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How to root rose bush cuttings


Grow Roses from Cuttings: 2 Best Ways to Propagate!

How to grow roses from cuttings easily! Compare the BEST & worst ways to propagate in water or soil, using potatoes, & root by air layering.

Maybe it’s a beautiful rose plant in the garden that you want to multiply, or a Valentines rose bouquet that you want to grow into more roses, it’s easy to want more colorful and gorgeous rose bushes and vines in our homes and gardens.

Many plant lovers have tried to grow roses from cuttings. There are many rose propagation methods such as rooting in soil or water, air layering, and some even try to grow rose cuttings in potatoes! Some of these methods are great, some actually don’t work very well.

Today we are going to compare which ways are the best and easiest to propagate roses from either a plant, cut flowers or even a bouquet. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more roses in our gardens or as gifts to share with friends? 🙂

Can you propagate patented roses?

* Some resources in article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here .

A plant patent lasts for 20 years, after which the plant is allowed to be propagated. 

If the roses are patented within the last 20 years, it is illegal to propagate the rose without the consent of the patent holder. ( Source )

However, there are endless varieties of roses you CAN propagate. For example, the famous “New Dawn” and “Charlotte Armstrong” roses were patented over 50 years ago, and old-fashioned heirloom roses often root easier than modern hybrids.

Now you know which roses not to propagate, let’s look at the best and easiest methods to root rose cuttings! ( Source )

Best time to grow roses from cuttings 

The best time to grow roses from cuttings is from spring through summer, when flexible new stems (current year’s growth) are actively growing. They are called softwood cuttings, who are the fastest and easiest to root when you select healthy stems.

Look at all the beautiful rooted rose cuttings by Vuon & Nha on YouTube! Video tutorial below:

The next best are semi-hardwood cuttings, taken in late summer and early fall, when new stems have partially matured.

Hardwood cuttings are most difficult type of cutting to root. They are taken in late fall or early winter, when the rose stems have matured and entered dormancy.

Grow roses from cuttings by air layering 

Air layering is a fascinating propagation method being used for thousands of years! Nowadays there are easy products like these reusable air layering pods you can get, or make your own with simple materials such as small water bottles or plastic bags.

Air layering is the BEST way to propagate roses (and many woody plants) if the rose bush or vine that you want to multiply is already growing in your garden or in a friend’s garden. You don’t even have to use rooting powder with this method.

The best time for air layering roses is in late spring or summer when the weather is warm and the rose bushes are actively growing. ( Air layering rose video tutorial below. )

Select a stem that is about the thickness of a pencil and longer than a foot. Take a clean sharp knife, find a spot at about 1 foot for the top tip of the stem, remove leaves and  thorns around this area, peel off about a 1 inch section of the green bark tissue to get to white wood.  

You can also make a 2” long cut along the middle of the stem, and insert a little piece of plastic straw to prop the cut open, like shown in the above video tutorial by Vuon & Nha.

Don’t cut too deeply into the stem or it could break. 

Dust the cut area with rooting hormone. You can skip this, but rooting hormone does help speeding up the process. 

Next, make a 3” to 4” size pouch using either plastic wrap or a small plastic bottle filled with moist peat moss, coir, or potting soil. Coco coir is a great medium to root rose cuttings. It is sustainable and clean, which is important for propagation.

The cut area should be completely covered with enough room for roots to develop. Video tutorial below by Vuon & Nha.

Secure top and bottom with strings or twist-tie (Not too tight so the plant can grow and expand).   You can also use these reusable air layering pods. 

Because the stem is still attached to the mother plant, it is receiving water and nutrients as the new roots are growing from the cut area. This greatly increases the propagation success rate to nearly 100%!

Most rose plants show their white roots in 3 – 5 weeks. When you see good root system develops with lots of healthy roots, clip the stem off below the layer.

Gently remove ties and covers. Carefully plant your new rose plants and keep them well watered and protected from direct sunlight for a couple of weeks so it can adapt.

Grow roses from cuttings in soil or medium 

Fill some clean pots or containers rooting mix and water well so it’s moist and fully hydrated. You can use clean potting soil or a soil-less mix such as clean sand, peat moss, perlite, or Coco coir.  ( Photo by Hedgerow Rose)

IMPORTANT: The containers should have drainage holes  and never sit in water for too long. ( Photo by Grownups )

Coco coir is a great medium to root rose cuttings. It is sustainable and clean, which is important for propagation.

Take rose cuttings only from healthy plants that are well watered. Choose fresh healthy rose stems newly grown from the woody base, with at least 3-5 leaf nodes on the stem. Cut near the base at a 45-degree angle. Put cut stems in water immediately.

