Ok. Grrr. Need helpwith next step!

sharon2079

10 years ago

I have been trying to root roses for sometime now. And it appears that I had (Had being the optimal word) some that rooted. However the tops never seemed to take off so I never knew they had actually rooted.

I did not try to tug at them to see if they had roots, because in the past whenever I did that the next day they were dead. So I try not to do anything that will disturb the roots and cause them to die.

But this morning I was going through where I root them and I had yet another black stem. I was thinking it had just expired as my other attempts. I went to take it out of the growing medium and it did tug but the stem was completely black. When I removed the stem, sure enough there were roots at the base.

This happened a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a fluke since I haven't really been successful in getting them to root.

So now what? If the tops aren't really growing how to I know that they are rooted without the dreaded tug.

If they have rooted do I need to start watering them m ore? Are they dying because I underwatered them. Since I thought they were cuttings, I was not adding water to their pot. I only kept them misted.

It just makes me mad that I was so close and then killed them either from my own stupidity of not knowing what to do next?

I would appreciate any help that you can shed on the matter.

So close and yet so far. Grrrrr.

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Comments (3)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
10 years ago
Sharon, It might really help to try cutting rooting into a 50/50 potting mix/perlite mix in a clear plastic cup with holes in the bottom. You can invert a ziploc bag over the cup with the cutting to keep the mix moist. I dipped the cuttings into dip n grow then stuck them in the soil mix that was dampened. This way you can leave it alone until you see roots growing for sure. I left it alone until roots looked pretty good, then cut vents in the ziploc covering the cutting so it could gradually adapt to drier air until I removed the ziploc for good. Then plant in a bigger pot, or the ground when you see a decent root ball.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
10 years ago
More questions. What medium are you using? Are they open to the air, or in a baggie? Where are you (shorthand for what is your humidity, temperature, and/or sunlight)

The other thing I should add is that cuttings can smell fear. The more tentative you are in dealing with them, the more cautious you are because you are afraid of doing something wrong, the more they will judge you unworthy and refuse to root.
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sharon2079
Original Author
10 years ago
I think they are rooting, but I need to know once they root can I start to give them water? Or do I just continue to mist until they start growing on the top. Both of the ones that I had that had turned black had roots. But I did not think they had rooted, so I did not start giving them regular watering because in the past that is when they died every time.

What I am doing this time and I think it is working for me is I take some old ban pots and put regular miracle grow in them. I get it nice and moist, but not sopping. I get my cutting ready with rooting hormone, but instead of a baggie which never worked because I can't keep the bag off of the leaves, I use a glass gallon jar to cover it. For the first week I just check it, then the next week if there isn't any condensation on the inside of jar I take off the jar and mist the plant.

The two that I had that died, had a tiny root ball that was about the size of a golf ball. The top eventually turned black, because I did not know there were roots there. Why would it have such a vast root system and never put out a leaf at the top. If there is that much root in the pot can I start watering?