rose cuttings

[jimtx]

When I place my rooted rose cuttings in the ground ..should I place them where I expect them to be ... or in a place where they can mature and then transplant them later.

How long will it take them to become nice size bushes (they are all bushes)?

Thanks,

Jim

[sewfarsewgood]

I was watching a garden show the other day and they indicated it was best to put even the bare root roses ou buy into large pots to get their root systems established before they have to go and compete with the other roses and plants.

If that is so, then it makes sense to me to take your rooted cuttings and grow them out at least to 1 gallon pots. My roses I bought last year and some this year are currently growing happliy in 3 gallon pots and are already blooming in the greenhouse.

[Ann B.]

Thanks Gary and Arlene!

Gary and Arlene bring up a good point. How big are your roses now? The cuttings that I made about the same time as your antiques are now in one gallon pots. I moved them and some had rooted through the pots and into the ground. I hated to do it, but I had to sever the roots.

Since these are old roses, you can either upgrade them to 3 gallons as Gary and Arlene suggest or you can plant them in a permanent spot.

If you do not have a permanent spot, I would recommend upgrading the size of the pot until you do.

Once you have them in a permanent spot, you can either make cuttings like you did, or you can wait until they go dormant if they get overcrowded.

Old roses are very forgiving, but I would suggest moving them while they are more dormant. Most of mine rarely go completely dormant, except in the containers so I opt to plant them in a permanent spot, know their growth habit and give them plenty of space. If I make a mistake, I simply take cuttings and make another start.

Good luck, Jim! You have come a long way in less than 6 months.

Whatever you decide to do, start fertilizing them as soon as the last frost is over. You will start seeing blooms soon!

[sewfarsewgood]

As Ann indicated - it all depends on what you mean by rooted cuttings - My assumption (always a dangerous thing) was that they had just gotten their roots.

If they have been growing out for awhile - it changes everything - but, just follow Ann's advice - she knows much more about what you have been doing than I do - I am too new to the board.

I just wish they were my cuttings that were rooted. I err always on the side of being safe. Easier to take extra care and not lose a years worth of growth.

[Ann B.]

To make a long story short (I think), Jim and I met even before this forum was even born. It was a question about mandevilla, I think. Anyway, that led to hibiscus seeds, then antique roses when Jim discovered the Texas Rose Hustlers.

I do believe he has found a new love for gardening and has learned a tremendous amount in a short time and has become quite successful at it, I might add.

Jim has been absent for awhile, and I have been trying to get him back on line since we have more Texans now, so I am thrilled to see him back online.

We have all made a lot of good gardening friends here and What FUN it Is!

[jimtx]

Ann,

When I heard that the "Northern" Groundhog saw his shadow ... I started to go back to worrying about things other than gardening. But, today was above 70 ... as was this entire weekend .. and the fever is back. Two beds weeded ... and dead stuff removed .... looks like flowerbeds again. More survived than I thought.

Mandevillas are still alive ... as are several of the other things I thought had died. glad I followed ur advice and waited...before throwing out.

Rose Rustling has ceased ..can't tell what they are now that there are not flowering ... but will be back at it again before too long. Lots of fun .

Appreciate the advice ... and will move to pots... still wondering how long it takes to make a nice size bush?

Thanks again,

jim

[Ann B.]

Actually, how fast they will grow will depend on the type of rose, how well they are fertilised and taken care of, the quality of the soil, and then there are many other variables.

You should start having a small bush by next fall, then they will get start becoming a really nice size by the next spring.

Ie., as a home propagator, you are probably looking at about 18 months of growth to see a good sized 3 gallon variety. Professionals can do it in a year.

That's not too bad, is it?

[jimtx]

18 months isn't too bad .. had a lot of fun acquiring them, seeing the first pair of leaves, and watching them grow. Think I learned as much from the ones that died (early attemps and a couple of stubborn ones) as from the ones that survived.

Warning ... rose rustling .. gets in ur blood .... it is habit forming .... any rose bush gets a second look ... any "hips" triggers bells ... and moves u in the direction of the bush. Terrible addiction .... don't get hooked .. more roses for me. :)

Jim

[sewfarsewgood]

I looked up the Texas Rose Rustler website and I think I will Join. Really sounds like a great group and I wonder if they have other members down here in the Hill Country. BTW - you and Ann and your families are welcome to visit - we have the facilities for putting up guests - especially Gardening / Landspro friends.

Gary J

[jimtx]

They are a great bunch of people ... went to a "meet" in Waco ... could have taken home over 75 different rose cuttings but space is limited and had to stick with the smaller varieties.

should have a meet in Brenham in the near future .. at the Antique Rose Emporium..... hope to make it.

Meets are fun .. but the "hunt" is what gets in ur blood ....and like they say .. the only "bad" time to hunt roses is when there is a funeral ... yours.

Happy Gardening,

Jim

[sewfarsewgood]

Would love to meet you at the Meet in Brenham. Ice Cream from the "Little Creamery in Brenham" is on me.

Gary J

[vicki]

Hi All,
Speaking of roses, my Mom transplanted bushes from an old homesite, and I asked her if I could get cuttings now from them, and she said you don't want them they were tame roses that went wild. What do you think? I really don't think she pruned them at all when she transplanted them.

[jimtx]

Sounds like title of a Soap Opera ....

I have taken cuttings from both tame/hybrid and old/antique ...own root .. and some make it and some don't. If you like the rose ... go for it ... worst case ... it won't work .. u are only out the potting soil and the time. Best case .. you will have the roses you want ... from your mom's garden....

Hope they are the type that works for you ... let us know how it goes.

Jim

[Ann B.]

There are only two ways that I know of that a tame rose can go wild. One way is via seed. The other is when a new rose bush grows from the root stock of a grafted rose. Many times, a grafted rose will die, and the root stock will continue to thrive.

I have some that are growing from root stock and the grafted rose (Mr. Lincoln) is still very much alive.

This particular root stock produces about 20 deep red doubled, but small flowers on a single stem in the spring, and blooms again, but not as beautifully in the fall. It seems to be more of a rambling type rose, and it has very few thorns. For me, this one may be wild, but like Jim says, a definite keeper.

Enjoy!