How to Grow Roses from Cuttings with Aloe Vera: Does the 10M View Trick Work?, by Margaret Sage | Garden Tips on YouTube. 1 min 9 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 9 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose a healthy stem from this year's growth, about as thick as a pencil. Take it between mid-autumn and late winter, when the bush is dormant.
Cut the stem 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) long with clean, sharp secateurs. Cut straight across just above a bud at the top and slant the bottom cut.
Strip off the lower leaves and any soft tip so only the firm, woody part of the stem is left. Wear gloves if the rose has thorns.
Fill a pot with gritty compost or garden soil and mix a little sand into the base. The sand helps water drain away from the buried end.
Push the cutting into the pot so two-thirds of it sits underground and one-third shows above the surface. Firm the soil around the stem.
Water it in and write the rose name and the date on a label. Skip the aloe vera leaf, which rots in damp soil and is not needed.
Stand the pot in a sheltered spot outdoors. Keep the soil damp but not soaked and leave the cutting alone until next autumn.
Lift the cutting next autumn, once it has roots, and pot it on or plant it in its final spot.
Tips and common mistakes
A little aloe gel on the cut end may help against rot, but the whole leaf has no place in damp soil.
Do not tug at the cutting to check for roots, because new roots break easily.
Label every pot, since bare cuttings of different roses look the same.
Use sharp, clean secateurs and cut away from your body so you do not slip.
Questions
Does the aloe vera leaf trick work?
No. The aloe leaf rots in damp soil, and the rose cutting roots by itself anyway. Aloe gel may fight rot a little, but you do not need the leaf.
How long do rose cuttings take to root?
Hardwood cuttings taken in autumn or winter usually root over the following spring and summer. Leave them until next autumn before you move them.
Can I take rose cuttings in summer?
This method is for dormant hardwood stems from mid-autumn to late winter. Soft summer cuttings need different care and dry out easily.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
