Basic Materials |
| Container with
good drainage. *Sand *Perlite *Light-weight potting mix Rose
Cutting(s). (*Enough to fill container with 1 2 - 2 inch. layers.) |
Choosing the Container(s) |
First you need
to select a container. The important thing is to make sure it has good drainage.
Since you will have a bottom layer of sand, then a middle layer of perlite, then a top
layer of a good light-weight loose garden soil. All products that can be purchased at any
garden center.
|
Laying the Bed |
| Spread a good layer of sand in
the bottom of your container, about 1 -2 inches deep. The purpose of this sand is to
provide something firm for the cutting. The next layer is made up of perlite, about an inch and a
half deep. What perlite provides for the rooting box is a layer with pore spaces that the
air can penetrate. Air is very important for a developing root system. The perlite also
provides good drainage.
Finish off your rooting box with a
1-2 inch layer of good lightweight potting soil mix. It doesn't have to be a soilless
mixture, but a soilless mixture will work fine. This layer helps retain moisture and
provides a base layer where there are nutrients.
|
Preparing the Cutting |
| Now the container is ready and
it's time to prepare the cutting. What you look for in a cutting is first the correct
width of the stem -- the stem should be about the size of a pencil. It should not be old
wood or the very new wood; it should be that in-between wood. You can feel the difference. Look for a piece that has remnants of old flowers on
it. This will ensure you get a cutting that will flower for you. It's also very important
for the rooting process that you remove the old flowers, because they will sap away
strength from the cutting process. |
Planting |
| When you've removed the
flowers, it's time to prepare the bottom end of the cutting. The first thing to do is look
for the leaf node. This is where the roots originate. The node is where the leaf
is
attached. Make your cut about a quarter of an inch below the leaf node at a 45 degree
angle. Next, remove the lower
leaves from the stem. They can be a source of disease if they're left on when the stem is
in the soil. Leave at least one set of leaves at the top. (Optional dip the stem end into
a rooting hormone.) Insert the stem into your container until you feel it hitting the
sand. |
| The
last Step: Growing |
| Put your
rooting container in a shady spot and keep it moist but not soggy. After five or six
weeks, you should have some roots growing from that cut. Hopefully you'll get a root
system with long white root hairs. At this time it's still too immature to go outdoors. Place the
plant into a larger container 6 inches or more and grow it (Sunny location) until you see
roots coming out of the base. That's the sign that it's safe to be planted in the rose
garden. A Sunny location (6 hrs of sun light) with good drainage. |
The whole process can take from five to six months. |