Question
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I have a cut long stem white rose that was cut prior to Nov 1, 2008. The leaves have dried up and fell off. At each of the spots on the stem where the leaves were there is new growth. This new growth as of 11/20/08 at some areas is 3 or 4 inches in length. There are no roots growing on the cut part of the stem. Could I plant this stem and would it grow?
AnswerIf you would like to try a approach to rooting florist roses, you can try the baggie method, or plant them outside in a shady area and cover with a jar. Use a rooting hormone and wounding the bottoms of the cuttings with a sharp knife.
Cut the stem a half inch above where the new growth is coming out. Then roughly 6 inches below that point. You dip the freshly cut bottom of the stick it a couple inches into fresh sterile rooting medium such as pure perlite or vermiculite. Don't use soil from outside as it contains harmful bacteria which will cause the stem to rot.
Put it in a large zip-loc bag or use a 2 liter pop bottle with the bottom cut out and then place over a pot. Place the pot or jar in a sunny window but not hot enough to dry it out. Mist if appears to be drying out. Be careful not to keep it too wet as it will get moldy. Rooting often takes 4 to 6 weeks, but it can be a little quicker or longer.
