rose cuttings - problems

[jimtx]

Most of the cuttings I have placed in pots over the last few weeks are doing ok (used the plastic bag method) but some seem to be having problems .... can u get too much moisture using the bags? Haven't watered any of these yet ... they all appear equally moist ... because of the bags.... I guess. Problem is that some appear to be rotting while others appear to be in perfect health. Naturally ... the one that I liked the most ..appears to be the sickest.... but I know where I got it and can get more.

Thanks,

Jim

[Ann B.]

Jim,

Every rose is different, and the success rate will be different from time to time on each rose.

Hardwood canes are really difficult. When I collected some from my younger sister's newly acquired land, the canes were enormous, and the huge plant was filled with large prickly rose hips (with many, many seed) which means that the plant's energy was concentrated on producing seed, not root or new growth.

All the the canes had hardened, so I tried some using the method I describe, but without as much confidence that I usually have. I haven't removed the plastic to see how many made it, but I don't have much hope.

I left the larger, 3/4 inch diameter canes in buckets of water and have been changing out the water every few days. New softwood growth is about 3 inches long with lots and lots of leaves.

I am waiting until the growth gets about 4-5 inches, then I will snip it and use the plastic bag method, and hope for the best because the stems are so tiny.

Meanwhile, I have cleaned some of the seed and have them in the refrigerator stratifying. I learned the hard way to wear plastic gloves and not to touch any part of my skin, until I thoroughly wash my hands after handling prickly haired rose hips. If you do, remove your clothing and wash them when you are finished handliing the hips. These prickly hairs are mighty annoying if they get on your skin.

Also, since you are collecting these away from your home, be sure to submerge them in water and keep them in water until you are ready to root them. I have found that making a fresh cut while the stem is under water really does help.

There is a method for propagating the canes in the winter. I haven't tried this yet, so I don't have any pictures or tips. If you want, I will try to write up a description of how you do it.

It involves removing the thorns, cutting the canes and wrapping them in plastic, then placing them in ther refrigerator for a period of time. Then planting them in pots, and putting them where the temperaratures are above freezing and below 50 degrees. I don't remember all the details.

I will look it up in my notes, and make a new thread on winter propagation of rose canes.


So much to Learn and What FUN!

[Ann B.]

Jim,

How fortunate to live in Texas where there are so many varieties of old fashioned roses, and to actually get to go to a Rose Rustler's meeting. I bet that was really fun. You would have a hard time pulling me away.

I just went outside and checked the cuttings from the rose bush with prickly hips. This is what I did...

I prepared thirty 4 inch round pots the way that I described on the site and soaked them in a tray of water until the soil was soggy and the polymer crystals absorbed water. Then I removed them and let the excess water drain. I placed three flexible straws in each and bent the flexible part, so that they pointed toward the middle of the pot.

I placed each pot in 1 quart freezer (not zip lock) bags, then prepared each cutting and put one cutting in each pot. After that, I pulled the top of the plastic up over the cuttings, closed the plastic, twisted the top, then used a paper clip to hold the plastic tight. I didn't put any holes in the bags for air circulation, but probably should have. I simply ran out of time.

There was no room in the patio or greenhouse, so I simply placed them under the old pecan tree behind the house.

These were small diameter cuttings, and the stems were already black, so the only way I can tell if they made it is to watch for new growth. The leaves have fallen off and turned brown on nearly all of them. There is new growth on 10 of them, but as you saw by my previous note, this does not necessarily mean that roots have formed yet. It is too soon to check them.

I am being extra careful with these because they were on my sister's new property and because the mother plant had to be uprooted to make room for a culvert. The size of the main stems tell me that this rose has been alongside this ditch for a very long time. The fact that it was covered with rose hips tells me that it is a heavy bloomer and probably a spring time (only) bloomer. The clusters of tiny leaves indicate a very old rose.

Also, I checked the cuttings from my mother's old rose which has large, very doubled, pink flowers and is a repeat bloomer. I didn't have as many of these cuttings, and I placed three in a pot, and followed the directions on the site using 1 gallon zip lock bags. All appear to have made it, the leaves are still green, and new growth is appearing, but it has only been a couple of weeks, so I am waiting to pull the bags off.