Basically there are two ways, two different times of the year to grow roses from cuttings. Softwood Cutting Season begins in June and continues through the summer. By fall the wood hardens off and you have to do things a bit differently, You have to Apply Hardwood Cutting Strategies.
Let’s keep things simple and put rose propagation into two different categories.
#1: The Mason Jar Method
The Burrito Method
The Mason Jar Method is described in this Post in Detail, but essentially, in the fall, it’s as simple as sticking a few rose cuttings in the soil and covering them with a Mason jar.
You can use that method in the fall with good success, but keep in mind, no mater what you do in the fall it is going to take longer because the wood is hard and the cuttings are dormant.
The Burrito Method goes like this;
Gather some canes from the roses that you’d like to propagate. Do Not Propagate Patented Plants. No matter who or why you are doing them, it’s against the law to propagate patented plants. Check the tag for patent info.
Remove the leaves and side branches. All you really want is the stem. You can leave the thorns.
If you look closely the little green bump to the right of my pruning shears is a leaf node, or a bud union. That’s where new leaves and eventually new branches emerge from. When making a hardwood cutting you want to cut right below, but not into, that bud union.
The piece of stem below the bud union will die and rot if you leave it and you really don’t want that going on underground when your cuttings are trying to root. The new roots will emerge from and around that bud union.
I rarely wound any of the cuttings that I make, even hardwood cuttings, but since roses are a little finicky when it comes to getting them to root I’d recommend wounding the cuttings on two sides. Just scrape with a knife and remove the bark, exposing the cambium layer.
Any rooting compound will do, powder, liquid or gel, it makes no difference. I like liquid rooting compounds because you have to mix them with water and you simple adjust the strength for hardwood or softwood cuttings when you mix it.
The directions are on the bottle. With powders you have to buy different strengths for different times of year. Softwood cuttings in summer, hardwood cuttings in fall and winter.
That’s it! Fold the bag over, secure it with a string, rubber band or twist tie and place in a cool place and wait. Typically you should see roots in about 6 weeks.
Once the cuttings show some roots or even just the building up of callous they can be potted or planted in a garden. But don’t be in a hurry, the cuttings in the Burrito should be fine for a number of weeks.
Be sure to visit this page for More About Growing Roses from Cuttings.
Questions or comments, post them below.
I started my rose cuttings in fine fir bark, took the cuttings in November, they had nasty weathered leaves, (Oregon) and put them in their own little greenhouse, a 58 gallon opaque tub with a lid. The tub is inside my house which I keep very cool. I’m the only one living here and sweats work fine for me.. The first leaves died and fell off, new leaves sprouted after that. Don’t know what the roots are doing now. I had little twigs left over with no leaves. I decided to put them into a cup of water to see what they would do. Eventually I put a little powdered rooting hormone into the cup water and dipped one of the twigs in the rooting hormone and put it into the water. All three twigs in the cup water have two or three roots that are now about 1/8th of an inch long. It’s been a little over three months, don’t know what’s going to happen eventually. I understand from one source it takes about two months to get decent roots. I’ll give it another month or two before attempting to look at the roots in the fir bark. Hopefully they’ll shoot out of the bottom of the nursery pots before too much longer. I’ve also started the end of a celery stalk, now about four inches tall, started it in a bowl of water, nothing else. Don’t know what will be done with the celery eventually. It’s fun to experiment with these things. Just wish I had some acreage and didn’t live in an HOA. Can’t do anything in your back yard here without the neighbors yapping to the HOA. Using my other email address for this post, don’t want my yappy neighbor to be able to identify me by my last name used in my official email address.
Joanne,
I get the HOA thing, but keep in mind, it’s probably fine to “garden” in your backyard. Selling and attracting that kind of attention would be the issue.
Ha, we know about HOA! But roses should be a plus. And thank you for writing! It gives me encouragement , I also live in oregon.
This is an old thread but I am going to chance you seeing this. I am in south Ga where our Knock-out roses live and bloom all year. In december would i fair better make a soft cutting or cut deeper for a hard cutting?
I hope to find this thread again. I wrote once befor but now cant remember which thread it was.
Thanks for all you do, Mylinda White
Mylinda,
Softwood cuttings will be much quicker to root and this time of the year they should be a tad more sturdy than in the growing season.
I no longer have a tag from my rose bushes; bought them several years ago. So how do I know if they are patented?
