Who doesn’t like a beautiful rose (like the twilight or ebb tide) bouquet? But sadly, they will stay with you only for a fleeting moment. You can obviously water the plant, but for how long? They will eventually wither away in a day or so. What if we tell you that you can cut one rose out and grow it all on your own, seems unusual, right??

But the true fact is that you can cut roses growing new leaves. Well, it is not as surprising as you think. However, you can do it to bloom roses easily. Here, we will guide you on cultivating roses all on your own without the help of a rosarian. Let’s know how to cut rose stems growing new leaves.

Complete Guide on Cut Roses Growing New Leaves

Basics of Rose Cuttings

Before we hop on cutting roses, you should understand what rose cuttings are. Cuttings are part of roses collected while they are maturing. For instance, softwood cutting is taken at an early stage of development, semi-hardwood cutting is taken at the mid-stage of development, and finally, hardwood cutting is taken at the final stage of development.

As for the time, late spring and early summer at the best times to take softwood cuttings. For semi-hardwood cutting, late summer, and early fall. And lastly, hardwood cutting can be done in the fall or early winter.

Step By Step Guide on Growing Leaves from Rose Cuttings

So, how to propagate the roses from stem cuttings? You have to follow several steps to cut rose stems to grow new leaves. For your easy understanding, we’ve discussed them in detail.

Step 1: Gather Essential Tools

To start the whole conversion from cutting to growing leaves, you first need to have a few tools and materials. 

Tools and materials you need for this process:

• Cut rose
• Rooting bed
• Pruning shears 
• Rooting hormone
• Potting mix for roses
• Wrapper or plastic bag

Now you know what you need to keep in your possession, let’s start the main tasks.

Step 2: Take The Cutting from A Rose

Start by taking at least 15 to 20 cm long (6-8 inches) healthy and new growth rose stems because you want to have a healthy base. Cut it at a 45° angle using the pruning shears like the Cedar tree cutting.

Image Source: gardentech.com

If you are planning to cultivate the roses from bushes by pruning, then it’s best to take the cuttings in the morning because, at that time, they stay the most hydrated. You can take it at some other time of the day, but you need to make sure that you immediately put the cuttings into the water to avoid drying out.

Step 3: Remove All Other Components of The Rose

A typical Rose stem has many leaves and buds. All the energy is equally used to promote their growth. So, you must remove these before planting them into the soil.

Just keep two or three leaves at the top and get rid of the others. This makes sure the energy is undivided between the flower components.

Step 4: Add Rooting Hormones

Although it’s not a hundred percent mandatory, adding rooting hormone will splurge the chances of the cut roses growing leaves. 

Dip the cutting into a container filled with rooting hormone. They usually come in either liquid/gel or powder form. Using a liquid or gel rooting hormone is best because the cuttings need to stick to the hormone compound. Add some water to the rooting hormone if it is in powder form. This makes the hormone moist.

Step 5: Prepare The Planting Spot

Fill the rooting bed with rose potting compost for about 6 inches. The potting mix is usually a mixture of sand and perlite.

Then create 3-4 inches deep holes in the compost using a pencil or stick and double-check if the holes are wide enough. Narrower gaps might rub off the rooting hormone while you are placing it.

Step 6: Place The Cuttings into The Compost or Soil

Now, gently insert the cuttings into the rooting bed and the soil around your cutting to make it stable. Keep the container well supplied with water, but do not make it too damp. 

Step 7: Cover the Cutting

You can cover them with plastic bags; this retains the moisture in the soil and keeps it hydrated. It also prevents any bugs or pests from destroying your efforts.

Step 8: Keep An Eye on The Growth

Observe the ground regularly. It usually takes between 2 to 3 weeks for the roots to develop. Meanwhile, you can check their growth by tugging the cuttings very gently. If they are not coming up, it means the roots are present. Once new leaves appear, you can transplant your cutting. 

There you go! Your cut roses growing leaves now! Follow these simple instructions and make the best out of your garden.

Alternative Method: How to Grow Leaves from Cutting Roses Using The ‘Water Method’?

Using the conventional method for cutting leaves means you need to go to the store to buy the equipment. That’s a hassle, right? Thus, you may be wondering, how to grow roses from cuttings without rooting hormone, you can consider using the water method instead.

It is a relatively simple method that requires a bit of attention. Prepare the stem by cutting it 15 cm a bit above the bud. Remove all the leaves; keep two lives at the top and submerge them in a half-filled container about 3-4 inches with lukewarm water.

Place the container in a spot where sunlight is available and ensure that the water level is not too low. Change the water once or twice a week, and if you notice it changing its color to brown or green or giving off a rotting smell, replace it entirely. By doing this, you can propagate rose stems sprouting in the water and get results within a few days.

FAQs on Cut Roses Growing New Leaves

When to propagate a rose by stem cuttings?

Actually, you can do it any time of the year. But, spring to summer (March to August) is the finest season for growing leaves on your cut roses because of their softwood cuttings. The stems are flexible and actively maturing during this time so that the growth can be super quick and super easy.

The semi-hardwood cuttings during late summer and early spring will be pleasant too. The stem will be partially developed by that time, so the branch will not be that hard.

However, getting hardwood cuttings might give you a hard time because the stem will become perfectly matured and dormant. As a result, the stems will get stiffer, making rooting more difficult.

How much does it cost to grow new leaves from cutting rose stems?

If you already have pruning shears, potting soil, and rotting hormones, you can do the project without spending any penny. But, if you don’t have these, you might spend almost $20 to buy them.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you can now cut roses growing new leaves easily. Simply the steps are cutting the flower and trimming the desired rose stems, removing leaves and buds from the stems leaving 2 to 3 leaves at the top, adding rooting hormones, setting the cuttings into the soil, covering it in a plastic bag, and finally observing until the sprout grows.

Whether you are a gardener or just a rose lover, don’t let the essence of a rose fade away so soon. Follow our guide and make your garden bloom with roses and happiness.