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Roses are magnificent garden flowers that adorn the site with their large, fragrant buds throughout the warm season. Each housewife has her favorite varieties that I would like to increase in quantity and plant around the site. Propagation of roses by cuttings in potatoes is a fairly common technology that significantly increases the survival rate of planting material. The methods of growing roses in potatoes are simple and affordable. The technique does not require special skills, it is suitable even for inexperienced florists.
Advantages and disadvantages of rooting roses in potatoes
Many novice florists have a natural question: why use such an intricate method of growing roses, because you can root cut cuttings directly in nutrient soil or in a glass of water.
The thing is that cuttings do not immediately give roots. And during this period, they need enhanced nutrition, stable humidity. The sections of the stem planted in the ground do not have enough moisture, they begin to dry out and die. And whimsical roses lack oxygen in the water, which also leads to a large percentage of dead shoots.
Through trial and error, flower growers have found the best option for growing roses at home - planting in potatoes. The tubers saturate the cuttings with moisture in the right amount, provide vital nutrients, and accelerate root formation. The advantages of this method of growing roses:
- In potatoes, you can grow a rose both from a bush of your favorite variety, and from a donated flower.
- Cutting allows you to get a copy of the mother plant in all characteristics, in contrast to attempts to propagate by seeds. In addition, unscrupulous distributors may sell unvaccinated seedlings, from which wild rose hips subsequently grow.
- The cultivation technology is extremely simple and effective, the survival rate of the material is more than 70%.
- There is no need to worry about nutrition and frequent watering of the sprouts after planting, they are already provided with everything you need.
- The starch contained in a large amount of potatoes contributes to the rooting and full development of a young plant.
- Potatoes are a kind of shield against unfavorable external factors for delicate plants - frost, fungal infections.
This growing technology also has its drawbacks:
- not all varieties of roses are suitable for growing in potatoes;
- if you plan to land in the open air, you must carefully approach the choice of the site, it must be protected from bad weather, hot sun and excess rain water;
- when planted in open ground, some of the rooted shoots may die.
What roses are suitable for grafting
Not all roses are suitable for propagation by cuttings. In order to successfully plant a rose from a bouquet or a rose cut from a bush in a potato, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances:
- climbing and ground cover varieties of roses are not suitable for cuttings;
- you need to use only strong stems with live buds and leaves, the thickness of which is more than 0.5 cm;
- cuttings from stems with ripe buds and blossoming flowers take root very hard, so it is better to choose shoots that have not yet bloomed;
- the highest percentage of rooted shoots is produced by mature stems with easily breaking off thorns.
It must be remembered that sluggish, dry, fungal shoots are unsuitable for reproduction and cultivation.
Roses with straight stems that are not affected by pests or diseases are suitable for grafting.
When is the best time to root a rose
For propagation of roses by cuttings in a potato tuber, experienced growers choose the spring months, depending on climatic conditions. It is necessary to be in time during the period when the leaves began to grow, but the flower buds have not yet appeared or have just hatched. Cuttings from such a bush are the strongest and take root better.
If necessary, you can use this growing technology throughout the warm season. But at the same time, one should take into account the need for rooting of young seedlings before the onset of cold weather. Later the end of June, cuttings are rarely carried out, when planting for the winter in heated rooms or greenhouses.
How to properly plant a rose in a potato at home
Growing roses in potatoes at home is a very interesting process that does not require special materials or skills. But you should carefully follow the established rules. Any violation of the technique is fraught with the loss of valuable planting material.
You will need a rose stalk, potato tuber and some free time.
Preparation of potato tubers
When choosing potatoes for rooting sprouts, you must adhere to the following criteria:
- it is advisable to use fresh, just dug tubers from your site, not saturated with dangerous chemicals;
- the diameter of the potatoes must be at least 8 cm;
- you need whole, healthy specimens, without rot, stains, fungal and bacterial infections.
Tubers must be cleaned of the ground, remove all eyes with a sharp knife. The procedure is carried out so that the potatoes do not sprout in the process. Then you need to make a hole in it, slightly wider than the base of the cutting, deepening it approximately to the middle of the tuber.
