November is a good time to take cuttings from your roses if you want to grow more plants next year. A cutting is a small piece of a rose stem that can grow into a whole new bush. It’s a fun way to share your favorite roses with friends or expand your garden.
To take a cutting, choose a healthy stem that is not too young and not too old. It should be about the thickness of a pencil and have a few sets of leaves. Cut a piece about six inches long with clean, sharp pruners. Make sure to cut just below the little red bud on the stem. Those little red buds are usually where you leaves come from. If you remove a stem of leaves, you will know what you are looking for as you will see a little bud emerging just above the stem you just removed. You will want to cut just below that.
Next, gently remove the bottom leaves and dip the cut end into rooting powder if you have it. This helps the cutting grow roots more easily. Then, place the cutting in a pot with moist soil or sand. Some people use a clear plastic bag to make a little greenhouse to keep the air humid.
Keep the pot in a cool, bright place, but out of direct sunlight. Check the soil to make sure it stays damp but not soggy. After a few weeks, you may see new growth, which means roots are beginning to form!
If your cuttings take root, you can plant them in your garden in spring. Until then, keep them protected in a frost-free place. Some people store them in cold frames or unheated garages with windows.
Taking rose cuttings is like planting a memory. You get to grow a new rose from one you already love, and that’s something special.
Before growing roses from seeds, it’s important to know that some roses are protected by patents. These may include plant patents or utility patents. A utility patent protects how a plant is made, including the special steps or ingredients used to create a new kind of rose. If a rose has a utility patent, it is against the law to grow, sell, or share plants or seeds from it without permission. Always check if a rose is patented before planting or sharing it.