, although hormone powder can help hasten and increase root production. Dust the angled end with rooting hormone powder, then stick it in a pot filled with sterile, fast-draining medium such as a mix of 3 parts sand and 1 part peat moss. Make sure the entire bottom half of the cutting is covered.
You can start multiple cuttings in the same pot and later transplant them. Keep the pot in a bright, sheltered location out of direct sunlight and cover it with a large, translucent plastic bag to hold humidity around the cutting. Mist the cutting every other day and moisten the soil if it dries out in the top inch. Most rose cuttings will root in roughly six to eight weeks.
Transplant and Aftercare
Once rooted, rose cuttings should be carefully transplanted into individual pots filled with fresh potting soil. Plant them at the same depth as they were in the rooting pot to avoid stem rot. Keep the newly rooted roses under lightly shaded conditions, then gradually acclimate them to direct sunlight.
Careful watering is key because excess moisture can cause failure, so apply water carefully at the base only when the soil dries out in the top inch. Although you can transplant cuttings into a permanent position their first year, it is best to grow them in pots for one full year before transplant so they have time to produce a healthy, productive root system.
A Note on Timing
Rose cuttings can be rooted year-round, although they perform best when taken in late summer into autumn after the current season's growth has matured and hardened. However, many rose varieties bloom sporadically in autumn, and their flowers may slow or prevent rooting by monopolizing the plant's energy. For the best results, prune off any active blooms or buds to redirect energy toward rooting and away from seed production.
References
- University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners: Propagating Roses by Cuttings
- University of Florida Department of Environmental Horticulture: Rosa Spp.
- Texas A&M University Department of Horticulture: Rose Propagation From Cuttings
- University of Minnesota Extension: Clean and Disinfect Gardening Tools and Containers
How to Root a Branch From a Rose Bush | Home Guides
By Victoria Lee Blackstone Updated October 30, 2019
By rooting a stem cutting from your favorite rose (Rosa spp. ) or from a fellow gardener’s collection, you’ll have a new plant that you can gift to someone else or enjoy in your own garden. Among rose propagation techniques, rooting a cutting is a project that even beginners can tackle. You may need to keep rooted cuttings, called “rose starts,” indoors during winter until you transplant them outside in spring. But with its humble beginnings inside a bright-light location (and with a little TLC from you), your little rose start may ultimately be the focal point of your garden.
Choosing Suitable Roses for Cuttings
Although roses are perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11, most types populate the smaller perennial territory of zones 5 through 9. So, even if you successfully root a cutting from your gardening friend, the resulting plant may not be winter-hardy if, for example, your friend lives in USDA zone 5 and you live in zone 4. And on the flip side, if your garden is in a cooler climate across USDA zones 3 through 5, you’ll be able to grow fragrant “old European garden roses,” a class of roses that prefers these cooler zones. But if you share a cutting of one of these roses with a friend who gardens in the warmer zones of 6 or 7, the resulting plant may not fare very well.
Another consideration for propagating certain roses is whether a rose is grafted or ungrafted. When selecting the rose plant from which you want to root cuttings, a plant that grows on its own roots will yield stronger plants from cuttings than a grafted plant. An “own root” rose is one that naturally grows without being grafted onto another rose. If you root a cutting from a grafted rose, the new plant typically will not have the characteristic disease-resistance and hardiness that its grafted parent plant has.
Preparing Container and Rooting Mix
Choose a plastic container, such as a nursery pot or plastic cup, and make sure it has a drainage hole at the bottom. Wash the container in hot, soapy water, and rinse it thoroughly. Soak the container for at least 10 minutes in a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach. Remove the container from the bleach solution, and allow it to air-dry.
Use a packaged soilless mix that’s blended for cuttings, or prepare your own. Ingredients for a soilless mix include peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and sand, which can be mixed in different proportions. For example, some growers use a 50:50 blend of peat moss and vermiculite; others use a 50:50 blend of vermiculite and perlite; and some use varied proportions of vermiculite, perlite and sand. Fill the clean container with the soilless mix and lightly tamp it down.
Taking and Preparing Cuttings
The University of California recommends taking softwood rose cuttings in spring or early summer from the current season of growth. Wait until after a flower on the new growth has finished blooming, and cut a pencil-thick tip cutting that’s 6 to 8 inches long. Choose a cutting that has at least four nodes and at least two top leaves. Trim the bottom with a flat cut just below a node, and immediately place the cutting in a cup of water.