Cutting preparation
In potatoes, you can grow a rose cut from a live bush, or use a fresh stem of a purchased bouquet. You will need a sharpened knife or pruner to keep your cuts perfectly straight. If the shoots are long and strong, they can be cut into several pieces. In length, cuttings should be at least 15 cm, and the number of living buds should be from 3-4 pieces. Then they should be prepared for planting:
- make a strictly horizontal cut, located 5 mm above the uppermost kidney;
- the lower cut is made at an angle of 45 degrees, 1 cm away from the last kidney;
- all leaves must be removed to reduce moisture evaporation;
- if desired, break off all the thorns;
- dilute a slightly pink manganese solution and immerse the planting material in it for several hours;
- you can process the lower cut with “Kornevin” diluted according to the instructions or a similar preparation for better rooting.
After that, the planting material is ready for use.
Planting a rose in a potato tuber
Having finished the preparations, you can proceed to the most crucial stage: rooting a rose from a cutting in a potato. For this, the planting material is inserted into the tubers with an obliquely cut end. After that, they are placed in containers with fertile soil mixture. Or planted directly on a prepared site located on the south side, in partial shade, protected from strong winds.
The bed must be well dug to a depth of 20 cm, humus, peat, ash must be added. If the soil is too heavy, add sand. Moisturize. Plant potatoes with cuttings at a distance of 20 cm, no deeper than 5 cm.Sprinkle on top with peat, garden soil or black earth.
Potatoes for planting cuttings can be taken of various varieties that are available
Follow-up care
Rooting of cuttings of roses in potatoes will be successful if you provide the gentle sprouts with proper care:
- cover with glass jars, film, plastic bottles to ensure a favorable microclimate;
- water sparingly to keep the ground slightly moist, but not soggy;
- after 5 days of planting, shed a sugar solution - 40 g per 200 ml of water;
- provide young sprouts with adequate lighting and protection from direct sunlight.
As soon as the cuttings of roses have taken root and new side shoots have appeared, the shelter can be gradually removed, lengthening the period daily, adapting the seedlings to the open air.
To transplant a rooted sprout to a permanent place, you need to carefully dig it up and remove the remaining potatoes without damaging the roots. Plant in prepared fertile soil. The depth of the holes is 7-10 cm. Sprinkle with soil, mulch. By winter, young seedlings must be covered with coniferous paws, foliage, straw.
Experienced flower growers plant cuttings of roses in potatoes directly into the open ground
How to plant a rose in potatoes with honey
An excellent effect is obtained by germinating cuttings of roses in potatoes with preliminary treatment in a solution of a natural biostimulant. Natural honey in the amount of 30 g must be diluted in 1 glass of water at room temperature. Immerse the cuttings in the solution for half an hour. Then plant the roses in the potatoes in accordance with the standard procedure: with the slanting end to the middle of the tuber. Then place them in a container with earth and cover with foil, glass or plastic bottles.
Honey is an excellent natural antiseptic that prevents the growth of pathogenic microflora, contributes to the development of seedlings
Recommendations
Experienced flower growers have their own secrets to successfully cut roses in potatoes:
- in the solution of potassium permanganate, in which the cuttings are processed, you can add a teaspoon of aloe juice;
- to make a hole in the tuber, you can take a thick nail or screwdriver;
- the stalk should be inserted into the potato carefully so as not to damage it;
- the optimum temperature for rose seedlings is 25 degrees, air humidity is normal;
- it is not necessary to "flood" the planting - roses cannot stand waterlogging, they begin to hurt.
Cuttings grown at home or in a greenhouse must be accustomed to open air. For this, containers with seedlings must be taken out into the street, increasing the residence time gradually. With the right approach, the cuttings are finally ready for transplanting into open ground after 60 days.
Conclusion
Methods for growing roses in potatoes were invented not so long ago, but have already gained well-deserved popularity among gardeners. This is a simple and effective technology that allows you to grow full-fledged seedlings from a single cut stem or propagate your favorite variety. In order for the cuttings to take root in potatoes, it is necessary to adhere to the planting rules, choose a complete, healthy material. The technique does not require special skill or special tools. Even novice summer residents can cope with the task.
