What are the methods for propagating roses through cuttings?
Roses, as highly ornamental garden plants, use cutting propagation as an important method for rapidly cultivating new plants. Mastering the correct cutting methods can not only improve the survival rate but also maintain the superior characteristics of the parent plant. This article will systematically analyze the key operations of the two classic propagation methods: water cutting and soil cutting, to help you easily achieve rose breeding.
Water Cutting Method Guidelines
Cutting Treatment and Setup
Select semi-woody branches, retain the top 1-2 pairs of leaves and make a diagonal cut at the base. Innovatively adopt a sponge fixation method: embed 2/3 of the cutting into moistened sponge and place it in a transparent container, filling water to half the height of the sponge. This design maintains humidity while ensuring oxygen supply, effectively preventing decay.
Light Control and Water Change Schedule
Place in a bright environment with scattered light, avoiding strong midday sunlight in summer. Change the water and clean the container every 3 days, keeping the water temperature stable at 20-25°C. By observing the formation of white callus at the cut, new roots can usually be seen in 15-20 days.
Transplanting and Care Tips
When the roots grow to 3-5 cm, transplant using a mixture of peat soil and perlite (3:1) as the substrate. After transplanting, water thoroughly and keep the plant shaded for the first 3 days, gradually increasing the light intensity to ensure a smooth transition.
Soil Cutting Technique Analysis
Substrate Proportion and Disinfection Treatment
Mix pearlstone, vermiculite, and coconut bran (1:1:2) to make the cutting substrate, and sterilize at 121°C for 30 minutes. Dip the base of the cutting in 1000ppm indolebutyric acid rooting hormone, which can increase the rooting rate by over 40%.
Environmental Control System
Build a small arch shed to maintain 85% air humidity, keeping the daytime temperature between 22-28°C and not below 15°C at night. Use an intermittent misting system, misting for 5 minutes each at 10 am and 3 pm, keeping the leaves moist without积水.
Disease Prevention and Control Strategy
Alternately spray carbendazim and mancozeb solutions weekly to prevent black spot and root rot. After new buds sprout, apply 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer to promote the lignification of the roots.
The two cutting methods each have their advantages: the water cutting method is convenient for observing the rooting process and is suitable for beginners; the soil cutting method is closer to the natural growing environment, beneficial for cultivating strong plants. It is recommended to choose the appropriate method based on the cultivation environment and pay attention to seedling management after transplanting. Regularly check the soil EC value (recommended to be maintained at 0.8-1.2 mS/cm) and apply decomposed organic fertilizer to effectively improve the survival quality of cutting seedlings.