Toni,
The short answer is that you don’t. If you want to propagate them to sell, you really need to buy some properly tagged plants and propagate those so you know the true variety and you know whether or not they are patented. That’s one of the mail rules if growing to sell, only propagate properly tagged plants.
I have propagated 2 cuttings. both have already made leaves and the leaves are opening up. I was wondering if I should bring them in for the winter or leave them out?
I also have a smaller potted rose bush that I received a year ago. It flowered for the entire year indoors, but All the leaves fell off exactly one year later. I placed the pot outside because I thought it does, but seems like only one of the stems died completely. the other is still alive. It made alot of new leaves. I was wondering if I should leave it outside or bring it back in?
Ali,
Plants need to be outside so they can go dormant and rest. They are engineered to spend winters outside.
I’ve taken some cuttings from my mother in law’s before we sold the house. They’re doing well with the mason jar method but we’re coming up on fall/winter. What can I do to keep them happy and healthy throughout the winter indoors until I can plant outside in the spring?
Bizzy,
They really need to go dormant so they can rest. Probably need to be outside in a well protected area. ?????
I am in same situation as above. Im in CT. I have propogated some in small pots and now what should I do with them since it is fall and then winter. Bring them inside or can I plant them now outside and hope they survive? its about 40 ish degrees at night right now. thanks
Kathy,
Roses are deciduous plants and they need to go dormant for the winter. I’d leave them outside in a protected area where they get moisture but not too much.
VERY GOOD BLOG ON ROSES.LEARNING EXPERIENCE
I took 50 rose cuttings removed all the leaves soaked the cuttings in water with a little bleach for a hour then washes with clean water, wrapped in damp news paper I then wrapped in dry paper to soak up any extra water, placed in plastic bag, put in warm cupboard 70F for four weeks 46 are showing roots and are ready for planting into pots
Norman,
That’s great! Nice job.
Thanks for this Norman, I’m just about to do my first Burrito and was wondering about doing it this way, ie wettish newspaper surrounded by dry as I’ve heard the biggest issue with Burritos is over-wet newspaper; a mistake I seem to make a lot with my rooting attempts.
Going to get my shears and get started, many thanks, and to Mike of course!
How does propagation work with cuttings placed into a potatoe?
In the southeast, at this time of year, we are about to move and I want to cut off a climbing rose to root in a clay pot. Will this work and what are the steps?
Also can i grow the climbing rose in a clay pot for years, i am not yet sure the area we are moving will allow in ground plants.
Rick,
It’s worth a try but softwood taken in summer roots much easier. You can keep a rose in a pot for a while.
After starting miniature rose cuttings in mid June and they are rooted in mid August what should someone do with them the first winter to make sure winter doesn’t kill them?
Paul,
Plant them in your garden and straw them for extra protection. The sooner you get them planted the more established by the time winter comes.
Would the burrito method work for grape vine cuttings? If so when is going to be the most ideal time? (Central Utah speaking.)
LaNae,
It probably would if done after Thanksgiving.
I’ve done my Roses a different way, by also scaping the sides and dipping them in rooting compound but, I’ve made a hole or a couple of holes in a potatoe the same size as the stem, placed the rose end in, placed the potatoe on a through away margerin cover upside down and put a mason jar upside down on it, stuck it in a dark place and 4 weeks..it works great for me…
Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Thankyou for your lesson on potatoe propagating. Will experiment with icebergs, my favorite rose for display in a garden pathway
If you make your berrito in the late fall can the cuttings last till spring?
Ray,
Possibly, I really don’t know for sure. Just make sure you wring out the newspaper really well so it’s not too wet.
Thank you for your timely advice. It is very much appreciated. You emphasis on patented is certainly commendable! I have a wonderful little rose bush that produces numerous flowers all summer long. Is there a DNA test or something that will help me keep honest?.
Clifton,
No there is not. You can only propagate from plants that you have the original tag so you know for sure what variety you are propagating. See my rant; Are the cuttings that you have to stick “Rant Compliant”.
Honestly, this is the most important thing I can teach new members.
http://freeplants.com/rant.htm
Now explained in a more technical way, this article is worth it’s weight in gold;
http://www.amerinursery.com/growing/propagation/why-names-matter/
can you root red tip photinas this same way?
Ronda,
I don’t know but I’d guess not.
