On New Year's Eve I potted up several of the rose cuttings taken in early November. Here are some in my improvised greenhouses: Improvised greenhouses ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) After they develop enough roots, they go into 4" pots with regular potting soil, and are out from under their "domes". I keep an eye on them for the first week or so and make sure the soil doesn't dry out. They may look like palm trees now ( I removed all leaves but 4 or 5 before rooting), but I hope they will be come beautiful rose bushes! Rooted rose cuttings ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden )
Now I can see why your rose cuttings are so successful. I'm going to have to keep my eyes out for some big plastic jugs.
I'm sure they well as they certainly look fine and healthy. I like your improvised greenhouses - ideal for cuttings. :-D
Those look great. I need to pin down a stem of the Blaze climber out back, that one roots really well.
Cheryl, those plastic jugs are clear (the condensation makes them look slightly opaque). They are actually jugs that, ahem , miniature horse treats come in. We have friends that have the useless little beasts, and save the jugs for us. Toni, Blaze is such a great rose! I never knew it propagated by pegging. Love the ideas I get here! We have two Red Fountains at the entry fences, and I want to take cuttings of those next year. So many roses, so little room!
Jane... are their holes in the lids? Do you keep them on all the time or open them for ventilation every-so-often?
Cheryl, Glad you asked! I keep the lids on at night, and during cold (40 or below) days. Otherwise I tilt them or take them off entirely if the temps are in the 60's, as they are today. Holes would work, but this way I feel like I have more control on the moisture loss.
I haven't noticed any condensation on the plastic bag that covers the one's I'm trying to start. Is it imperative that they get that much more moisture?
My, what a smart, clever idea MarlinGardener. That is cool. 8) You got me thinking of asking the builders here to keep oll their plastic cola bottles for me for when I get to be gardening again.
Cheryl, I think the moisture is always there--it just shows up as condensation when the temps get warmer. If you have a bit of water in the tray that the pots sit in, you will have enough moisture.
Update on the cuttings--I potted up three more today! There are at least four Caldwell Pinks, and the rest are the church roses. Two of the cutttings previously potted don't look too great, but I'm hoping they will survive. With nine roses now, I should end up with at least five or six. There are still some under the domes and I have hopes for those developing roots. The fig cuttings are rooting also, and the Tuscan rosemary is showing signs of rooting. Some things take longer than others, but all are worth the wait!
Marlin, what were your temperatures when you first started the cuttings? It looks like they were kept on an enclosed patio from beginning? I've never tried my hand at roses, but have been inspired after seeing the lovely 'blue' bloom shown here on Gardenstew on another thread. You sure are good at them I wonder how well roses do here in SW FL? I don't see too many of them, so either there aren't many good rose gardeners down here, or the plant does not really enjoy our soil(or lack thereof) and temps? What kind of mix did you use to start them in? Edit: spelling Edit: Just found the soil mix on other thread, thanks marlin
Bodhi, I don't think the temperature will bother roses. In Texas we get summer temps ranging from 95-105 from as early as May sometimes into October and Roses flourish here. When I lived in West Palm Beach many years ago, I was told by a couple of gardening friends that sandy soil and salt that lingered in the air from the ocean were the reasons Roses were difficult to grow there.
Nicole, I took the cuttings in early November, and the temperatures were in the low 60's. They are in the barn on a shelf in front of a window, not on an enclosed patio. The lattice work in the pictures' backgrounds is to keep varmints out, and extends into the chicken coop. I have better luck with fall cuttings since they don't have to fight our summer's heat. Spring cuttings work also, just fewer of them survive. The mix is 50/50 perlite and vermiculite, but the proportions aren't all that critical. When short of perlite I've done a 30/70 mix, heavy on vermiculite. There are roses particularly adapted to container growing, Rise n' Shine being one. Roses don't like sandy soil, as Toni said, so putting one in a container would help. I don't know what to do about the salty air. Roses are tough, and there is undoubtedly a variety that will survive and thrive in S. Florida.
