Hard to believe, but true: roses can be grown from potatoes! You can find out how this works in our clear instructions for rose propagation using potatoes!
An insider tip among hobby gardeners is to propagate roses using potatoes. This may sound a bit strange, but it is extremely effective! Because the nightshades are very nutritious, which also benefits rose cuttings. In combination, this initially creates a rose potato, from which, ideally, a beautiful rose bush grows. You don't need a green thumb to do this, as our guide will walk you through the process step-by-step!
What is needed?
First and foremost, of course, for one potato and on the other one rose stem needed. This method also has the advantage that no special equipment is required. Because most hobby gardeners have everything they need at home anyway:
- sterile, sharp secateurs
- large raw potato
- plant pot
- loose, humus-rich soil
- small shovel
- plastic bottle
notice: The flower pot and substrate is only required if the rose potato is not to be buried in the bed.
Instructions for propagating roses with potatoes
First of all, it should be ensured that all utensils are available and the pruning shears are disinfected. Because cutting off creates a wound, which in turn makes it easier for bacteria and pests to penetrate the plant. The roses can then be grown from potatoes as follows:
Step 1: Take cuttings
The cuttings can be taken from a beautiful bouquet of flowers as well as from the self-planted rose bush in the garden. It is important that the mother plant and the cuttings are healthy. The best way to get the cuttings is as follows:
- Cut off rose stems that are about 7-10 cm long
- remove leaves
- Decapitate the rose about 3 cm below the blossom
- Cut the stalk crosswise
- preferably at a 45 degree angle
Step 2: Prepare potatoes
The potato serves as a base for the cutting and should therefore be slightly larger. Here, too, it is important that only undamaged and healthy specimens are used. It is therefore advisable to first check them for any damage before preparing them for propagation as follows:
- Hold the potato horizontally
- Drill a hole in the middle
- so deep that inner center is reached
- big enough to fit the stem of the rose
- Gently push the rose stem into the hole
- it should be anchored as well as possible
Step 3: Bury rose potatoes
If it is ensured that the rose stalk has enough support, the rose potato can be buried. For this purpose, it can either be used directly in the flower bed or in a flower pot. However, the method with the pot is usually more popular and is as follows:
- Cover the bottom of the pot with substrate
- about 5 cm is sufficient
- Lay rose potatoes on the ground
- Fill pot with substrate
- about ¾ of the pot height is sufficient
Step 4: Simulate greenhouse
In the flower pot there is the possibility of simulating a kind of greenhouse and thus creating better conditions for the cuttings. Practical here is that already a conventional plastic bottle can produce this effect. This is first carefully cleaned and then prepared and attached as follows:
- remove the lid
- Cut off the bottom of the bottle
- Put the bottle over the cutting
- Put the bottle in the ground
- so deep that she stands firmly in it
Step 5: Care and Duration
If everything goes well, the rose cutting will now be supplied with nutrients and moisture by the potato. Ideally, the first roots will develop after a short time, with a period of around 10 days being considered normal. To test whether the cutting is already rooted, simply gently pull on it. If resistance is felt, the first roots have already formed and the chances of successful propagation have increased significantly. This is even better if the cutting is cared for professionally:
- Place the jar in a sunny spot
- avoid direct sun
- Always keep soil moist
- do not pour into the bottle when watering
- but in the earth around the bottle