3 Ways to Propagate Roses: Expert Tips for Beginners

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Plus, how to care for your roses as they grow and become established
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Maybe you’ve just seen the most perfect tea rose at a friend’s house, or perhaps you have a gorgeous climbing variety that you’d love to clone. With a little patience, propagating can be a great way to turn one rose bush into a whole rose garden. We’re sharing the most popular ways to propagate a rose, plus tips on how to care for your rose bush once it’s established.

Easiest Way to Propagate Roses: Overview

  1. Choose a healthy stem that’s 6–8 in (15–20 cm) long in the spring or fall.
  2. Cut the stem at a 45° angle with clean, sharp shears or a knife.
  3. Snip off all but the top 2-3 leaves.
  4. Dip the end of the cutting in rooting powder to encourage growth.
  5. Place the cutting in a mixture of potting soil and perlite in a pot with drainage holes.
  6. Cover the plant loosely with plastic or a clear glass jar.
  7. Keep it moist and provide bright, indirect sunlight until roots develop in 2-4 weeks.
Section 1 of 4:

Propagating Roses from Cuttings

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  1. You can cut roses any time of year, and opinions vary on the best time to do it. However, you may have the best success of rooting your rose cuttings if you take them when the weather is mild—usually in the spring or fall. [1]
    • Wait until your rose is finished blooming—if the plant is putting energy into producing flowers, it may not root easily.
    • Water your rose bush the day before you take the cutting to ensure the stems will be well-hydrated.
    • If you can, take your cutting first thing in the morning before the sun starts to dry out the rose bush. [2]
  2. Mix a 50-50 blend of potting soil and perlite or vermiculite . Pack about 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil firmly into the bottom of your planter , then loosely fill the rest of the planter all the way to the top. [3]
    • Using perlite or vermiculite will help improve the drainage of your soil—too much moisture can cause your rose to rot before it takes root.
    • Be sure to use a planter with drainage holes so water doesn’t pool in the bottom.
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  3. Choose a healthy and established plant to take a cutting from. The stem should come from the top or side of the plant, and it should have at least three leaves on it. Ideally, find a stem that has flowered recently. Look for a stem that’s young but established and hardy, and that’s about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) [4]
    • It’s better to take cuttings from the top and side of the plant because they seem to root better than cuttings from the middle or bottom.
    • It’s OK if the stem you select has buds and flowers currently on it, but look for a stem with flowers that are starting to wither. This indicates the stem recently bloomed.
  4. Plant specialist Monique Capanelli recommends using sharp, clean pruning shears to cut the stem from the plant at a 45-degree angle, just below one of the lower leaf nodes (where the leaf attaches to the stem). [5]
    • Make sure the cutting tool has been sterilized to prevent the spread of disease. To sterilize your cutting tool, wipe it down with 70% rubbing alcohol before you make a cut.
  5. 5
    Keep your cuttings moist and cool. If you’re not going to plant your cuttings right away, place them in a bucket or cooler to keep them out of direct sunlight. If it’s really hot out, you might even want to put ice in the cooler. [6]
    • If the cuttings dry out in the sun, they may not root.
  6. With the same pruning shears, cut off any withered flowers and new buds where they attach to the stem. If any hips (fruit) have started to form, cut these off as well. [7]
    • Cut off any leaves on the lower half of the stem.
    • Leave two to three higher leaves to help with photosynthesis. Cut these leaves in half to reduce the loss of moisture.
  7. Wounding is the process of making slits in the bottom of the stem, and this will encourage rooting. With the same cutting tool, cut two 1 in (2.5 cm) slits in the bark at the bottom of the stem. [8]
    • Make three or four slits in the bark to give the roots more places to grow out from.
  8. Capanelli recommends using rooting hormone on any cutting that you’re trying to propagate. [9] Insert the bottom 2 in (5.1 cm) of the cutting into the powder so that the cutting, wounds, and bottom of the stem are covered in the hormone. Shake it gently to remove excess hormone. [10]
    • Rooting hormone is not a necessary step in the cutting and propagating process, but it will increase the chances that your cutting will grow successfully.
  9. With the tip of your finger or a pencil, make a 2 in (5.1 cm) hole in the potting soil at the center of the pot. Place the cut end of the stem in the hole. Pack the soil around the stem and use your hands to firm the soil in place.
    • Water the soil so that it’s thoroughly moist.
  10. To cover the stem with plastic, insert two sticks or wires into the soil on either side of the stem. Cover the pot and stem with a clear plastic bag, and affix the bag to the pot with an elastic or twine. With a mason jar, simply place a large mason jar over the stem. [11]
    • Covering the stem with glass or plastic will create a miniature greenhouse, and the cover will help keep in the heat, moisture, and ultraviolet rays the stem needs to root and grow.
  11. Throughout each day, the plant will need plenty of bright sunlight. But to avoid overheating, place the plant in a bright location that receives lots of indirect sunlight, especially around midday. [12]
    • The mason jar or plastic will help to keep the soil and cutting moist, but add more water any time the cutting or soil starts to dry out.
    • Placing a heating mat under the plant can help encourage the roots to grow.
    • How does it take a cutting to root? A rose cutting will root in 2-4 weeks, but this varies based on the type of flower and its environment. Know that the flower may not bloom for 2-3 years.
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Section 2 of 4:

