As a beginner gardener, I was delighted when I noticed new leaves sprouting from the stems of some roses I had cut for a bouquet. While the blooms had died, the stems were still alive and trying to grow! This surprising occurrence led me down an interesting gardening rabbit hole as I researched how to encourage those new leaves to fully form into new rose bushes.
In this article, I’ll share what I learned about propagating roses from cut stems. I’ll cover why it happens, how to give the new growth the best chance of survival, and tips for rooting and transplanting the stems. Let’s dig in!
Why Cut Rose Stems Grow New Leaves
Seeing new leaves emerge from the stem of a cut rose may seem like magic but there’s a simple explanation. Roses and many other plants have latent buds along their stems that can sprout new growth when conditions are right.
When you remove a stem from the mother plant, it goes into survival mode and taps into those dormant buds to put out fresh leaves and hopefully new roots. This is the plant’s natural propagation instinct kicking in.
While the mother rose bush is focused on flowering, the cut stem diverts its energy into leaf and root production. It’s trying to form an entirely new plant!
Optimal Conditions for Growth
For the best chance of success, you’ll want to mimic natural growing conditions as much as possible. Here are key factors to optimize:
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Water: Keep the cut stems hydrated by placing them in fresh water immediately after cutting. Change the water every few days.
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Warmth: Roses grow best in warm conditions around 70°F (21°C). Keep your stems in a bright spot at room temperature.
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Light: Bright, filtered light keeps roses happy. Near a sunny window is ideal.
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Air circulation Some air flow prevents mold or rot Don’t seal the stems in a closed container
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Time Be patient! It can take weeks or even months for enough roots to form for transplanting
Providing the right environment gives those nascent leaves the best shot at flourishing into a full plant.
Rooting the Stems
Once the stems have sprouted some leaves, you can begin encouraging root formation. Here are a few rooting methods to try:
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Soil propagation: Bury the lower portion of the stem in a light potting mix. Leave a few leaves exposed. Keep the soil evenly moist.
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Water rooting: Submerge just the bottom 1-2 inches of the stem in a glass of water. Top up the water level as needed.
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Rooting hormone: Dipping the stem ends in powdered or gel rooting hormones can stimulate root growth. Look for products formulated for roses.
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Moist media: Insert stems in moist sphagnum moss or vermiculite in a humidity tent or zipper bag. Spray to keep the media damp.
Check new roots after 4-6 weeks. Slender white roots about 2 inches long mean it’s almost ready for soil!
Transplanting to Soil
Once adequate roots have formed, it’s time to pot up your new rose plant! Follow these tips for transplanting:
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Gently loosen and remove from rooting medium. Don’t disturb new roots.
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Prune stem to 6 inches above roots. Remove lower leaves.
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Plant in a small pot with well-draining potting mix. Bury to first leaves.
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Water well and let it drain fully. Don’t let soil stay soggy.
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Acclimate to sun over a week. Move to full sun location.
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Stake tall stems until established. Pinch off blooms in first year.
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Feed with diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growing season.
With attentive care, your propagated rose has a good chance of flourishing! Be patient though – it may take a full season or two to become a mature flowering bush.
Troubleshooting Issues
Not all cut rose stems will succeed. Here are some common issues and how to prevent them:
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Wilting/shriveling: Increase water and humidity. Soak roots before planting.
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Leaves dropping: Move to brighter location. Check for pests/disease.
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Black or mushy stems: Remove from soil and discard. Improve drainage and air flow.
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Few roots formed: Use rooting hormone next time. Give it more time in water/media.
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Transplant shock: Gradually acclimate to sun and outdoors. Mist leaves, keep soil moist but not soaked.
Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts fail. It takes some trial and error to get the process right. Each rose variety also has slightly different propagation needs.
Final Tips for Propagating Rose Cuttings
To close out this beginner’s guide, here are a few helpful tips to remember:
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Take 6-8 inch stem cuttings from vigorous, healthy roses. The newer the wood, the better.
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Make a fresh cut at a 45 degree angle below a leaf node. Remove thorns.
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Disinfect tools between stems to prevent disease spread.
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Change water every 2-3 days. Replace rooting media if it starts smelling bad.
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Keep temps between 65-75°F. Move containers to warmer spot in winter.
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Prune back tall/leggy growths by half. Pinch off early buds.
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Transplant to garden in spring after final frost. Amend soil with compost.
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A 2-4 inch pot is fine for the first year. Repot annually into larger containers.
With the right conditions and a bit of luck, you’ll have a thriving new rose bush started from a simple stem cutting. It’s an extremely rewarding way to propagate your favorite rose varieties for free.
I hope these tips and techniques help you successfully grow new roses from cuttings. Let those leaves be the start of a beautiful perennial addition to your garden!
How to Root Store-bought Roses! (Clone those roses you just got for/from that special person!)
FAQ
What to do with new growth on cut roses?
Can cut roses sprout?
How do you plant a rose stem that has sprouted?
What are the new shoots on roses?
How do you cut roses to grow new leaves?
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.
Can a rose grow from a cutting?
The cutting transforms into an autonomous plant that can survive on its own once it has both leaves and roots. Achieving this balance between leaves and roots is the desired outcome when growing roses from cuttings, but occasionally, rose cuttings may generate leaves without sufficient root development.
How long does it take Rose cuttings to grow?
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!
What would happen if I grafted a cutting of a rose?
Cuttings normally grow roots and then leaves. I suspect that, if the rose was still on the plant, those would be your next flowers. IF it did root, the new rose plant would bloom exactly what it is blooming now as it is a clone of the parent. Rose grafting has to do with plant vigor, not flower color.