If you ever wondered, ‘How to grow roses from cuttings?’ I want to share with you my favorite and, in my opinion, the easiest method that I use to grow roses from cuttings at home. It is perfect for home gardeners who don’t have the time or equipment to maintain the proper humidity level needed to grow roses from cuttings successfully. This method describes how to easily propagate rose cuttings in water without using rooting hormone.
How to Root Rose Cuttings in Water: Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Gather the material for propagation.
To propagate rose cuttings in water, you need to collect branches that have just finished flowering, or even better, before they begin to flower. The ideal size is 6-8 inches in length and 1/8–1/4 inches in diameter. The cutting should have at least three buds (leaves). But ensure you have 6-8 inches of length between the bottom and the top buds. You can achieve even better results if you take a heel cutting.
When you cut the branch from the rose bush, make sure that you make the cut just above (approx. ¼ inch or 0.5 cm) the leaf.
If you collect the rose cuttings before the flowering, it will result in faster and more successful rooting. But I usually take the rose cuttings after flowering because I want to enjoy the flowers too. After all, when flowering is finished, you still need to “deadhead” the rose; therefore you don’t sacrifice any growth when you collect cuttings.
Propagating rose cuttings in water also allows you to use softwood cuttings and thick, ripe hardwood cuttings. Softwood cutting is a young, fresh growth that is still soft, and it usually has a reddish tint on its leaves and stems.
There are two main reasons why you may want to use softwood cuttings to propagate roses. First, if your roses are not very healthy, then you may try to propagate them from softwood. Since it is a new growth, it is usually still free from diseases like black spot and mildew. Second, if you live in a cold climate, it is recommended to cut all softwood before hard frost. Therefore, you have plenty of material for propagation that can’t be used with the traditional method of rose propagation in soil.
Thick, ripe hardwood cuttings are taken from the branches that grew in the previous year or earlier in the season and are usually not suitable for propagation. If, for some reason, it’s all that you have, you can try to propagate them in water, although it may take longer than usual.
Tips:
- Sterilize your pruners with rubbing alcohol before you collect rose cuttings and between each rose bush.
- Don’t let cuttings dry out. Take a polyethylene bag with little water on the bottom and place the cuttings in it immediately after you cut them, especially if you harvest softwood or take cuttings with hill.
- Try to avoid collecting cuttings in full sun. It is much better to do it in the morning or in the evening.
Step 2. Fill a glass jar with 1 inch of pure water. To propagate rose cuttings in water, avoid using chlorinated water. You can use bottled water or the water from a reverse-osmosis filter. Usually, I use different jars for each variety I am propagating. And I use a permanent marker to write the name of a rose on a jar. If you want to put different varieties of roses in the same jar, don’t forget to attach a label to each cutting before you place them in water.
Step 3. Prepare the rose cutting.
Make a bottom cut approximately 1/4 of an inch below the lowest bud. Measure 6-8 inches and make the top cut ¼ of an inch above the last bud. Make sure that a cutting has at least three buds (the bud is usually located above the leaf). Then, cut all but the last two leaves of the cutting. If leaves are too big, you can further reduce them.
Put the rose cutting into water as soon as you prepare it.
Step 4. Put the jar with the rose cuttings in a bright place but away from direct sunlight. Regularly check the water level and keep it between 1/2 and 1 inch. Never allow the water to dry out; otherwise, the cutting won’t survive.
You don’t have to change water often; just top it up. Some algae growth in your water is normal, but if there is too much algae, just replace the water.
After about 3-4 weeks, a callus will start to form on rose cuttings in water.
Step 5. Usually after 6-7 weeks roots will start to grow from the callus. Wait until they reach 1-1.5 inches and pot up the rose cutting in soil. Water well. You need to mist the cutting for a few days or put a plastic bag or jar on top of it to maintain high humidity.
If it is warm outside, you can put potted cuttings in a shady place and keep them well-watered. If it is cold, you can put it on a bright windowsill (away from direct sun) or under lights.
Wait until the rose cuttings start to grow and the new branches reach full maturity before planting out in the garden. Make sure that rose cuttings also have well-developed roots before planting them outside.
