As nature lovers and green living, we all want our home gardens to be filled with colour and fragrance. Today I will share with you a simple and effective method of propagating roses by cuttings. Use only natural ingredients available in your kitchen or garden.
No chemicals, no expense, just a little patience and a love for plants. Let’s get started. For more simple methods to boost rooting, see Spoon Trick Boosts Rose Cutting Roots.
Ingredients for Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
Prepare ingredients. Rose stems 15 to 20 cm long. Rice, garlic, beer, and water.
Rice starch and enzymes from fermented rice produce organic acids which act as natural rooting stimulants. Garlic, rich in allicin, is antibacterial and antifungal. It helps prevent stem rot and supports rooting.
Beer contains yeast, vitamin B, and sugar. It helps nourish beneficial bacteria and stimulate root formation. And 300 milliliters water.
1. Mix the Rooting Solution for Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced, the finer the better so the enzyme allinase can convert alliin to allicin more effectively. Put minced garlic in a glass cup or glass jar. Pour in 100 milliliters of water and soak at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Take three spoons of rice. Put rice in a jar or cup and pour in 200 milliliters of clean water. Stir well.
Let stand for 1 hour at room temperature to dissolve starch and enzymes. After soaking, mix garlic water and rice water. Strain the garlic water and rice water through a sieve or clean cloth to remove garlic residue and rice grains.
Add 100 milliliters of draft beer. Stir well and let stand for a few hours in a cool place. This is your natural rooting solution.
2. Prepare and Soak Cuttings in Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
Choose branches that are not too young or too old. The branches must be healthy, free of pests, and not rotten or crushed. Remove all leaves from the lower part of the branch to reduce water evaporation and limit energy loss when the cutting has not yet rooted.
Cut the base of the rose stem at a 45-degree angle. Dip the base of the plant in the rooting solution. For faster callus and root response on some varieties, see the thin-slice method in Thin Rose Slice Rapid Root Growth.
3. Plant and Care in Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
To help rose branches grow roots quickly and healthily, I choose coconut fiber as the growing medium. Coconut fibre retains moisture very well but is still airy and does not cause water logging. The loose texture helps young roots grow easily.
Prep the medium in Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
Before planting, I moisten the coco coir with the natural rooting solution that I have just created. This solution keeps the medium moist, helps roots form quickly, and effectively prevents fungus. It gives the cuttings a steady start.
Plant and cover in Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
After preparing the substrate, I insert the rose cuttings into the coconut fibre. Leave one or two nodes on the surface of the substrate, that is where the new shoots will grow. The remaining nodes below the substrate will help the roots grow stronger.
I use a large clear cup to cover the cutting cup. This helps retain humidity, limits evaporation, and creates an ideal mini greenhouse for easier cuttings. Place cuttings in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
Daily care and signs of success
Every day I lightly mist the remaining rooting solution to keep the growing medium and cuttings moist. After a few weeks you will see the magic really happen. White roots begin to grow from the base of the branch, strong and sturdy.
From the exposed nodes, fresh green shoots grow, signalling the cutting has begun a new life. Finally, I use a little turmeric powder and gently rub it on the cut to help protect it from rotting. To speed up shoot formation once roots appear, try the ideas in Fruit Speeds Rose Bud Growth.
Final Thoughts on Natural Rose Cutting Propagation
This is a gentle but fun journey, and I hope you will try it at home. With simple kitchen ingredients and steady care, rose cuttings can root strong and start fresh growth. Keep conditions humid, indirect, and clean for the best results.