Question About a Basal Break

10 years ago

So, three years ago my husband and I saved this rose from certain demise. I was going to throw it away but my husband convinced me to try to save it by sticking it in water... it wound up as three sticks that are now very healthy plants in pots. I later found the tag which read Sunset Celebration. Tonight I noticed a large basal break out of one of them. I'm sure the plant was originally grafted but when we did the "saving" I'm not sure what happened to the graft. Is this basal break ok just coming out of the dirt or should I dig around more trying to find the original graft at this point?

On the other side of the original "stick" is another break:

Here's the overall small bush:

Also, at the time I saved this thing in three pieces I had no idea about cloning licensed rose bushes and I don't know if SC is still licensed, but it was done out of ignorance - kinda, "oh well," and it also spurred my newly found love for roses. Any insight is welcome and appreciated.

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Comments (5)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
10 years ago
I love that new growth. I hope that is your top rose.
towandaaz thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Your roses look pretty. Sunset Celebration is an apricot rose. Perhaps the Arizona sun bleached the flowers white?

Hope I understood you correctly, but if by saving the rose, you cut off a green cane from the dying rose, you would no longer have the graft or rootstalk. You would have an own root rose. If you're not sure how the rose broke apart and there might be graft and rootstalk left, maybe you can let the basal break bloom to see what you have. In that first photo, it looks like you will need to make a pruning decision, because of the crossing/touching canes. If that new break is the rose you want, it looks like a keeper.
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towandaaz
Original Author
10 years ago
Jasminerose, no it all sort of broke apart when we dug it up. The bush above I guess just has what was left of a cane - so I suppose it's now an own-root and I shouldn't dig around. Is it ok that a new basal break just comes out of the ground? I was thinking new breaks happen above the dirt on an own root? Sorry I'm a newbie. Totally right about the pruning decision. It's not touching the other cane so I may wait until next Spring to prune the old cane out. Thanks for your comment!
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Basal breaks come from the roots, so they emerge from the ground. When I plant small sized, own-root bands, they usually send up a nice sized cane once the roots are established. It's a good thing :-)

Hopefully you can consult an experienced pruner when the time comes. My roses are still young, so I'm still learning. However, if you decide the new cane is a keeper, I'm thinking perhaps you could cut it here when it comes time to prune:

Be very careful not to snip the new cane. I did that before and was so upset at myself.
towandaaz
Original Author
10 years ago
Jasminerose, thanks for that explanation about where an own-root basal comes from because I was unsure. I totally agree with the mark you made of where to prune (thank you - really good to confirm what I will do) and note taken about care when pruning. I have one of those hand saws and accidentally hit another cane while cutting - such a bummer!