Video tutorial by Vuon & Nha on YouTube. How to propagate rose cuttings in coco coir!

Cut longer stem into 6 inch to 8 inch long, and make sure each cutting have at least 3 nodes – where leaf meets stem. Remove all flower buds and leaves except for one set of leaves at the top of each cutting.  

Dip the cutting’s bottom half in the rooting hormone powder or gel. Use a pencil to make a planting hole 3 to 4 inches deep in your rooting mix. Plant the rose cutting into the hole so at least two nodes are covered. 

 Keep the cuttings in a warm and bright place away from direct sun. Water when the rooting mix start to feel dry on the top inch.  Pamela at Flower Patch farm used recycled coffee cups (above) and large jars (below ) as humidity tent. Such great ideas!

You can also use a propped- up plastic bag or a mini greenhouse. Here are 45 best DIY greenhouses you can make from tiny to big!

If you live in a warm humid climate with a shaded outdoor area, you can skip the humidity cover. ( Photo below by Hartwood Roses )

Most softwood rose cuttings will root within 2 to 6 weeks. If you see healthy leaves growing, and feel some resistance when you very gently tug on the cuttings (don’t do this too soon!) , it’s likely they have rooted.

Here’s a YouTube tutorial by Mike on how to use a humidity cover made from plastic bottles.

Now you can remove the humidity tent and let them grow for a couple more weeks before transplanting the cuttings. Below is another propagation example by Lilisim.

Can you root rose cuttings in water?

Rose cuttings do not propagate well in just water.  Some cuttings will root, but the success rate is usually about 20%, while you can get 80% success by propagating rose cuttings in soil medium or by layering. 

The rose cuttings tend to take a long time to root in water, and is prone to rotting.

However, some favorite plants can root very easily in water! Here are a couple of tutorials on how to propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig or Hydrangea cuttings in soil or water with almost 100% success!

Hydrangeas are some of the easiest flowers to propagate! Tutorial here!

Can you grow rose cuttings using potatoes? 

There are many viral images of rose cuttings in potatoes, but I have not seen any scientific or real life evidence of potatoes or dipping in honey making rose cuttings grow more quickly or successfully.  

On the contrary, there are many reports of failures from gardeners who actually tried to grow rose cuttings in potatoes. 

The potatoes may grow roots, which will not magically become rose roots. The rose cuttings need a medium that holds moisture and air, which isn’t really what a potato does. 

That’s it! Use the first 2 methods, and happy gardening! 🙂

How to Propagate Roses From Stem Cuttings

By

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/18/22

Reviewed by

Julie Thompson-Adolf

Reviewed by Julie Thompson-Adolf

Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author. She has 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Claire Cohen

In This Article

Project Overview

Propagating herbaceous plants is often done by rooting green stem cuttings, but the process can also be successful with woody-stemmed plants, including some roses. Rooting stem cuttings of roses and other woody plants works best with so-called "wild" or "native" pure species, rather than hybrid shrubs. That's because many hybrids are created through a grafting process in which branches from showy but delicate species are melded onto rootstock from a sturdier species.

The result of grafting can be a spectacular plant with exceptional root hardiness. But if you propagate a new plant from a branch clipping, it will lack the parent plant's root hardiness. Thus, it's best to use stem clippings only to propagate non-grafted roses, which include many so-called shrub roses.

The stem clipping method is a bit tricky with woody plants, and you should expect that several attempts will end in failure. Take extra cuttings to ensure you have at least a few viable prospects. Still, if you take your cuttings from a healthy rose plant and follow the proper steps to root them, your odds of developing new plants will be high.

What Is a Shrub Rose?

The term "shrub rose" is defined by the American Rose Society (ARS) as “a class of hardy, easy-care plants that encompass bushy roses that do not fit in any other category of rose bush.” Many people use the term to refer to any type of non-hybrid rose, but there are several types of hybrid roses that do fit into the ARS's definition of shrub roses, including Moyesi hybrids, hybrid musk roses, Kordesii roses, English roses, and Knock Out roses. These join the many native rose species to form the category of shrub roses. However, any of these hybrid roses described as an "own-root" rose rather than a grafted rose may lend itself to successful propagation from stem cuttings.

When to Propagate a Rose by Stem Cuttings

Rooting a stem cutting can be done almost any time, but cuttings taken from new growth that has recently flowered (rather than old, hardened wood) are more likely to root successfully. Spring or fall is the best time to take softwood stem cuttings. Select them in the early morning hours when the plant is well hydrated. Moreover, avoid taking cuttings when your plant is heavily blooming. At this time, the plant is putting most of its energy into flower production rather than root development, so cuttings won't readily root.

