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When to Perform Rose Propagation |
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Written by Chad Cook
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Thursday, 11 January 2007 |
Don't Be Late - Propagate: When to Perform Rose Propagation
As a beginning rose gardener, you may have heard the term rose propagation, but not really known what was meant by it. Propagation is the term used for reproduction in gardener's terms, and you can propagate roses either by seed or by taking a cutting from your existing rose plant.
Rose propagation has a long and rich history. Nothing much has changed in terms of rose propagation since the early 1800's when American settlers took rose stems with them into the west. You may even recall your mother or grandmother placing a cane from a rose in the ground, then covering it with a plastic jar to encourage growth.
Using a cutting is a much more common method. Commercial growers and horticulturalists do grow new rose bushes from seeds, but with a seed you are not sure of getting an exact replica of the original rose bush. The pollen that was used to fertilize the flower might not have emanated from that flower so the seeds could be a combination of two plants. When a cutting is taken directly from your rose bush, you are sure to get an exact duplicate of the original.
Rose propagation is actually quite easy. All that is necessary, is to ensure that your cuttings have a safe, slightly damp, and humid environment so the roots have time to develop. It is natural for any part of the plant to attempt to establish its own root system in order to stay alive, but it is only with your help that this can happen at all.
The best time to propagate is in the spring. At this time of year the weather is cool and the plants are especially vigorous after a long winter's slumber.
When choosing a shoot, you should look for a young one. Mature stems will not grow as well as young, tender ones. You want to select a cane that does not have a bud on it yet. Using a knife, cut off a piece of the shoot that is approximately 6 inches long. Remove the leaves at the bottom of the cane, but leave the ones near the top. These leaves will provide the necessary food and hormones while the roots establish themselves. In a clear area of your garden, free of weeds and other plants plant the shoot in a couple of inches of soil. It is best to plant the shoot immediately in the permanent place that you have planned for your new rose bush, to save the stress of transplanting later. Before placing the cutting in the hole, you can lightly score one side and dip it in compost, in order to encourage root growth.
Water the shoot before covering it with some kind of plastic or glass container. This will not only keep the temperature high, but it will retain moisture so that the shoots will grow better. You do need to think about which container might work best. You want your new cutting to be exposed to sunlight, but if there is too much sun shining directly on the new cutting, it can become overheated. To avoid this happening you might plant your cutting in an area where there is partial shade. Check your shoot often, to be sure that it is moist enough. If the ground feels dry, then you need to water. You can remove the glass or plastic container if temperatures reach at least 75 degrees, but be sure to re-cover the plant at night when the temperature drops back down.
Don't expect to see results immediately. The plant may appear dormant, but all of the activity is happening under the surface at this point. Your new rose bush requires some time to develop roots to support it. You should see some growth after two or three weeks.
Try not to be discouraged if at first you don't succeed,- just give it another try. Many inexperienced growers can have a hard time propagating. The success rate for new cuttings is very low, but you can increase your chances of success by planting several cuttings at a time. If you're lucky and they all develop, you can transplant some of the clippings or offer them to some other garden enthusiasts who will be sure to appreciate them.
And just to keep you on the right side of the law: While many gardeners practise propagation, it is actually against the law to reproduce a hybrid plant that has been patented. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 20 August 2007 )
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