Propagating a Rose Bush by Layering It

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  1. 1
    Find a healthy branch low to the ground. Layering is a simple technique for propagating an existing rose bush. Check the lower branches of the bush, and select one that’s healthy and strong, with fresh growth at the end of the branch. [13]
    • New growth indicates the branch is in good health and will continue growing after layering.
    • It may be best to layer the rose bush in spring so it will have plenty of time to root.
  2. 2
    Scrape some of the bark off the branch where it meets the ground. Bend the branch down to the ground and notice where it touches the soil. Use a sharp knife or garden spade to carefully scrape away some of the bark, but don’t cut into the wood. [14]
    • Scraping the bark will encourage the rose bush to root at that spot.
    • To increase the chances of rooting, sprinkle rooting hormone over the spot that you scraped.
  3. 3
    Bury the cut spot on the branch 1–3 in (2.5–7.6 cm) underground. Dig a small hole where the branch meets the ground—no more than 3 in (7.6 cm) deep or wide. Place the branch in this hole, then firmly pack the dirt back into the hole on top of the branch. [15]
    • If you need to, place a stone or other weight on top of the hole so the branch doesn’t spring up out of the ground.
    • Leave the remainder of the branch out of the ground—only the part that you wounded should be in the soil.
  4. 4
    Wait about a year before dividing the plant. The section of the branch that you buried should root, effectively turning the branch into a healthy new plant. Wait until the following spring, then cut the branch away from the parent plant. [16]
    • If you’d like, you can dig up the new rose bush at this time and plant it wherever you’d like.
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Section 3 of 4:

Propagating a Rose Plant by Dividing It

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  1. During this time, your rose bush will be in a dormant state. Dividing it at this time will minimize shock to the plant and improve root growth. [17]
    • Avoid dividing rose bushes when they're in bloom.
    • Dividing roses is less popular than propagating by cuttings because it’s more difficult and time consuming. However, it can be a good option if you have an overgrown rose bush that you’d like to separate into two plants.
  2. To make sure that your divided rose bushes will thrive and produce healthy flowers, choose a healthy and established plant to divide. A healthy plant will:
    • Have plenty of leaves
    • Have leaves that are distributed evenly around the plant
    • Produce lots of flowers
  3. To minimize shock to the plant before you uproot and divide it, water the bush thoroughly. This will also help to loosen the soil around the roots, making it easier to remove the plant from the ground without damaging the roots. [18]
  4. Use a shovel to dig into the ground a few feet away from the bush's stem. Avoid digging into and damaging the roots. Once you’ve cleared the area around the plant, use your hands to brush away soil and expose the roots. [19]
    • When the roots are exposed and the area around the plant has been dug up, carefully pull the plant up from the ground.
  5. Lay the rose bush on the ground or place it into a wheelbarrow. With a sterilized pruning saw or sharp knife, carefully divide the plant into two equal halves by cutting the roots down the middle of the plant.
    • To sterilize your cutting tool, wipe the blade with 70% rubbing alcohol.
  6. Once the plant has been divided, place each half into a bucket and transfer the buckets to a shady place to protect them while you prepare the garden plot. To keep the plants moist, cover them with damp newspaper. [20]
    • Ideally, you want to keep the humidity around 50 percent to keep the plants moist without soaking them too much.
  7. In the area where you removed the original rose bush, replace the soil you dug up with fertile soil or organic matter to make sure there are plenty of nutrients in the garden bed for the new plants. Use your hands or a spade to mix in the new soil and spread it around the garden bed.
    • Good organic matter to add to the soil include aged compost or manure.
  8. Dig two holes in the garden bed you’ve prepared to the same depth as the original plant. Make the holes about 24 in (61 cm) apart. Plant the individual rose bushes in the holes and cover the roots with soil. Pack the soil around the roots with your hands.
    • Water the plants thoroughly.
    • Keep the rose bushes moist during the first year that they're establishing themselves.
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Section 4 of 4:

