Rooting Roses

Anyone that knows me well,knows that I have an infatuation with flowers. I love flowers!!!!! However, I don't like the price it costs to buy them. So I thought, why not start rooting my own.

 I started last year doing just that. I would see roses running wild along the roads,or in family members yards, I also had a few in my yard, and I had roses given to me in vases as gifts(yes you can root them too). So I started taking little snips off of them and I started making my own new plants. Now, I have tons more roses then I did have. So I thought I'd share my secret with you.

Here is how I root roses.

You can also root many other perennials,bushes, trees,etc.

1.I started with roses kinda like the ones below.

2. I took a little snip about an inch or two long off of my rose bush.

Some say the new growth from this year works best, but I've had luck with old and new...

so I'm not so sure it really matters.

3. I usually clip a piece that has at least a couple of leaves, but not to many leaves...

kinda like what you see in these pics. Take each clipping and pull off all the bottom leaves but leave the top ones(like I did in the pic). Then at the bottom of the clipping (below the leaves) slightly scrape the stem to remove the hard outside layer...this is where the roots will form. This will also be the part that will be planted under the soil.

4.Then I take a quart or gallon sized ziplock bag and I fill it about 1/3 to 1/2 full with

potting soil. Then I stick the little clippings down into the soil. I usually only put about 3-4 clippings in each bag ,because it's hard to separate them if you add to many. Don't cover the leaves with dirt. Just stick it in until you are just below the leaves. Leaves that get under the soil will just rot.

5.Once you get them planted take your hands and mash the outside of the bag so that the soil will be tight around the clipping. Then drop in a few drops of water. You only need a few drops, because the bag will create it's on moisture...like in picture below.

6. Once you have done all of the above, take the zip lock bag and zip it about 3/4 of the way. Then where it's not zipped, blow air into the bag to inflate it...like in the picture above. Then zip it up ,with the air inside.

7.Now label your bag and place it outside somewhere( not in direct sunlight,

but also not in a dark shaded area). I usually place my on my porch. After a few weeks, you should see roots growing at the bottom of the bag. After you see that the roots have gotten pretty established, then you can unzip the bag and separate the little plants and transfer them to your garden.

If by chance the bag gets flipped over or unzipped,just redo the steps above.

Best wishes!