How to Take Rose Cuttings for Free Roses for Your Garden, by Liz Zorab Gardening on YouTube. 13 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a healthy, disease-free rose bush and choose a strong stem that has just finished flowering. Avoid thin, weak or damaged shoots.
Cut a stem about 20 to 30 cm long with sharp secateurs. Make the cut just below a leaf joint and clean the blades first.
Trim the cutting to around 15 cm. Remove the lower leaves and any soft tip so only two or three leaves remain at the top.
Fill a small pot with free-draining compost. Push the bottom third of the cutting into the compost so it stands upright.
Water the pot well and let it drain. Keep the compost damp but not soaked from now on.
Place the pot in a sheltered, bright spot out of harsh midday sun, such as a cold frame or a shaded corner.
Leave the cutting to root over the coming months. Tug it gently after about 8 to 10 weeks to feel for resistance from new roots.
Once roots hold the cutting firm, pot it on into a larger container and grow it on before planting it out in the garden.
Tips and common mistakes
Take several cuttings rather than one, since not every cutting will root.
Use clean, sharp secateurs to make a tidy cut and reduce the risk of disease.
Do not let the compost dry out, but never leave the pot standing in water.
Label the pot with the rose name and the date so you remember what you planted.
Questions
When is the best time to take rose cuttings?
Late summer to early autumn works well, when stems are firm after flowering. Soft spring growth is more likely to wilt.
How long do rose cuttings take to root?
Expect roots in roughly 8 to 12 weeks. Check gently by tugging the stem rather than pulling it out of the pot.
Do I need rooting hormone?
It can help but is not essential. Free-draining compost, steady moisture and a sheltered spot are the main things.
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.