Keeping Your Roses Healthy

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  1. Roses grow best when they’re planted in an area with plenty of bright light. [21] However, if you’re in a very warm climate, it may be best to choose a location that gets indirect sunlight at mid-day when the sun is at its hottest.
    • In cooler climates, plant the roses in front of a south-facing or west-facing wall or fence to give the roses some extra protection and reflected heat.
  2. Roses need to be watered deeply, especially during their first year and during the warmer summer months. Provide deep soakings twice a week in summer to keep the soil consistently moist. [22]
    • The best way to water roses is with a drip irrigation system or soaker hose that concentrates water at the base and roots of the plant. If the flowers or foliage get wet, it could cause disease, fungus, and rot problems.
  3. Along with plenty of water and sunlight, roses also require regular feeding, especially before and during blooming periods. [23] In the spring and summer, between the months of April and July, provide the roses with a monthly application of nutrients, such as:
  4. Roses will thrive when they are pruned regularly, as pruning removes diseased stems, flowers, and leaves, and increases circulation throughout the plant. In the spring, use shears or loppers to remove dead flowers, diseased stems, and old leaves. [24]
    • Throughout the spring and summer, continue removing dead flowers and leaves as necessary.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What do I do with a rose cutting?
    Monique Capanelli
    Plant Specialist
    Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. She attended the University of Texas at Austin. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons.
    Monique Capanelli
    Plant Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone to help encourage root growth, then plant it in a pot with some good soil.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How do you grow roses from seed?
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.
    Katie Gohmann
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Rose seeds need to go through stratification (an artificial cold spell) for 10 to 12 weeks before they will sprout. This, combined with a germination success rate of 20-30% makes propagation by seed an unattractive prospect. on by seed an unattractive prospect. If you still want to try it, find a good source of information that will guide you through the process.
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  • Question
    How can I keep miniature roses alive?
    Community Answer
    I planted mine in to the ground just like a normal rose bush, amending the soil with rose fertilizer and alfalfa meal. It is gorgeous, but because it's low to the ground, you should make sure to use drip irrigation or a soaker hose to water it so it doesn’t get black spots from the water splashing on the leaves. If yours is in a pot, let it go dormant in the garage or close to your home to keep the pot from freezing. Keep it watered and in the spring it should come back with more fertilizer to keep it happy.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.pacificrosesociety.org/RootingRoseCuttingsImproved.html
      2. ↑ https://beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/01/how-do-i-propagate-roses-from-clippings/
      3. ↑ http://www.pacificrosesociety.org/RootingRoseCuttingsImproved.html
      4. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plant-propagation-by-stem-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener
      5. ↑ Monique Capanelli. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 September 2020.
      6. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-rose-cuttings/
      8. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plant-propagation-by-stem-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener
      9. ↑ Monique Capanelli. Plant Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 September 2020.
      1. ↑ https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/southerngarden/roseprop.html
      2. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      3. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plant-propagation-by-stem-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener
      4. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      5. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      6. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      7. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/topic-files/flower/propagation.pdf
      8. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plant-propagation-by-stem-cuttings-instructions-for-the-home-gardener
      9. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6601
      10. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/dividing-perennials
      11. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/dividing-perennials
      12. ↑ https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/growing-roses/
      13. ↑ https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/growing-roses/
      14. ↑ https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/growing-roses/
      15. ↑ https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/growing-roses/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to propagate roses, start by locating a stem on your rose bush with at least three leaves on it, then cut it off. Make a number of small cuts on the bottom part of the stem to encourage root growth and remove any flowers or withering leaves from the stem. To plant the cutting, fill a pot with soil, dip the cutting in rooting hormone, plant it in the soil, and water it. Finish by covering the stem with a glass jar, which creates a mini greenhouse and helps the plant grow. To learn how to divide rose plants and how to keep your roses healthy, read on!

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