Propagating roses from my garden

Roses are my garden favourite, and growing new plants from cuttings interested me right from the time my mom mentioned I should try it with my existing varieties. Starting with just three rose plants left by the previous owner of my house, I have successfully propagated loads new ones. Yeah it saves money but that's not the motivation tbh – sharing them with family and friends is a great feeling, especially when people say "you grew this from a cutting, yah?" Here’s what I do.

Three of these pots have healthy cuttings. The clipping on the right is the result of a very simple process

What I do with rose cuttings

You are supposed to start by selecting healthy stems from your plants. I just do my cutting back in October and then select any that I like the look of. I have no idea if they are healthy or not – I guess since there were growing before I cut them, they are at least alive. I would cut just below a leaf node, using my National Trust pruning shears. I do also remove the lower leaves, leaving only two or three leaves at the top. This reduces moisture loss and encourages root growth (apparently). I do know that a cutting with no leaves at all has taken root and grown into a decent rose.

They say to dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder or gel – I have never ever done this. This step is optional but can speed up root development. Use a well-draining potting mix, such as a blend of peat and perlite, to plant the cuttings in small pots. Or just dig up some soil from your garden (preferably from the same place you got the cutting from) and chuck the soil in a pot along with a couple of cuttings.

There are four cuttings in this pic, all doing very well after about 12 months in the soil

Growing in pots

"Place the pots in a bright area with indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sun, which can dry out the cuttings. Keep the soil moist but not soggy by watering gently when the top layer feels dry. Covering the pots with a clear plastic bag or a plastic dome creates a humid environment that helps the cuttings retain moisture." So this guidance is all best practice and the 1st time I ever read this was while writing this post. I do use the bottle greenhouse technique, though, by coincidence. You can see it in the above picture.

"Roots usually develop within 4 to 6 weeks" which is good if you are doing it at the end of the summer, which I generally do. "You can check by gently tugging on the cutting; resistance means roots have formed. Once the roots are strong, gradually acclimatise the plants to outdoor conditions by removing the plastic cover for longer periods each day." To be fair I raised at least four or five roses that were only ever in a pot and just watered occasionally. But what do I know?

This is a good example of how I just leave them alone to grow. The donor rose is centre left (thicker stems, etc)

Transplanting and sharing

"After the cuttings have established roots and grown sturdy," chuck "them into your garden. Choose a sunny spot" or don't bother "with well-draining soil" – my soil definitely drains well or not – who even knows? "Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, place the plant in, and fill with soil. Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots." A hole was dug and I can confirm water was added as well as the plant.

Since starting this hobby, I have planted more than five successful cuttings in my garden. I have given as many plants to family and neighbours, too. Watching these roses bloom in different places and knowing they were started by me, makes me feel pretty smug.

So the rose next to the gatepost produced this amazing cluster after 2 or 3 summers