Growing roses from cuttings?

[dugaresa]

I bought roses at the local greenhouse for arrangements, it was a sale and I got loads of them. One of them was a gorgeous orange like rose. When I was tossing the flowers out after having enjoyed them, I noticed one rose stem had new shoots growing.

So this is what I have done, I cut that long stem into 3 portions, got my little peat pots and using rooting hormone figured I may be able to get 1 or perhaps 3 roses from the stem.

All three are okay so far but I keep reading on the internet about how I should be heating them from underneath. I have been putting them on a dish. Then about 3 times a day I heat water and I put it in a pie plate and then float the dish with the cuttings overtop of it so as not to harm them or overheat them.

So I have noticed that the leaves on each of the three are still growing, and filling out.

I have never done this before and the cuttings I made were only about 3" long each. Am I out of my mind?

Should I get one of those heating mats?

[beac]

1. Garden Web has a "Rose Propagation" area in its Rose Forum.

I did some looking around and this post looks like it might be helpful:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosespro/msg0615324424364.html?15


I'll be interested to hear how you do. :hi:

[dugaresa]

2. only one left but it is growing more leaves, however reading gardenweb

i am not sure if that is good or bad as it could have root rot and the leaves haven't gotten the message yet. If I start to see a stem grow and it seems like it may be happening then perhaps it has worked.

[dugaresa]

3. lesson learned - all died

just not enough life in the stems, was worth the try though.

[beac]

4. Aw, too bad.

But maybe you've picked up some good hints for the next time the rose sale comes around. :)

I do think it's always worth trying. I've been amazed at how many things will grow from just a cutting stuck in potting soil or water. I even got a tomato plant just by cutting off a long stem and sticking it in a pot. Too late to get any actual tomatoes this year (though it is making flowers), but I can't wait to try this a little earlier next year.

Next project is trying to "overwinter" that little cutting tomato indoors (again, with tips from Garden Web.) Should be interesting.

[WhiteTara]

5. the cuttings need to be around the joint

that's where it puts out roots. Good luck next time.