Planting rose bush cuttings: preparation and how to do it

The cuttings are stems or branches cut directly from the rosebush, which are planted so that they generate roots and produce new plants. For make cuttings of a rosel Any branch that is too old will not work for us, the ideal ones are semi-mature branches with a thickness between 6 mm and 10 mm. The ideal size of the branches is between 15 cm and 20 cm in length and that they have some bud.

The two best times to make the cuttings are in spring and autumn. If we choose to make the cuttings in spring, it is advisable to choose branches that have been growing during the previous year and that will have a year of life, since they will be more vigorous. If, on the other hand, we make the cuttings in autumn, we will choose branches from that same year and that look mature.

Advantages of reproducing a rose bush by cuttings

• It is a very cheap way to get new roses.
• It is the best way to obtain varieties of roses that are difficult to obtain in other ways.
• The plant generated from a cutting is genetically identical to the original, that is, it is a clone, so by producing them in this way we will be able to know the characteristics they will have.

Disadvantages of reproducing roses by cuttings

• The rose bushes produced in this way flower less profusely.
• They have less resistance to drought and excess water.
• They have less resistance to cold.
• Being more vulnerable to fungi.
• have a shorter half-life.

Once you have selected the most suitable branch or stem of the plant, follow these easy steps to prepare rose bush cuttings:

1. Cut the branch tip or top at a bevel, a slash or diagonal cut, just above a bud or shoot.
2. Cut the bottom of the branch horizontally.
3. Eliminate the leaves, which will prevent the perspiration of the branches and thus dry out.
4. You will also need to clean the branches, although the technique can be changed here. A part of the lower bark of the branch can be removed to improve root development, or you can make a cut on the branch to facilitate its capillarity and thus prevent it from drying out. Another option is to not modify the branch at all.
5. But a technique that should always be used is the use of growth hormones, since these increase the chances of success of the cuttings. So, finally, prepare your cuttings, along with the materials to plant them according to the method you choose, among which we will see below, and also the growth hormones.

There are several methods to reproduce rose bushes by cuttings. The traditional method is to use a pot with substrate, but there are other alternatives such as growing in hydroponics, using potatoes or using plastic bags. All these methods have in common that the cuttings must have a temperature between 18ºC and 21ºC, not receive direct sunlight and have high humidity.

Rose cuttings on potatoes

This method consists of preparing the cuttings in the usual way, but instead of putting them on stakes on the substrate, they are stuck in a potato. Although this system does not mean that we do not have to plant the cuttings in the substrate, it ensures constant humidity in the cutting and that it can take advantage of the nutrients of the potato. As soon as roots come out, it can be transplanted to the substrate or soil.

Rose cuttings in hydroponics

In this method, the pegs or cuttings of rose bushes are placed in water and, by means of a cut in the lower part, capillarity is facilitated. In addition, we will need special tubes, and a preparation of peat, vermiculite and perlite, so that they can easily absorb moisture. We must also use rooting hormones and maintain the right conditions, such as maintaining humidity, something that is not difficult with this method.

In this other EcologíaVerde article we show you how to make a homemade hydroponic crop.

Rose cuttings in substrate

This is the traditional method of multiplication of the rosebush by cuttings. It consists of preparing a pot with a substrate rich in peat and placing the cuttings. You can use a specific substrate for cuttings. The correct thing is to wet the substrate a little and use rooting agent before placing the stake. If it is excessively hot, the pot can be covered to prevent excessive perspiration and watered regularly. You can also plant the stake directly in the garden, but in a shady spot.

Cuttings in substrate and with plastic bags

This is a variant of the traditional method, where instead of using pots, we use plastic bags, so that we create a kind of mini-greenhouse.

Once the cuttings have rooted and have the first leaves, we can transfer them to a larger pot or to the garden. This multiplication technique offers good results, as it prevents excessive perspiration.

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