Growing rose cuttings in potatoes has recently become a trending topic in the gardening community. This fun gardening hack is a great way to spruce up your garden and encourage root growth, which leads to bushier growth!
Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds – all you have to do is take the cutting and grow it with your potato plant!
Nonetheless, we are going to share some top-notch tips for growing rose cuttings in potatoes, so stay tuned!
Does It Actually Work?
According to gardening experts, propagating roses using a cutting and a potato definitely works!
Although in some cases roses won’t grow, but you can still try and do it – it is a new gardening hack that you can have fun with and still gain something out of.
If you are wondering why we use potatoes; well, it is because they make sure that the rose cutting stays moist and not too wet, thus creating perfect growing conditions for the root system.
Additionally, potatoes can also provide the roses with the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive. These plants combine well together and create an interesting display in the garden.
In case you are having issues with roses not blooming, check out these 10+ Reasons Your Roses Aren’t Blooming This Season.
Here’s What You’ll Need
Don’t worry, you won’t need to spend much money on this little experiment. Here’s what you’ll need:
• White or red potato
• Gardening gloves
• Healthy rose cutting
• Sterile knife
• Secateurs
• Screwdriver or corkscrew
• Fertile soil
• Clean pot
• Rooting hormone
Step-by-step Instructions To Growing Rose Cuttings In Potatoes
Once you have gathered all of the required equipment, it’s time to get to work. This is an easy process and I’m sure that you won’t have any problems, even if you are a beginner gardener.
Let’s get started!
1. Take The Cutting
You should first get a rose cutting – look for a healthy stem that has a few leaf nodes. Cut it at a 45-degree angle using clean secateurs and remove the bottom leaves. Then go and grab your potato!
2. Make Sure To Prepare The Potato
The second step is to prepare the potato – all you have to do is make a small hole that goes about halfway into the potato so that the cutting can fit in. This can be done with either a screwdriver or corkscrew. Some gardeners even use a drill, though I don’t think it’s necessary.
3. Plant Your Rose In Potato
The next step is planting – fill two-thirds of your pot with compost-rich soil. Leave just enough space so that you can plant the potato.
At this point you can dip your cutting in a rooting hormone, although this is optional. A budget-friendly option would be honey. Then, gently push the cutting into the hole and put the tomato in the soil. Press the soil down and ensure that the potato is completely covered.
You should leave the top third of the cutting above the soil surface.
4. Water Thoroughly
So the fourth step is the aftercare – make sure to water the cutting and put it somewhere warm and bright. A balcony or patio is good if you don’t have enough garden space.
If you need some tips for growing roses, you should learn How To Grow Roses And Effectively Deal With Common Issues.
5. Wait Patiently
Rose roots usually develop after 4 to 8 weeks, so be patient. Once you spot new leaves, it’s time to transplant your young plant to a bigger pot. Or you can transplant it outdoors in the garden!
Now, there is no scientific evidence that proves this method is more effective than the others, but it sure is a fun way to plant rose cuttings. I mean, mixing potatoes and roses is definitely not something you do on a regular basis.
Share this method with your friends and have fun planting together!