How to Keep a RoseAlive without Roots
When receiving rose branches from friends or purchasing fresh cut flowers online, it is common to encounter the dilemma of keeping rootless roses alive. Actually, even without roots, rose branches can be revitalized through scientific cutting methods. This article will introduce five key steps in detail, combined with professional maintenance techniques, to help you successfully cultivate healthy new plants.
Core Processing Steps
Branch Pretreatment
Select semi-lignified branches with a diameter of 8-10mm, and trim the base at a 45-degree angle with scissors disinfected by alcohol. Remove the leaves within 10cm of the lower end, retaining 2-3 compound leaves at the top. Soak in a rooting solution containing indole butyric acid for 2 hours, with a concentration of 1000ppm for optimal effect.
Substrate Preparation
Use a mixed substrate of perlite: vermiculite: peat in a ratio of 1:1:2, adjusting the pH value to 6.0-6.5. Before use, pour the substrate with a carbendazim solution for disinfection, fill it into a breathable ceramic pot with a diameter of 15cm, and place 3cm thick ceramic stones at the bottom to enhance drainage.
Key Points of Environmental Control
Light Management
Initially, place it in a diffused light environment with a light intensity of 5000-8000Lux. After 20 days, gradually increase to 10000Lux, avoiding direct sunlight at noon. Adjust with a shading net to maintain the leaf surface temperature ≤ 32℃.
Temperature and Humidity Control
Keep a temperature difference environment of 25±2℃ during the day and 18±2℃ at night. Control the air humidity between 70-80%, using a misting humidifier to spray for 15 seconds every hour, with a 30-minute interval cycle.
Later-stage Maintenance Techniques
When the new roots grow to 3cm, apply 1/4 concentration of 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer weekly. After 45 days, it can be transplanted to garden soil, adding bone meal and decomposed sheep manure as base fertilizer. Regularly check for pests such as red spiders, and spray neem oil in a timely manner for prevention.
Through staged precise control, the survival rate of rootless rose cuttings can reach over 85%. The key is to grasp the first 3 weeks of the rooting critical period, combined with hormone treatment and environmental control, even gardening beginners can successfully cultivate strong rose plants.