How to Root a Branch From a Rose Bush
- 1). Take cuttings in cooler weather, preferably in late fall or from the months of November through February, to identify the rose bushes by the few remaining blossoms.
- 2). Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut 6- to 8-inch long branches from the parent rose bush plant where it bloomed recently. You want the branch or cutting to have at least five to six bumps or "eyes." Make the cut at a 45-degree angle.
- 3). Place the cuttings in a container such as a plastic bag with a just a little water or in an ice chest with ice during hot weather. You can store your cuttings in this way for a few days if you need to.
- 4). Choose the area where you want to stick the cuttings. Although roses thrive in sunny locations, select a place where the cuttings do not receive direct sunlight but still get bright light. For instance, choose a flower bed facing north or east against your house, adding one-fourth to one-third peat moss to sandy soil.
- 5). Remove all leaves from the bottom half of the cuttings but keep the leaves on the top portion.
- 6). Make holes in the soil about half the length of each cutting using a wooden pencil. Place each cutting into its hole in rows 6 to 8 inches apart. Firmly but carefully pack the soil around each planted cutting, and water deeply.
- 7). Create a label for each row with a permanent marker and paper, writing the rose variety or the original cutting location and the date when you planted the cuttings.
- 8). Water your cuttings every other day unless it rains, so they will not dry out.
- 9). Let your cuttings develop roots and leave them undisturbed for one year. Since you started taking cuttings in the late fall and winter, leave them until the following winter. This allows your cuttings to develop a strong root system and prevents stress to your plants.
- 10
Move your young rose plants to a permanent location in areas where they can receive a half day of sunlight or more. By the following spring, you will have a successful growth of plants with an abundance of flowers.
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