How to transplant and pot up a rose after air layering propagation

Many flowering plants can be propagated by air layering to produce small potted seedlings, and for roses, this method can also be used. Once roots appear at the base of the rose stem from air layering, we can cut it off from the mother plant and then transplant it into a pot to establish it. So, how do you transplant and pot up an air-layered rose?

First, we cut open the wrapping at the base of the cut-off air-layered seedling and remove the wrapping material. Then trim the bottom of the stem a bit shorter to make potting easier, but be careful not to trim it too short; be sure to leave a small section. Then make a slanted cut on the overly long branches at the bottom, which increases the water-absorbing surface and lets the air-layered seedling's roots grow a little faster.

Next, use a gallon pot to hold it, make a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, then cover with a layer of soil, and at the same time mix in some base fertilizer. After all, the air-layered seedling is now in its root-growing stage, so we can put in 20-30 granules of compound fertilizer as base fertilizer. After that, cover with another layer of soil to a certain depth.

Then place the air-layered seedling into the pot, hold it upright with one hand, and add potting soil with the other hand, taking care to adjust the planting depth of the plant. Continue until the soil fills to near the rim of the pot, then gently press down the surface soil a little.

After potting is complete, water it thoroughly once as the settling-in water. Original However, to encourage the plant to sprout roots better and quickly settle in and resume normal growth, it is usually recommended to drip a few drops of rooting liquid into the water when watering. No need for too much, just a few drops. And for future waterings, you can also decide based on the specific rooting situation whether to continue adding rooting liquid as appropriate. After stirring the solution evenly, simply pour it directly into the pot.

After the pot has been thoroughly watered, the next step is the acclimatization period. Of course, the length of the acclimatization period is not fixed; in short, once the plant has settled in and resumed growth, we can graft it. Because after the plant resumes growth, its root system has basically grown fairly well, and grafting at that point is usually more reliable.

Finally, let me also talk about the potting soil preparation. Generally, take half nutrient soil and half garden soil, mix and stir them together before use. Potting soil mixed this way has better water retention and also good permeability, which is very beneficial for the rooting and growth of air-layered roses.