Roses are red, violets are blue.
We know how to grow from a branch, and now you’ll know too.
This isn’t really the ending to the iconic poem but we really do mean what we just said.
If you want to start a rose garden from rose branches you’ve got from a wedding, graduation, or Valentine’s Day, you’ve come to the right place.
The most identifiable plant in the world.
The culture around roses can be traced back to Ancient Greece where the flower is associated with Aphrodite.
Since then, it’s become a symbol for various ideas and institutions – from religion, royalty, and virtues such as love and purity.
As such, it also became one of the most popular garden plants in the world. It’s easy to start your own, just as long as you have rose branches to spare.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Rose branches
- Sand
- Plastic jugs
- Soldering iron
- Tools for cutting
Prepare the branches.
1. Sift through your rose bouquet branches and choose the healthier-looking ones.
2. Trim the branches to around 7 to 8 inches in length. Also trim bigger leaf stems, especially the yellowish ones.
3. Then, using a box cutter, cut a wedge on one end of the branch. This will expose the flesh inside the branch and encourage roots to break out.
It will also be easier to push them into the sand.
Now, let’s get planting!
1. Using the soldering iron, punch drainage holes in the bottom part of the water jugs. This can also be done with the tip of a glue gun or a sharp object, just be careful.
2. Fill the jugs with sand. You can also use a smaller water jug to create an improvised funnel if you don’t have any. Just cut the top part of the jug.
Recycle the bottom as a planter, too.
3. Stick the branches inside the plastic jugs. Use about three branches for each jug.
Make sure to space them properly.
4. Fill the jugs with water until it covers the sand. It will drain by itself through the drainage system you punched in the bottom of the jugs.
5. Seal the jugs by screwing the caps back on, or you can use a piece of plastic large enough to cover the opening. Wrap a rubber band around it to secure the seal.
Wait for 10 days.
After almost two weeks, you’ll notice some new buds along the branches. The color will also be much more vibrant than before.
Cut the jug to remove the upper half to convert the jug into a planter. Let it sit for a couple of weeks. You’ll notice that the branches will have new leaves.
You can now transfer these starters into bigger planters with soil.
To prepare the planter, mix together coir and soil. Put some coir into the pot as the first layer then fill the pot with the soil and coir mixture.
Plant your starters into their new pots. Water them regularly but also make sure to not wet the foliage too much as it can lead to fungal diseases.
After four months, you can expect your first bloom.
Get the full tutorial in the video below!
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