How to Grow Roses From Cuttings in Tennessee
- 1). Fill a 2-inch starter pot completely with a soil-less growing mix. Tap the bottom of the pot on a hard surface to settle the contents. Add more growing mix, if necessary, to bring the level to the top of the pot.
- 2). Set the starter pot into a larger container. Fill the larger container with water about halfway up the height of the starter pot.
- 3). Allow the water to soak into the soil-less growing mixture, until the surface appears moist but not soaked. Remove starter pots from the larger container and allow the excess water to drain away.
- 4). Poke holes in the center of each starter pot using the eraser end of a pencil. This will ensure the rooting hormone is not pushed off the cutting as you insert it into the growing medium.
- 5). Take rose cuttings from the end of a branch on which a rose has recently finished blooming, using the rose clippers. Make the cuttings at least 6 inches long, using a 45-degree cut when severing it from the plant. Remove the spent flower and all leaves except the top two sets.
- 6). Moisten the tip of the cutting by dipping it into water. Shake off excess.
- 7). Dip moistened end of cutting into rooting hormone. Blow off excess.
- 8). Insert cutting into prepared hole and firm growing medium around it so it stands up by itself.
- 9). Place the entire pot in a large plastic bag, but do not seal the end. Put the cutting and bag in a protected, shady spot until roots form in 6 to 8 weeks. Check occasionally and water as needed to keep the soil-less growing mixture evenly moist but not wet.
- 10
Check to determine whether roots have formed after six weeks by gently tugging on the end of the cutting. If it resists gentle pressure, roots have formed. Allow the cuttings to remain in the bag for two more weeks to increase the number of new roots. - 11
Plant the cutting in the garden in full sun and rich, fertile soil, approximately eight to 10 weeks after starting the cuttings, providing they have strong, vigorous root systems. Dig a small hole slightly deeper than the root ball with a garden trowel. Place 1 tsp. of granulated rose food in the bottom of the hole and cover it with 1 to 2 inches of soil. - 12
Fan out the roots so they are evenly spaced in the hole and there are no air pockets beneath them. Back-fill the hole with soil and gently firm it with your hands so the cutting stands up by itself. - 13
Water the new rose immediately after planting. Check the site daily and water as needed to keep it from drying out. - 14
Mulch the rose with hay or straw to completely cover it and protect it from freezing winter temperatures. Put the protective mulch down in late November to early December. Remove mulch in late February to early March, when warm spring temperatures are the daily norm.
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