Inserting Cuttings and Increasing Humidity
Using a pencil, make a hole in the moist cutting mix. Following label directions, apply a rooting hormone product, either powder or liquid, to the cut end. Insert the cutting into the hole with at least two nodes underneath the rooting mix but without resting it on the bottom of the container. Gently firm the mix around the buried cutting, lightly tamping down the mix.
Soak the container in a bowl of water until the surface of the mix is moist. Remove the container from the bowl and allow any excess water to drain freely. Cover the container with a clear plastic bottle with the bottom cut out, and remove the plastic bottle cap.
Keep the bottle-covered container in a warm place out of direct sun, and keep the mix misted if the surface looks dry. Roots generally form in 10 to 14 days. Once a gentle tug on the cutting confirms root formation, you can remove the plastic bottle.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Genus Rosa
- David Austin Roses: Zones 10-11
- University of Illinois Extension: Different Kinds of Roses
- Texas A&M University: Rose Propagation From Cuttings
- University of California: Softwood Rose Cuttings
Resources
- Fine Gardening: Genus Rosa (Rose)
- University of California Cooperative Extension – Napa County: Propagating Roses
Tips
- If your rose was grafted onto the rootstock of another rose, be sure to take the cuttings from high on the bush. That way you will be sure to clone the rose of your choosing, not its rootstock.
Warnings
- Transfer some rooting hormone powder to a small jar to use for dipping cuttings. If you dip cuttings directly into the powder container, you can lose the entire amount if a cutting contains a contaminant.
Writer Bio
Victoria Lee Blackstone is a horticulturist and a professional writer who has authored research-based scientific/technical papers, horticultural articles, and magazine and newspaper columns. After studying botany and microbiology at Clemson University, Blackstone was a University of Georgia Master Gardener Coordinator. She is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA.
How to grow a rose from a cutting
Sooner or later, the presented bouquet of roses will wither and will have to be thrown away. This fate befalls all freshly cut flowers. But, fortunately, you can save the memory of roses not only in photographs, you can breathe new life into a bouquet of roses, and then the flowers will delight you with their beauty and fragrance for a very long time. And for this, roses need to be rooted correctly and on time. If you want to order the Queen of Flowers in Vinnitsa, take a look at our catalog and you will definitely have plenty to choose from. Spectacular roses will not leave anyone indifferent.
What are the best cuttings to root
Surprise your beloved!
Growing roses is very popular today. A rare summer resident will miss the opportunity to plant a beautiful bush on his site. Moreover, roses are universal holiday flowers. They are given for any reason and without it. As a rule, roses at home are propagated by cuttings (the part of the leaf that connects it to the stem). But in order for everything to work out, you need to know which cuttings are most likely to take root. So, the most important rule is that the fresher they are, the higher your chances of growing new plants, from which then original bouquets will turn out. Secondly, the variety of roses is important. All imported flowers root very poorly, because they undergo multi-stage processing with various chemicals that increase their shelf life. Therefore, you can not try to root a cut rose of Dutch origin. But with local varieties, things are much better. The period of the year when the flower was grown is also important. So, most likely, the summer stalk will take root, then the spring, autumn, and lastly the winter.
How to properly prepare a cutting for planting
Bouquet of roses "Charm"
Planting roses is a delicate matter, and you need to approach it responsibly. So, first of all, take roses that already have formed shoots. Next, carefully cut off the leaves, buds and thorns from them. Now you can cut off the cutting itself (about 10-15 cm will be enough) and immerse it in water. Important: the cut on the handle should be as even as possible. So arm yourself with the sharpest knife. Cut the stem at an angle of 45 degrees, taking into account that the distance from the kidney should be about 1 cm. It is in this part of the stem that a large accumulation of nutrients is located. They then stimulate the growth of a new flower. It will be a huge plus if you treat the cuttings with a special hormone that stimulates the growth of shoots. You can find such a tool in any gardening store, where you will certainly be advised.
How to grow cuttings in a pot with earth
Bouquet "For my Queen"
First, hold the cuttings in a container of water for about a day. Then plant the lower cut into the ground vertically (it is important that the upper buds are above the soil surface). Water the soil generously with water and place the pot on a windowsill that faces south. The optimum temperature regime is up to 20 degrees above zero. You can insert wooden chopsticks into the pot (unnecessary pencils or Japanese chopsticks will do). In the future, they will become a support for the process on the stem. Then stretch a film or bag over the sticks to create a kind of greenhouse for the cuttings. And that's it. Now we wait about a month and check if the flowers have rooted. It is very simple to do this: slightly pull the stem with your fingers, if there is some resistance, then everything is going according to plan and the stalk has taken root.
