I have been trying to start my own roses from cuttings, and this past summer, two actually took root and grew. I gave one to a good friend, and the other is growing out back in a large tub. Both of those are fine. When it was nearly time for frost, I cut the last of my rose blooms and brought them indoors in vases, and two of those took root and are growing in my kitchen window. They are sharing a small pot with a Christmas cactus start. I know they will need bigger pots before spring. How soon should they be planted outdoors in the ground ? Or in a larger pot. They are growing new leaves and stems, and are about 4 inches or so tall at the moment. The best method for me so far has been to stick the cuttings into moist soil and keep them watered.
It seems you have a rosarian green thumb! Why not get both of the rooted rose cuttings into their own pots now, perhaps a 4" pot? The fewer times a rose cutting is moved, the less root loss incurred. When I root cuttings (and yes, moist soil or a starting mix is best) I leave them in a one gallon pot for a year. I don't know where you are, but here in Texas it seems best to keep them "moveable" so they don't suffer from heat and/or too much sun. After taking cuttings in Nov., seeing roots in Jan/Feb. and potting into soil, and moving to 1 gal. pots in April, I let them grow in morning sun, afternoon shade and plant them out in October. That way they don't have transplant shock and heat to deal with at the same time. When they show new growth in Feb./March, I fertilize lightly. I know this is more information than you want or need, but I love to talk roses!
Marlin, Thanks for the info! I don't know about it being too much information, it seems fine to me. I have been trying to make rose starts for three or four years I think, but until this past spring, none have taken. A few tried, but died right away. I love to talk about roses too. I will see what I have in the way of pots & soil, I know I have plenty, and try to do that today or tomorrow. I planted these sprouts this fall, right after first frost. After the bloom was done, I trimmed off the bloom and leaves and stuck them in the soil of this pot just to see if they would grow. My kitchen window faces west/southwest. But I have a huge mimosa tree out there, that gives it shade. My other started bush is under that tree outdoors in a big tub. I am in south central Missouri and it can get either very cold and icy and snowy sometimes, and in the summer it can be very hot similar to Texas [yuk]. Guess I will plant them out in the fall, and keep them potted for now.
