Technologies for rose propagation by cuttings, layering, and budding

Roses of the Rosaceae family include about 350 species and tens of thousands of cultivars. In commercial floriculture, hybrid tea cultivars and the floribunda group are the most in demand. Hybrid tea roses, obtained by crossing tea roses with hybrid perpetuals, reach a height of 80 cm. Floribunda roses are created by hybridizing polyantha roses with hybrid teas and are characterized by strong shoots and large inflorescences.

Rose propagation methods: cuttings, layering, and budding

Greenwood cutting is carried out in June–July, immediately after the first flowers fade. For preparing nursery plants, mature current-year shoots are selected. Cutting and preparing the cuttings are performed according to a strictly defined technology.

1. Cut 6–8 cm long cuttings with 2–3 buds from the middle part of the shoot.
2. Leave 2 leaves on each cutting to prevent drying out.
3. Seal the top cut with grafting wax or modeling clay.
4. Tie the cuttings into bundles and immerse their bottom ends in water for 24 hours.
5. Plant the prepared cuttings at a depth of 2 cm in sod soil with leaf humus, covered with a layer of sand about 5 cm thick on top.
6. Water the plantings abundantly and cover with film to create high humidity. Once shoot growth begins, remove the film.

The second method of propagation is planting in the soil under glass jars. In this case, watering is carried out without removing the jars, and the cover is removed only after young sprouts appear. Propagation by layering is the least labor-intensive method. To do this, lay strong side shoots into trenches 6–8 cm deep, press them to the ground with hooked pegs, and cover with soil, leaving the ends of the shoots on the surface. From one developed bush, one can obtain up to 10 rooted layers ready for transplanting already in the first year.

For budding, rosehip is used as a rootstock. Budding with a dormant eye is performed from the third ten-day period of July to mid-September. Before starting the procedure, the rootstock must be prepared.

1. Water the rosehip bushes abundantly before grafting, clear the root collar from the soil, and clean the stem of side branches to a height of 10 cm.
2. Cut eyes with a thin layer of wood from well-matured rose cuttings.
3. Insert the eye into the T-shaped incision on the rosehip and wrap tightly with electrical tape, non-sticky side to the stem.
4. Hill up the plant with soil 5 cm above the budding site.

Soil preparation, bush planting, and care

Roses can be grown in one place for many years. Therefore, it is important to prepare the soil well before planting. The main parameters for site preparation and planting are given below.

• Soil tillage depth — 40 cm
• Organic matter application — 9 kg/m²
• Root collar depth — 2–3 cm below ground level
• Systematic loosening depth — 8 cm

The standard planting scheme provides a distance of 70 cm between holes. For vigorous branched cultivars, the distance is increased to 1 m. When planting, it is important to ensure that the graft site or root collar is 2–3 cm below the soil surface. After planting the plants, they are watered abundantly and mulched with a 2–3 cm layer of composted manure.

Pruning regulates growth vigor and contributes to the normal development of the plant. The first pruning is performed immediately before planting. Subsequently, the rule is followed: vigorous shoots are pruned lightly, medium ones — moderately, and weak ones — heavily. As a result, a strong bush is loaded with more buds than a weak one, which yields more shoots and flowers. The cut is made with sharp pruning shears at an angle above an unopened bud.

After pruning, 5 kg of humus, 10 g of ammonium nitrate, 15 g of potash salt, and 20 g of superphosphate are applied per square meter of planting. During the growing season, 3–4 liquid top dressings are performed. The first is carried out during budding, the subsequent ones — after the end of the first, second, and third flowering, respectively.

1. Fill a container with cow manure to 1/3 of its volume and add 0.5 kg of wood ash.
2. Pour water over the mixture, stir, and leave in the sun to ferment for 10–15 days.
3. Dilute the resulting solution with water in a 10:1 ratio, add mineral fertilizers, and water the plantings.

Care for the plantation also includes regular weed control and loosening of the soil to a depth of about 8 cm. Systematic and abundant irrigation of the bushes is necessary. The presence of moisture is especially critical during periods of active shoot growth and bud development.