Method of growing cuttings in potatoes
Bouquet "Gift for a Beloved"
The method of growing roses in potatoes is the most popular and very effective. But it is advisable to use it only in the spring. The meaning of the method lies in the fact that a young potato tuber will create a moist environment for the stem and nourish it with useful microelements. Keep in mind that the length of the handle should be no more than 20 cm, and the potato itself should be medium in size and without “eyes”. We make a hole for the stem, plant the potatoes in the ground, pour water and cover with any unnecessary jar. In this form, the stalk will not only receive everything necessary for rapid growth, but will also be protected from pests. Do not forget to periodically moisten the soil (but do not flood), and moisten the cutting itself with water a couple of times a day. Once every five days, it is a good idea to water the shoot with sweetened water (2 teaspoons of sugar per glass of water).
Method for growing cuttings in greenhouse conditions
15 red roses
In greenhouses, ripened lignified shoots that have survived the winter indoors are usually rooted. So, take a container and add to it a mixture of fertilizers that are usually used in normal planting in open ground. Plant a prepared cutting there and follow some simple recommendations. So, the temperature regime in the greenhouse should be in the range of 24-25 ° C, the humidity should be high (above 90%), and access to sunlight is limited. The leaves of the cuttings should be regularly moistened, which is why watering will have to be done 10 times a day. When growing roses on a large scale, it is better to get sprinklers for this purpose. After 3 weeks, you can reduce watering, remove shading and start airing the greenhouse (the so-called hardening of cuttings).
Method of growing cuttings in water
Bouquet "Our happiness!"
Growing rose cuttings in water is the easiest method. Carefully cut the stems and place them in a container of boiled water at a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Place the tank in a place with good shade. Change water daily. After three weeks, at the end of the cutting, you can see the beginnings of roots.
Method for growing rose cuttings in a bag
25 red roses with hearts
This method is also called “burrito”. Now you will understand why. All you need is unnecessary newspapers and a bag. Prepare the cuttings (preferably treated with growth stimulants), lay them on a newspaper and wrap. Now moisten the bundle liberally and place it in the bag. In this form, the cuttings should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of about 20 ° C. About once every ten days, unroll the bundle, inspect the stems, remove the rotten ones, change the newspaper for a new one, treat it with water and put it back in place. After 3 weeks, the root system should germinate on the cuttings.
Useful tips on how to plant a rose
Basket "In love with you"
In conclusion, we would like to tell you some secrets of cuttings to grow roses at home as efficiently as possible.
- Do not plant more than 3 cuttings in one pot.
- Prefer opaque containers.
- Don't over water to prevent rot.
- When the water begins to evaporate, do not replace it completely, it is better to add a little new water.
- If there are no leaves on the stems, the root system can also form in the dark. But if at least one leaf has grown, light is needed.
- Roses are light and heat-loving varieties of flowers that do not tolerate drafts and white walls.
If you fail to grow a rose from cuttings the first time, don't give up. This does not mean at all that you are not given to be the owner of the rosary. Keep trying, experimenting and you will definitely succeed.
CUTTINGS IN A JAR | Science and life
Growing plants from cuttings is the most popular method of vegetative propagation.
Bud and leaf cuttings can be cut from any shoot - green, semi-lignified or lignified.
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It would seem that what else can be written in addition to the numerous manuals on rooting cuttings? But when you start cutting yourself, you discover a lot of little things that decisively affect the result.
The easiest way to root is in a jar of water. Under certain conditions, it can be used even for plants that are considered difficult to root. But for all the simplicity of this method, there are many little things on which success depends.
For example, not all plants tolerate water changes. In order to avoid possible failure, it is better not to change the water, but only to add it when it evaporates. Apparently, it accumulates some metabolic products necessary for the plant. I have repeatedly had to observe the death of blue passionflower cuttings that have already given roots after changing the water, even if the water was well-settled and did not contain any harmful impurities.
Equally important is the number of cuttings in the bank. Honeysuckle does not want to take root if there are more than three cuttings per 200 ml of water, but one at a time in a jar of even smaller volume, the same cuttings perfectly give roots.
Growing plants from cuttings is the most popular method of vegetative propagation. Left - nodal stalk. Its lower cut is located directly under the node or kidney. This is how green unripened stems are usually cut, since the tissues located in this place are more resistant to fungal diseases. A cut in the middle of the internode (on the right) is made, as a rule, when cutting cuttings from more mature lignified shoots.
Interestingly, the ability of a plant to produce rooted cuttings depends on the nutrition of the mother plant. If it received nitrogen in excess, the roots on the cuttings form very poorly. It is also difficult to form roots in plants that are "starved". For the most active root formation, the mother plant must be fully provided with potassium, phosphorus and slightly less nitrogen.
