Reproduce and Grow Roses From Cuttings

Despite their reputation for being finicky, most roses are simple to grow and easy to propagate at home. “Propagate" simply means to reproduce a plant easily from a simple cutting. Unlike seeds, which produce very different plants, rooted cuttings produce replicas of their parent. You don't have to be a trained rosarian to reproduce treasured family heirlooms or favorite garden roses.

Understanding Rose Cuttings

Cuttings are simply pieces of rose stems taken at different stages of maturity. Some plants are very particular about what type of cutting will root, but roses are fairly flexible. Rose cuttings can be taken from the current year's new stems at three main growth stages:

• Softwood cuttings, the fastest and easiest to root, are taken in late spring and early summer, when flexible new stems are just beginning to mature. Prime softwood cuttings come from pencil-size stems below rose blooms that have dropped their petals.
• Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken in late summer and early fall, when new stems have partially matured. By this time, the firm stems may have rosehips forming where blooms appeared before.
• Hardwood cuttings, the slowest and most difficult to root, are taken in late fall or early winter, when the year's new stems have matured, hardened and entered dormancy.

You can improve your success at any growth stage by treating cuttings with rooting hormone to stimulate root development and encourage growth. GardenTech® RootBoost™ Rooting Hormone helps grow new plants from cuttings fast on roses and other favorite plants like African violets, philodendrons, gardenias, coleus, hydrangeas and more.

Prepping Planting Spots

Working with softwood cuttings allows some flexibility in how and where you place them to root and grow. However, cuttings should be planted right after they're taken, so prepare your spot in advance. You can stick softwood cuttings straight into a prepared corner of your outdoor garden space or plant them in containers or deep trays instead.

To plant in a garden, choose a spot with bright but indirect light, so cuttings won't be stressed by too much sun or heat. Northern and eastern exposures are perfect rooting spots. Cultivate the soil in your new propagation bed about 4 to 6 inches deep, so it crumbles easily. If your soil is heavy, incorporate a small amount of sand, so that new roots can penetrate without much effort.

To start your cuttings in a tray or container, plant at least 6 inches deep, so new roots have plenty of growing room. A simple “soil" mix of equal parts coarse sand and perlite or vermiculite works well. Water the mix thoroughly once you're through.