Look for healthy stems on a well-established rose plant. Choose stems that are about the thickness of a pencil and have a few leaves on them.
Taking the cutting
- Using clean pruning shears, cut a stem at a 45-degree angle, just below a leaf node (where the leaf meets the stem).
- Remove any flowers or buds from the stem.
- Trim off any lower leaves, leaving only two or three sets of leaves at the top and remove any thorns on the bottom half.
Preparing the rooting medium
- Fill a small container with a well-draining soil mix or a mixture of perlite and peat moss.
- Dampen the soil mix but make sure it's not overly wet.
Planting the cutting
- Dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone powder or gel, or honey, to encourage root development.
- Make a hole in the rooting medium and gently insert the cutting about an inch deep.
- Firmly press the soil around the cutting so it doesn’t move around.
Caring for cuttings
- Place in a protected spot with filtered light, and water sparingly. You can mist the cutting regularly to maintain humidity and stop it from drying out.
- Keep the soil slightly moist, but not waterlogged. Water whenever the top 2cm of soil feels dry.
Within a few weeks, you should see new leaves emerging from the cutting! Exciting!
After about 6-8 weeks, gently tug on the cutting to check for resistance, which indicates root development.
Once the cutting has developed a healthy root system, it's ready to be transplanted into a larger pot or the garden. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil.
- Water the newly transplanted rose regularly, especially during dry spells.
- Mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Prune the rose plant in late winter or early spring to promote healthy growth.
Remember, growing roses from cuttings may take time and patience, but the results are worth it (and they also make great cost-effective pressies!)
And just a little reminder that July is the perfect time to prune your roses!
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