How to Propagate Roses? Introduction to Several Common Propagation Methods
How do you propagate roses? If you also want to know the answer to this question, take a look at the introduction below!
How to Propagate Roses
Roses can be propagated from seed, but artificially cultivated roses mostly have no seeds, so roses are mostly propagated by cuttings. Cutting propagation is simple to perform and extremely easy to root, and after cutting, they can bloom in the same year, so it is extremely widely used. However, rare varieties are harder to root from cuttings, so layering or grafting can be used for propagation. The cutting propagation method for roses is as follows:
For cutting propagation, the cutting pot is best a new shallow clay pot with a 20 cm diameter, because it has good air permeability and is easy to root in. A growing medium made by mixing 20% humus garden soil, 40% horse manure crumbs, and 40% river sand can be used as the substrate.
The best times for cuttings are spring (May) and autumn (October), when the temperature is between 20-25°C, which is most suitable for cuttings.
When taking cuttings, select healthy shoots of the current year that are semi-lignified as the cuttings, use very sharp scissors or a knife; cut 6-10 cm with a node, the cut must be smooth and neat, remove the lower leaves, and keep only 3-4 small leaves at the top. Buy 1 ampoule of vitamin B12 injection, open it, dip the cutting in the liquid, take it out and let it dry for a while, then it can be inserted for cutting.
Before inserting, use a spray bottle the day before to spray the growing soil in the pot moist, but do not spray too much; by the next day it will be just moist, which is most suitable for cuttings. The insertion depth is 3-4 cm. When inserting, first use chopsticks to poke a hole in the soil, then insert the cutting, press the soil firm with your hands so that the pot soil and the cutting are fully in contact, and then water thoroughly once.
After inserting, the flower pot is best covered with a plastic bag, with the bag opening tied shut with a string; open it when watering is needed, and tie it shut again after watering thoroughly. The pot that has been cut should be placed in a place without direct sunlight. The pot soil for the cuttings should be sprayed with water every day for 10 days; except on rainy days, spray once on cloudy days, and spray twice when the climate is dry, but the amount of water sprayed each day should not be too much. After 10 days, still frequently pay attention to keeping the soil moist. Within 4-5 weeks, shade should be provided, and only after sprouting can they gradually be given some sunlight. Generally it takes about 2 months to root. After that, only normal care is needed.
Cultivation and Management of Roses
1. Fertilization management: Roses like fertilizer and also tolerate poor soil. In March, apply 1 to 2 times a liquid fertilizer mainly of nitrogen to promote the growth of branches and leaves; in April to May, apply 2 to 3 times a fertilizer mainly of phosphorus and potassium to promote more flower buds and more blooming; after flowering, apply one rejuvenation fertilizer and then no more fertilizer is needed. Roses are sun-loving flowers, like warmth, and also tolerate cold; in North China and areas to its south, they can overwinter safely outdoors.
2. Watering management: Roses like moisture but fear wetness and are averse to waterlogging. From sprouting to before flowering, water can be given a little more, to the degree that the soil is moist but not waterlogged; after flowering, do not water too much, and the soil should alternate between dry and moist; in the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging.
3. Pruning and trimming: Roses have strong sprouting ability and grow luxuriantly. If not pruned in time, under conditions of muggy heat, humidity, insufficient light, and poor ventilation, they are prone to pests and diseases, so pruning should be done once after flowering. When pruning, you can select healthy semi-lignified branches of the current year for cuttings, place them in half shade, and after they survive, transplant and set them out in the following spring; you can also, in early spring before sprouting, cut off the rooted suckers from the base and plant them separately.