Question
How do you root roses? Or, how do you get more plants from the ones you have?                
                                 Thank-you,
                                  Michele

Answer
Hi, Michele--let me start by saying that some roses root from cuttings more easily than others!  Don't be discouraged if you are not immediately successful--keep trying!

You will need some type of rooting hormone.  There are liquid and powder forms, and I find the powdered more easily available--the brand I use is "Root Tone", though there may be others available.

The fresher the cutting the more likely it is to root.  That is, rooting from the pieces you prune off your bushes this spring is generally more successful than rooting from stems of florist roses, though the variety Raphaella does very well.

You want to use stems that are just a bit smaller in diameter than a #2 pencil with several bud eyes (small triangular swellings) showing on the stem.  You find bud eyes where leaflets are attached.  If the stems are long, cut them into sections with 2-3 bud eyes apiece.  Carefully trim or pull off all but one or two sets of leaves at the top.  At the bottom, carefully (with your thumbnail or a sharp knife) scrape off some of the outer green "bark" without damaging any of the bud eyes.  Dip this scraped end into the rooting hormone, then push into a cup or tray filled with moist sand or soil. If rooting indoors, you will need a "grow lamp". An alternative is to stick them directly into the bed slightly under the bush where it will receive indirect sunlight.  Cover the cutting with a ziploc bag or a 2-3 liter soda bottle with the bottom cut out.  If too much moisture builds up on the cover, remove the bag or bottle cap for a few hours.  It usually takes 6-8 weeks for new leaves to bud out.  When this happens, "wean" the cutting out from under its covering.  When the leaves are fairly large, transplant the cutting into a small pot with good drainage holes.  When the roots begin to show out the bottom, transplant into a larger pot.  Feed with diluted liquid (half-strength) fertilizer for about a year before using anything stronger.  After a year or two, they can go into larger pots or into the bed.

You may want to visit the American Rose Society site at http://www.ars.org for more information.  There are lots of friendly folks on the rose forums at GardenWeb.com, and you can always reach me here!
Margarett in Memphis