Before Getting Started

Sharp pruners are necessary when taking rose cuttings. Dull tools can crush the rose's woody stems instead of forming a clean slice, which can make the cutting susceptible to fungal rot. Furthermore, make sure to clean your pruners before and after each cutting to avoid transmitting any diseases. 

Be patient when growing roses from cuttings. It can take several years for your new rose to produce flowers.

Click Play to Learn How to Grow Roses From Cuttings

Equipment / Tools

Materials

The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

  1. Take Cuttings

    Start by taking a 12-inch segment of a new stem that has recently bloomed, cutting it from the plant at a 45-degree angle. The stem should be about the width of a pencil. The best cuttings for rooting usually come from the sides of the bush, rather than the center.

    Remove any flowers or flower buds along the cut stem. Flowers or buds on the cut branch will consume energy, and you want to encourage the stem to refocus its survival energy on sending out new roots.  If you're taking multiple cuttings, place them in a container of water to keep them hydrated until you're ready to propagate them.

    The Spruce / Claire Cohen

  2. Remove Most Leaves

    Remove all but the top two sets of leaves on the stem. Then, cut off the remaining portion of the stem just above this top set of leaves. Removing the excess leaves will help the cutting divert its energy to root production.

  3. Prepare the Stem for Rooting

    Using sharp pruning shears, make a fresh cut on the bottom of the stem just below a stem node (a bump where new growth typically forms). Then, slice into the bottom of the stem about a 1/4 inch up, splitting the stem into open quarters.

    Apply Rooting Hormone

    Although not absolutely necessary, applying a rooting hormone can help spur your rose plant into developing new roots. Rooting hormones can be found in powder, liquid, and gel form—you'll have the best success with the powder version when working with roses. To apply, slightly moisten the split end of the rose cutting, and then dip it into the powdered rooting hormone. Shake off any excess.

  4. Plant the Cutting

    Fill a small pot with at least 6 inches of a potting mix formulated especially for roses. Poke a hole in the potting medium, and then insert the stem sliced-side down, taking care not to rub off the rooting hormone. Gently pack the soil around the stem, and water well. 

    The Spruce / Claire Cohen

  5. Cover the Cutting

    Loosely cover the cutting, pot and all, with a plastic bag or plastic wrap to help retain soil moisture. Be sure not to let the plastic touch any remaining leaves on the stem, which can cause them to remain wet and susceptible to fungal disease. Putting a tall stake into the pot can help hold the plastic away from the leaves. The bag also needs to be slightly vented, so condensation can escape—if you seal the bag too tightly, the stem can rot.  Place the cutting under grow lights or near a bright window.

  6. Monitor the Cutting

    Keep the soil moist until roots begin to form, which usually takes about two weeks. Check for roots by gently tugging on the stem—if there's resistance, roots are probably present.

    Your cutting can be transplanted into a pot or the ground as soon as the roots are firmly established or when new leaf sprouts begin to appear along the stem. Make sure to harden off the new rose—i.e., gradually expose it to outdoor conditions—before planting outside.

    The Spruce / Claire Cohen

How to Prepare for Rose Bloom Season

Propagation of roses by cuttings

You received a chic bouquet of roses as a gift, and you got the idea to grow such beautiful roses in your own garden! But where to buy such a bush? An elementary way to get a bush of the required variety is cuttings.

Cuttings is one of the most efficient methods of propagating these beautiful flowers. With this method, you will be able to find a bush of a variety whose flowers you like. Cuttings can be rooted at home all year round with knowledge of individual nuances.

General information about rose cuttings:

If you have decided to root your favorite rose from the bouquet, the preparation must be activated from the time you have it.

It is necessary to cut off the edge of the stem with a sharp object at a slight angle in the water. It is necessary to refresh the cut daily, and replace the water. It is necessary to lower the flowers into the water by more than ½ of the stem. Before cutting the cuttings, it is necessary to cut the bud, put the stems in water for a day.

Cuttings must be cut from the middle of the stem. Thickness - approximately equal to the thickness of a pencil, length 15-25 cm. The leaves must be removed from the cuttings, leaving only the top pair. The cuttings also need to be cleaned of thorns. Each cutting should have at least 2-3 buds. The bottom cut must be oblique. The cut from above must be straight, and located immediately above the kidney - no more than 1 cm, it must be sprinkled with a crushed activated charcoal tablet. In the lower part of the handle, you need to make an incision crosswise with a knife, plunging by about 8 mm.