It is also important from which shoots the cuttings are taken. Fattening, powerfully growing shoots give poor quality cuttings. So do not chase power and size, cuttings take root much better from lateral, not very strong growing branches. But it is curious that in some conifers, the place where the cutting is taken affects the shape of the future plant. From the cuttings from the lateral horizontal branches of the spiky yew, disheveled or even almost creeping plants are obtained, and from vertically growing cuttings - vertical ones. Similar phenomena have been observed in the cuttings of spruce trees.
For easily rooted plants, the age of the mother plant does not play a role, but for those plants that are difficult to root, this is very important. The older the "parent", the worse, in most cases, its cuttings take root. At a young age, cuttings are even taken from plants that are not accepted to be cut, for example, apple trees and pears, in which, when treated with heteroauxin (a root formation stimulator), apical cuttings taken from annual seedlings easily root. But the ease of root formation in cuttings harvested from annual branches decreases with increasing tree age, even when treated with stimulants. Moreover, some plants with age completely lose the ability to vegetative reproduction. This happened in our garden with petiolate hydrangea, which gave excellent layering 20 years ago, and now even buried branches of the bush do not take root.
Cuttings, consisting of a bud with a leaf, can be cut from any shoots - green, semi-lignified and lignified. The upper cut is made as close as possible to the kidney, if possible, without leaving a hemp. The lower one is 2.5-4 cm from the upper one. Each cutting should consist of one leaf (the other leaf is removed), a bud located in its axil, and a very short segment of the stem.
It is also not indifferent from which part of the shoot the cutting is taken. Often, very long shoots are taken for cuttings, from which a large number of cuttings are immediately cut with secateurs. The lower the segment of the stem from which the cutting is taken is located, the better it takes root in most plants. Once I had to take cuttings from the same passionflower branch. Despite the fact that the entire branch was equally lignified, only the last cutting, taken from its very base, took root. The same can be observed in such a frequently cutting plant as a rose.
Light has a great influence on the rooting of cuttings. A cutting that has no leaves grows better roots in the dark. To root a cutting that has at least a piece of a leaf left, light is needed. But even in the light in an opaque dish, the roots form much better than in a light jar. It is believed that a cutting harvested from a branch during the period when there are no leaves already contains some heteroauxin, which, apparently, decomposes in the light. If there are leaves, it is they who produce the rooting stimulator heteroauxin. It would be possible to leave all the leaves on the cuttings, but, being in the water, and even more so when rooting in the substrate, when the water supply is limited, the extra leaves dry out the cuttings and they may die.
The level of water in the bank is also important. If there is too much water, there is not enough oxygen near the bottom, and this can cause rotting of the lower part of the cuttings: after all, roots form only at the border of water and air. The experiments of the British showed that the roots appear much faster and along the entire length of the cuttings in the bank, if the water was aerated.
And one more interesting observation. Many plants reproduce best when they are dormant. Blackcurrant cuttings planted in the ground in autumn take root much better than spring ones, which almost completely die. Sea buckthorn propagates well by winter cuttings. Cut off at the end of January - February, sea buckthorn sprigs give roots in one or two weeks in a jar of plain water or water to which honey is added. A tablespoon of honey is diluted in a glass of water and the cuttings are placed in the solution for 6-12 hours. The main mistake of gardeners during the winter cuttings of sea buckthorn is its too late transplantation into the soil. Roots on cuttings grow very quickly, they become too long and break off when transferred to the garden.
Excellent roots in ordinary vases with water were given by long branches of yew berry and western thuja cut in February and March for a bouquet (about 60 cm long and about a centimeter in diameter). In May - June, all of them with well-developed roots were planted in the ground.
And one more curious cutting method, which has recently been common among amateur gardeners.
Take a large potato tuber and carefully remove all the eyes from it. The cuttings are stuck directly into the tuber, buried in the ground and covered with a glass jar to create a greenhouse effect. With regular watering, cuttings quickly give roots, and young plants planted in the garden develop well. So it is possible to root even poorly cutting plants. The method is quite justified, since instead of water, the cuttings immediately receive a large amount of ready-made nutrients, in particular carbohydrates, including starch.
This method arose by chance, and one can even guess how. It has long been known that it is best to keep grafting cuttings at home in the refrigerator. The cuttings are stuck into ordinary potato tubers, wrapped in paper and placed in a plastic bag with holes. Probably, one of the gardeners left the cuttings in the tuber for too long, and they gave roots.