3 Secrets to Propagate Roses 🌹 Successfully Easy Rose Cutting Tutorial for Beginners, by Love and Lettuce on YouTube. 2 min 18 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 18 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a healthy, disease-free stem from this year's growth. Choose a softwood stem that bends slightly but does not snap. Take cuttings in the morning when the plant is well watered.
Cut a stem about 15 to 20 cm long just below a leaf node. Make the cut at an angle with clean, sharp pruners. Remove the soft tip above the top node.
Strip off the lower leaves so only two or three leaves remain at the top. Cut any large remaining leaves in half to reduce water loss.
Dip the bottom cut end in rooting hormone powder or gel if you have it. Tap off the excess so the stem is lightly coated, not caked.
Fill a small pot with a light rooting mix and water it well. Poke a hole with a pencil and push the cutting in so two nodes sit below the soil. Firm the mix around the stem.
Cut the bottom off a clear plastic bottle and keep the cap off. Place the bottle over the cutting like a dome to trap humidity and make a mini greenhouse.
Set the pot in bright, indirect light and keep it out of harsh midday sun. Check the mix every few days and mist or water when the surface starts to dry.
Watch for new growth in about 4 to 8 weeks. Tug the stem gently to feel for roots, then remove the bottle for a few hours a day to harden the plant off.
Tips and common mistakes
The most common failure is rot from too much moisture, so keep the mix damp but never soggy and leave the bottle cap off for airflow.
Use clean, sharp tools and wipe them with rubbing alcohol between cuts to avoid spreading disease.
Keep the cutting out of direct sun under the bottle or it will cook and wilt.
Do not pull on the cutting to test roots, since gentle tugging is enough and pulling can break new roots.
Questions
When is the best time to take rose cuttings?
Softwood cuttings root best in late spring to early summer, when this year's stems are flexible but not fully woody. Morning is a good time because the plant is full of water.
Do I need rooting hormone?
It helps but is not essential. A clean cut, a humid mini greenhouse and a light mix can root cuttings on their own, though hormone usually speeds things up.
How long until the cutting roots?
Expect roots in roughly 4 to 8 weeks. New top growth is a good sign, but wait until you feel resistance when you gently tug the stem before potting it on.
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.
