Question
I was given a long stemmed rose at my grandfathers funeral. It has started to grow new leaves on its own. However, there are no roots at the bottom in the water. Is it possible that I could put this rose in soil and it will root. If so, what is the best way to do that. My rose is slowly darkening, but has not dropped any petals yet.

Answer
The odds of this happening are SO remote, Sean, all I can tell you is you have nothing to lose.

But if you see leaves sprouting, maybe you should try walking on water.  It's worth a shot.

The bloom should be removed as soon as possible since it does nothing to generate energy but does draw plenty of carbs in preparation for making seeds.

The stem should be sliced at the 4 to 5 inch point from the end, at a slant, with a razor blade, and dipped in rooting hormone powder if you have that, then kept, lying down to ease water uptake, in a short tray (for maximum air) of vermiculite or perlite and a touch of soil and/or sand.  Then placed on a window with bright light (for the wavelengths).  Toast your grandfather and see what happens.  It takes a LOT of time under the BEST of conditions.  If you live in the desert, somewhere where humidity is very low, enclose in a plastic bag for maintaining higher moisture in the air and remove daily to replace air.

And now I have something else to say.

We all lose people we love.  It very easy to forget that these times end.  It is so easy to think, I have so many plans today, I must do this, I must do that, I must be going, I'll see you when I get back.  This goes on for years, sometimes for many years.  We spend time with people we love; when those days end, all we have is memories, and there never are enough of them.

Plants come and go, flowers bloom and fade, we love, we lose.  There are some of us, myself included, who adored our grandparents.  We are the lucky ones, Sean.  Nothing can ever take that away from us.  Not even a Rose that fades and goes.  And those who we love who are still here, hopefully we learn that our times with them will not last forever, either.

Good luck with your Rose.  My prayers for your grandpa.