Rooting rose cuttings in water

It is good to propagate ground cover roses in a similar way. Prepared as mentioned above, the stalk is placed in a jar of water with a level of 2.5 cm. Kornevin or Hereroauxin must be added there. Cover with a plastic bag and put in a bright place, but without open sun. Do not change the water, just add settled water so that the level is constantly 2.5 cm. After 2-3 weeks, a callus will form from below, and then the cutting needs to be planted, in this case it is not necessary to close the jar.

Rooting roses in potatoes

Prepared cuttings should be planted in impressive tubers about 2/3 of the height of the cutting. All eyes on the tuber must be removed so that it does not germinate. Next, the tubers must be dug to a depth of about 5-6 cm. You don't need to bankroll. Over the summer, the rose will release roots in the potato, the potato itself usually decomposes. You don't need to dig them out until next year.

Preparing the soil and planting cuttings

Regardless of where you plan to plant cuttings for rooting, the soil must be prepared - dig, add humus, remove the root system of weeds, water the ground, sprinkle with a layer of washed sand and ash. You can buy ready-made soil for roses. Cuttings should be buried in the ground at a slight angle so that only one kidney is above the ground. Above each cutting, you need to build a greenhouse - you can use unpainted plastic bottles. Watering can be done through the hole in the lid. In open ground, be sure to darken from the midday sun. The timing of the emergence of the root system depends on the temperature of the soil. If the temperature is not lower than + 18ºС, then in a month full-fledged roots will appear on the handle, and a shoot will begin to sprout from the kidney. No need to rush to remove the bottles. The growth of the shoot does not mean that the root is well developed. The plant does not have enough strength to absorb moisture. The greenhouse will prevent it from evaporating. It should also be left for the winter and removed only next spring, but not abruptly, but gradually hardening the rose bush.

In the first year of life, the rose bush does not need to be allowed to bloom, it is necessary to cut off all the buds that form - in this case, the rose bush will grow quickly, strengthen and in a year will delight you with colorful flowering.

How to successfully grow roses from cuttings: all the secrets of rooting

Cuttings are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to propagate roses. If you haven't done it yet, now is the time to try it.

Anna Zalesskaya

Legion-Media.ru

In general, growing roses from cuttings is a simple process. Whenever you prune rose bushes or cut off dead flowers, changes occur in the removed stem that stimulate root formation. If you have a variety that grows and blooms well in the area, rooting cuttings is a great way to propagate shrubs around the garden. The resulting plant will exactly repeat the parent, and every year there will be more flowers. If you want variety, you can exchange cuttings with your neighbors.

Contents of the article

Cuttings of miniature, semi-climbing, climbing and polyanthus roses, as well as floribunda roses, take root best of all. It is more difficult to propagate hybrid tea by cuttings, since after rooting they develop very slowly, but you can also try. Moreover, this process is not only simple, but also very exciting.

What do you need for cuttings?

The best time for rose cuttings

Rose cuttings can be successfully rooted at any time, even in winter, but +20-25 degrees C weather is best, that is, during the entire summer season.

10 Steps to Growing Roses from Cuttings

#1 Water the day before pruning

Well-drained roses root better. If you are going to cut the cuttings, water the roses the day before cutting.

No. 2 Cut the cuttings

For cuttings, use one-year semi-lignified shoots as thick as a pencil: thin or old strong shoots will not work for rooting. Cut the stems just below the buds that are about to open, or better yet, the stems below the flowers that have already begun to shed their petals. Try to cut cuttings 10-20 cm long, with 3-5 internodes. (Those places where leaves are attached to the stem are called nodes, and the stem segments between them are called internodes). The bottom cut should be about 0.5 cm below the last internode, and the cut at the top should be about 0.5 cm higher.

Make the bottom cut at an angle and the top cut straight.

No. 3 Place the cuttings in water

After cutting, immediately place the cuttings in a container of water, away from direct sunlight. If the cutting needs to be stored for a while, wrap it in damp paper towels and place it in the refrigerator.

No. 4 Freshen the bottom cut of the cutting

The rooting process is part of the rose's reaction to the wound, to intensify it, you can cut off the green skin at the base of the cutting with a knife, and then repeat the procedure a couple more times. If the cutting has large spines, tearing them off the base also stimulates the process of root formation.

No. 5 Place the cuttings in the root former

If you use the root, apply it to the lower part of the cuttings, approximately 5 cm.