Where am I going wrong with rose cuttings?

Discussion in 'Roses' started by 2nd_bassoon, Jun 9, 2020.

  1. 2nd_bassoon

    2nd_bassoon Super Gardener

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    My rose cuttings from last autumn have failed again, for the third year now :wallbanging: The same thing has happened each time; they pull through the winter fine, start to develop new buds/leaves, and then all new growth will die and drop off, followed by the stem shriveling up and turning twiggy. When I pull the cutting up there's always a 3cm-ish sized nodule on the bottom, but little in the way of further developed root system.

    Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? I usually take the cuttings from that years' growth, use rooting powder, and keep them in morning/evening sun. There are two roses I've been attempting it with, one a climber and one a shrub.
     
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    • Mike Allen

      Mike Allen Total Gardener

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      I've never had any luck with rose cuttings.
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I've only tried rose cuttings on a couple of occasions.
        One worked the other didn't.
        The one that worked was 9in long sections of current year growth taken in August, set in the ground with just a couple of inches above the surface.
        I left them in place for 18 months before digging them up and potting up.

        Not sure but wondering if some types root easier than others.
         
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        • 2nd_bassoon

          2nd_bassoon Super Gardener

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          I'm glad to hear it's not just me - everything I read in books/online talks about how easy rose cuttings are, and I'm over here with my hands in the air wondering how I'm so incompetant with them!

          Thank's @pete I'll try being a bit more experimentative and see if anything takes - but I wonder if you're right and it does come down to variety...:scratch:
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            As I say, I dont grow roses as a rule, but have tried a couple of times.
            I think if cuttings were really easy the professionals would do them rather than grafting.
             
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            • flounder

              flounder Super Gardener

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              I have had more success with hard wood sticks over winter. Wait until leaves are about to fall, nine inch bits lopped off, inserted eight inches deep around outside of a deep enough pot in a sandy gritty mix. Keep the pot tucked away somewhere and following September, pot up rooted ones. I've done this with climbers and old english stuff, not tried with hybrid tea.
               
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