How to increase the survival rate of rose cuttings?

With its charming fragrance and diverse colors, roses have become the darling of many home gardens and park spaces. However, if you want to make the rose family more prosperous, cuttings become an indispensable method. So how can you achieve a high survival rate of rose cuttings? Let’s take a look below.

1. Choose the right branches

First of all, choosing healthy, sturdy, disease-free and insect-free branches is the first step to successful cuttings. These branches should have a certain degree of lignification, but not be too old. It is best to have semi-lignified branches grown in the same year. Such branches have strong vitality and strong rooting ability. The length of the branches is generally between 10-15 cm, and 2-3 leaf buds are retained on the top to ensure future growth needs. At the same time, remove the leaves at the bottom of the branches to reduce water evaporation and nutrient consumption.

2. Prepare a suitable matrix

The choice of cutting medium also has an important influence on the survival rate. The ideal matrix should be loose, breathable, moisturizing, fertilizer-free and sterile. For example, you can mix garden soil, sand, and organic fertilizer in a certain proportion to make soil suitable for rose cuttings. You can also use commercially available soil for cuttings or media such as perlite and vermiculite. These substrates can provide good air permeability and water retention, which is conducive to the growth of roots.

3. Correct cutting method

Before cuttings, the lower part of the branches can be properly treated, such as cutting them at an angle to increase the rooting area, or using auxiliary rooting agents such as rooting powder. When cutting, insert the treated branches into the substrate at a depth of about 1/2 to 2/3 of the length of the branch, ensuring that at least one leaf bud is buried in the soil. Then gently compact the substrate so that the branches are firmly combined with the soil.

4. Reasonable maintenance management

Maintenance and management after cuttings is the key to determining the survival rate. First, keep the substrate moist, but avoid waterlogging. Watering can be done using a watering can or sprayer to keep the soil surface slightly moist. Secondly, provide suitable light and temperature conditions. After rose cuttings, they should be placed in semi-shaded or scattered light areas to avoid direct sunlight. The optimal temperature range is between 15-25 degrees Celsius, which is conducive to rooting and growth. In addition, attention should be paid to ventilation to reduce the growth of germs.

5. Patiently wait and observe

It takes a certain amount of time for rose cuttings to take root. Generally, it takes about 20 days to form callus tissue or roots more than 1 cm in length. During this process, avoid moving or checking the branches frequently to avoid damaging the callus or roots. At the same time, you should regularly check the growth of roses and pay attention to the prevention and control of diseases and pests. Once any abnormal situation is discovered, timely measures must be taken to deal with it.

The cutting propagation of roses seems simple, but it actually requires certain skills and experience. By selecting suitable branches, preparing suitable substrates, adopting correct cutting methods and reasonable maintenance and management, we can greatly improve the survival rate of rose cuttings.