Roses seem to be part of the universal love language. After all, theyre given on special holidays celebrating love such as Valentines Day. It doesn’t matter what the reason is for having roses around—the smell, beauty, and color seem to make people feel better. If you agree with everything I said, you might have thought about trying to grow your own rose patch or, even better, making the one you already have bigger. If so, planting your new rose varieties in the ground this spring might be easier than you think. You can try to grow roses from your own cuttings instead of buying seeds from the store. Aloe vera can help you spread the roses. Advertisement.
It might sound strange, but aloe vera is a great rooting hormone and it works pretty well. When cuttings are establishing, the gel from inside the plant contains enzymes that speed up growth and keep the cuttings safe from fungal and bacterial infections. To try this method of plant propagation at home, you will need some basic things, like healthy rose stems, aloe vera, soil that drains well, and small planting pots.
Roses hold an eternal allure – their graceful blooms and heady fragrance enchant gardeners worldwide. While buying potted roses is always an option, starting roses from cuttings allows you to expand your rose garden for free. Combining cuttings with aloe vera creates the ideal environment for roots to flourish. Let’s walk through this easy, homemade technique to grow gorgeous roses.
Gather Your Supplies
Rooting rose cuttings in aloe vera requires just a few simple supplies:
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Rose trimmings – Select 6-8 inch stem cuttings from established rose bushes. Use a sharp, sterile pruner to clip just below a leaf node. Trimming first thing in the morning maximizes sap flow.
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Aloe vera leaves – Ask friends or visit farmers’ markets to get fresh, homegrown aloe leaves Only use healthy, pest-free leaves from the lower half of the plant
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Small pots and potting mix – Terracotta or plastic pots with drainage holes work well. Use a standard organic potting soil.
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Clear plastic bags – Resealable sandwich bags create a perfect humid greenhouse for the new cuttings.
Prepare the Aloe and Cuttings
With supplies in hand, it’s time to prep the aloe and rose cuttings. Follow these steps:
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Trim aloe leaves to around 4-5 inches long. Carefully slice the leaves lengthwise to expose the clear inner gel.
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Cut the stem ends of the rose trimmings at an angle to expose more surface area. Remove all leaves except 2-3 at the top.
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Optional: Dip the cut ends of the rose stems in rooting hormone powder to spur faster root growth.
Plant Cuttings in Aloe and Soil
Now we’ll plant the rose cuttings in aloe sleeves inside the soil:
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Partially fill pots with soil, leaving 1-2 inches from the rim. Lightly water the soil.
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Slide the angled end of each rose cutting into an aloe leaf strip, with about 1⁄2 inch of stem exposed.
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Plant the rose stem + aloe combo into the potting soil. The aloe acts as a protective sleeve around the stem.
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Water gently again after planting to settle the soil.
Create a Humid Greenhouse
Roses need high humidity as they put out new roots. Recreate greenhouse conditions with these easy steps:
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Place planted pots in plastic bags, sealing the tops closed. This traps moisture inside.
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Inflate the bags with your breath before sealing to provide extra CO2 for photosynthesis.
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Place the bagged pots in bright indirect sunlight or under grow lights.
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Mist the insides of the bags with water every few days to maintain 100% humidity.
Watch Your Cuttings Take Root!
Now comes the fun part – watching your cuttings grow! Here’s what to expect:
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Leaves may wilt at first but will perk up in about a week as roots establish.
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New red or green leaves will emerge within 1-2 months as the cutting thrives.
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Check for strong root systems after 8-12 weeks. Then transplant into the garden or larger pots.
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First blooms can arrive the following year. Be patient – the wait is worth it!
Starting roses from cuttings is incredibly rewarding. Combining the cuttings with aloe vera boosts hydration and prevents disease while speeding up rooting. Follow this simple guide, and you’ll add beautiful new rose bushes to enjoy for years to come.
Prepare rose stems for propagation
There are many rose varieties that will make your garden smell heavenly. Once you’ve picked the one you want to grow more of, cut the stems right after the flowers die back in early spring or summer. Around this time the cuttings are more likely to root. When deciding which stems to cut, pick the ones that are bendy and flexible and have three to five leaf nodes. The stems should also have the same thickness as a pencil. Go ahead and make a clean cut just above a bud eye, and place the stems in water. Cuttings should be about 10 inches long, and all but the top two sets of leaves should be taken off. Advertisement.
When it comes to the aloe vera plant, cut one of the fleshy leaves into several small pieces and make a slit in the gel. This is where the bottom of your cutting will go. So before you do that, take your planting pot that is full of soil and make a small hole in it. Place one of your aloe slices there with the gel part facing up. Put the bottom of the cutting into the hole you made in the gel and cover it with soil. You should be able to see two bud eyes below the dirt.
Propagating Rose From Cuttings Using Aloe Vera as Rooting Hormone
FAQ
Is aloe vera good for rooting roses?
How to plant cuttings using aloe vera?
Can you grow a rose from a cutting?
Can you grow aloe vera from cuttings?
Among other easy houseplants to grow from cuttings, it’s quite straightforward to propagate your aloe vera plant. I’ve put together just a few simple steps for propagating aloe vera, so that you can multiply this valuable indoor plant with ease.
How do you propagate aloe vera?
Learn how to propagate aloe vera pups here. Once you make the cut, remove the lowest leaves, if necessary, so that at least 3” of the stem is exposed. Don’t remove all of the leaves though, there should still be a few on top. Before you try rooting your aloe vera, you must allow the cutting to cure (i.e.: dry out) and callous over first.
How do you cut aloe vera?
Take the cutting – Choose a part of the stem that has a few root nodes. Then cut just below them with a clean pair of sharp pruners. Cure the cutting – Place your aloe vera cutting in a dry location out of direct sunlight for 1-3 weeks. The larger it is, the longer it should cure. Do not skip this step or it may end up rotting.
Can you use aloe vera gel on roses?
Aloe Vera gel contains natural rooting hormones that help stimulate root growth in cuttings, making it an ideal solution. To get started, you’ll need to choose a healthy Rose stem and remove any flowers or leaves from the bottom third of the stem.