Mike, I believe the main reason so many fail in their first attempt at the burrito method is due to their newspaper wrap being too wet. Thus the mildew. When you wet your paper down you also need to wring out as much moisture as possible before you wrap the roses and place them in the plastic sealed bag. It is the excess amount of moisture that brings on the mildew and mold. You only need a damp environment to keep the roses hydrated and the plastic bag will hold whatever amount of moisture you place it there. Too much is not good; it wets down the roses and doesn’t let them breathe. Having too little is hard to do if you completely wet the paper before you wring it out as much as you possibly can. Hand-wringing will not remove too much.
Thanks Ron, as always, your advice is spot on!
Mike, I believe the main reason so many fail in their first attempt at the burrito method is due to their newspaper wrap being too wet. Thus the mildew. When you wet your paper down you also need to wring out as much moisture as possible before you wrap the roses and place them in the plastic sealed bag. It is the excess amount of moisture that brings on the mildew and mold. You only need a damp environment to keep the roses hydrated and the plastic bag will hold whatever amount of moisture you place it there. Too much is not good; it wets down the roses and doesn’t let them breathe. Having too little is hard to do if you completely wet the paper before you wring it out as much as you possibly can. Hand-wringing will not remove too much.
Mike it’s the middle of November here in Utah and I am moving into a retirement center and want to take some cuttings of two of my rose bushes. I’m curious to see what will be the best way to get them rooted? And can I plant them in pots out on my balcony? Thanks for all of the tips and hints that you given over the years.
Mike, I did exactly as you and the u-tube video suggested to propragate roses and I now am ready to plant indoors to start them but when I opened them they were moldy… are they ruined?
Dot,
Molding is not good, I’d try more and remove all the leaves or wait and do some in June. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
ok Thanks Mike. . I didn’t have any leaves on the stems, and did go in and cut off the tops that had mold and washed them… I threw out the ones that were really bad… I’ll see w hat happens..
Thanks again for such a quick reply.
Just cut some from your garden again . Make a hole in the ground and place each stick at 12inch apart . And the top of the stick should be just same lavel with ground. Cover everything with good quality soiland put extra like 1 inch up from the top after you stem. .put a piece of some fabric on top .and cover that with soil. Like 4inch. Ok m spring just remove from the top of your roses that soil tougher with the fabric.
Saw the planting rose stems in a hole in a potatoe to start. Pretty interesting! They seemed to take nicely…then I was away a lomg time and they perished..
If you add 4 ounces of household hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to soak your newpaper, there will be less chance of mold. ‘;D
Mike. I used your sand method this fall and now have leaves on four of my cuttings and one is still green, but no leaves. I have them in my basement under lights and on a heating mat. Should I replant the ones with leaves into a potting soil pot?
Thanks, Rod.
Rod,
I wouldn’t move them until they pretty well rooted. Unrooted cuttings can make leaves but then often fail. That happens when you try and root them inside where it’s warm.
Is this where you gently tug on the stem to test for roots? Thanks, Rod.
Rod,
That’s what I do with all of my rooting cuttings. A gentle pull on the cutting tells me if the cutting is rooted. If not rooted it slips right out of the sand or other medium and I simply put it back. Even some that are just rooting might come out, I simply re-plant them and let them finish rooting. After you do it a few times you will know the feeling of success when they are rooted.
Mike, Here in Houston Texas we still have only seen 3 nights below 50 degrees this year with most days being highs in the upper 70’s and lows near 60. Do you see any issues with the burrito technique in this temperature range?
Andy,
No, just remove all of the leaves so you don’t have issues with rotting.
I followed this burrito method last year in Utah with about a hundred rose cuttings and buried them in the ground for the winter. When I dug them up in the spring, they were all ruined with mold. I had even dipped them in a 10% solution of bleach to kill the bad stuff. Needless to say, it was very discouraging. Not sure what I did wrong? I would not be able to pot them up in 6 weeks because it is still winter and I would need a greenhouse for that many pots.
Bill,
Clearly they were too wet for too long. Just recently we had a member do this in September and roots and calloused cuttings in 6 weeks.
I love trees , Sir David Attenborough’s Secret Life of Plants documentaries and Donald Trump.
Hi Mike , greetings from Ireland. I’m Chris, Campervan Dan for short. I’m a big fan of yours. You are the guru of horticulture. Long may you continue to inspire and educate people on the magic and value of plant life. Without our earthly botanical hosts converting the sun’s deadly rays into breathable oxygen and somehow miraculously creating rain clouds to automatically water themselves and the crops, us ignorant humans could not exist. I was born and grew up close to a wild hardwood forest. Oaks , Horse Chestnuts , Beeches , Elms , Birches , Willows were my childhood playmates. My older siblings said I was away with the fairies because I formed some kind of unexplainable mystical connection with my towering woodland friends, all of whom I had named. When god is busy I still quietly pray to the trees everywhere and thank them for caring for me.
