It's easy to propagate, or reproduce, roses from cuttings. Gregg Lowery, owner of Vintage Gardens in Sebastopol, California, explains how. Use a bagged potting mix, and fill a 1-gallon can about one-quarter full of the soil. Mix in some perlite, a volcanic material that helps soil drain and loosens the texture. Always dampen perlite before mixing it with soil. Water the soil mix well. Next, take a cutting from a rose. Make several cuttings to ensure the chances of success. Choose a stem that is blooming or has a bud on it. With sharp, clean pruning shears, cut an 8" piece of stem with three leaves attached. Remove the blossom just above the top leaf (figure A).
Now strip off the bottom leaf. Cut the bottom of the stem 1/16" below the leaf joint (where the bottom leaf was attached). This cut is crucial to successful propagation (figure B).
Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, available at garden centers. Make several holes in the potting mix, using a pencil or a chopstick. Slide the cutting into the hole, and gently firm the soil around it to eliminate any air pockets. Water again to settle the soil around the cutting. Finally, create a miniature greenhouse by placing some bamboo stakes in the pot and covering it with a plastic bag (figure C).
Make sure the cutting is kept moist; check every day if necessary. It may take several months for your rose to take root, but eventually you'll have a new rose plant!
RESOURCES :
Vintage Gardens Antique Roses
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