Roses are a hugely popular choice amongst gardeners, as there are so many stunning colours and varieties to choose from. They instantly add a touch of luxury to any outdoor space, and the best thing is that they are fairly easy to look after, resulting in beautiful blooms time after time.
However, they do need sufficient care in order to thrive. And according to Michael the Mediterranean Gardener, now is the ‘perfect’ time to carry out one very important task. He says that taking rose cuttings is the ideal way to prolong the lifespan of your plant, creating even more beautiful flowers.
Taking to TikTok, the gardening expert shared a quick tutorial on exactly how to take rose cuttings in order to propagate them and grow even more flowers. It’s recommended you do this with new growth, so you should do this whilst the roses are still in bloom but not brand new.
These cuttings, which are known as semi-hardwood cuttings, take a little longer to root according to Michael. However they’re less likley to wilt than softwood cuttings, so it’s worth the extra effort.
How to take rose cuttings
Hailing semi-hardwood as his ‘favourite’ type of cutting, Michael began his tutorial by showing off a rose stem in his garden. Flexing it around, he said: “Starting at the top, we have the really bendy softwood. We don’t want that.
“As we move down, we get a piece that’s not rock hard, but nowhere near as bendy.”
This is where you’ll want to cut, and Michael recommended doing this at an angle, above a bud. Then, move down around four to six inches and make another cut below a bud, this time at a 90 degree angle. This way, you’ll know which part is the top and which is the bottom.
Then, make a 50-50 mix of compost and grit, and remove all the leaves from your cuttings, leaving two at the very top. Take your secateurs and cut these two leaves in half.
You should also remove thorns too as these will only ‘get in your way’ while planting.
Fill a pot with the soil mix and place your cuttings around the edge, giving them a quick spray with water. Then, cover them with a see-through plastic bag to keep the humidity in, and within a few weeks they should begin to root.