Wild roses are usually propagated by the abundant seeds or multiply themselves by the constantly sprouting root shoots. Cultivated roses, on the other hand - especially climbing, bed and shrub roses, but also hybrid tea roses - can often be propagated from cuttings with little effort. The following article explains how this works and what you need to watch out for.
August is the best month to take cuttings
Propagating roses from cuttings
At least half-ripe rose shoots that have just faded and are between 15 and 20 centimeters long and have at least four eyes are suitable as cuttings. These are ideally cut in August and planted immediately.
- Hold the cutting point - from which the roots will later sprout - at a slight angle.
- This makes it easier for the cutting to absorb water.
- Remove all leaves and side shoots except for the top pair of leaves.
- All remains of flowers should also be cut away.
- Furthermore, existing spines are to be removed.
- Fill a sufficiently large and above all deep pot with potting soil.
- Alternatively, you can also use slightly sandy garden soil.
- Plant the cuttings there in such a way that only the upper half with the pair of leaves is sticking out.
- Now water the cuttings thoroughly
- and finally put a halved plastic bottle or a mason jar over it.
- This serves as a mini greenhouse.
- Don't forget to ventilate daily
- and, above all, to always keep the cutting well moist.
- However, waterlogging should not occur.
Place the planted pot in a partially shaded spot in the garden that is not too hot. If all goes well, the cutting will sprout within a few weeks. Incidentally, you should always plant two more shoots than planned when propagating cuttings, as experience has shown that only a third of the rose cuttings will sprout.
Cut sticks in winter
Instead of half-ripe cuttings, you can also cut well-ripened cuttings in winter and store them, completely deprived of their side shoots and spines, in a dark and cool place and wrapped in a damp cloth. Sticks are planted directly in the garden in early spring (preferably in a cold frame or similar first), but can also be cultivated in a bucket first.
tips
When propagating roses, make sure not to propagate any protected plants. If you do so, you are committing copyright infringement, which may result in both criminal and civil penalties.