Plants are intelligent living beings and you are one HECK of a lucky man Mike – being able to make your living working so close to the soul of the earth. Little wonder you look so happy in your videos. If there be such a thing as Karma, Mother Nature will reincarnate you in a future lifetime and make you her master gardener. Well done Sir!
Anyway – here’s something I fluked on that might be helpful to you and your fans who grow trees commercially from cuttings. I’ve been doing this as a hobby most of my life – without rooting hormone and with only a modest success rate compared to yours.
If you plant the cuttings 2ft apart approx., instead of a few inches, (if you have the space that is) and leave the plant where it rooted for 2 growth seasons (2 years) it will grow many times bigger in that time than the one that’s been uprooted and potted or transplanted. I don’t know the science behind this but I’ve witnessed it time and again with all breeds of broadleaf beauties. The little darlings seem to like their space or maybe the uprooting stunts their growth? Horse Chestnuts will sprout a blossom and a cone in their third year, which could boost profits for you and your fans.
A botanist called Hannah in the Royal Horticultural Society UK , (of which tree loving Prince Charles future King of England is a patron), is currently running tests on my little accidental discovery. So far so good she says.
I’ve joined your gang and I’m starting to receive e-mails from Mike’s backyard nursery, much appreciated.
PS. I’m 63 years young with not a pain or ache and a great family – grandchildren and all – thank the trees.
Our occupations are different Mike but when I read your life story I thought I was reading my own. I was deported from America twice before I ever heard of Donald Trump.
Good luck to you and yours and the donkeys of course.
Interesting concept, let us know how the royal experiment goes. Thank you for you kind comments and thanks for sharing this information.
Mike, I am in South Australia and we are coming into summer now. My neighbour got roses growing along my driveway over the fence, so I went outside and knick a cane from one of their rose bush to practice the burrito method. My question is not about the rose but I thought I would share what I did because it’s funny. What I want to ask is, can I use the burrito method on other plants. I would like to root some gardenia and yes, I own a bush LOL.
Mary,
The Burrito method is best for dormant plant. During the summer do one of these; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/. Gardenias are tricky but softwood cuttings is the way to do them.
Do you think you would get the same results if you grew roses or other bushes from cuttings using your method of not moving them and giving appropriate space per the plant?
I’m not sure what space would be best but just curious what your thoughts are on not moving playing a vital part and what you based your spacing on.
Michelle,
That would work but then you’d have to wait until dormant when you did decide to move them.
Bill,
You really don’t need a greenhouse to pot things up during the winter. Once rooted many things are perfectly happy outdoors, even in cold climates. Your cuttings obviously were too wet for too long. Recently a member reported that he did this in September and had rooted cuttings in 6 to 8 weeks. Somebody else in another comment said she only wraps the bottom half of the cutting and keeps them in the house.
How Do I gt rid of Trumpet taking over my garden?
Loretta, see this, follow the same procedures.
Hi Mike, you said to place the Rose burrito in a cool place for approx 6 weeks. Would I be able to keep them in my greenhouse over winter or will it freeze?
I have no heat in there, or where would it be cool to keep them? In or outside? I would love to do these and get good at them!
Thanks
Barbie
Barb,
Too much cold is going to stall the process. You can try the fridge or try some place warmer. This is going to sound crazy but if you had a hole in the ground, left open, don’t back fill it, then cover with a board and straw it’s not likely to freeze in there. Keep in mind, many have water meters in their front yard that are only 18″ deep in an open vault and they never freeze. I once had a pit like that where I stored bare root trees until spring.
You say keep the cuttings in a cool place, but that’s a bit ambiguous, what does that really mean? What kind of temperature range is needed.
Jay,
Cool, not freezing. Some place like a fruit cellar would be ideal.
Mike,
I’m confused about the next steps to take. I live in Gallatin, TN – it’s Nov 19th and our temp are finally starting to be seasonal (overnight at 40 +/- 5 and days 60 +/- 5 degrees).
I started two groups of softwood cutting six weeks and again three weeks ago using your idea with a tented plastic bag. Providing the oldest lot of cuttings have roots, should I transplant those into pots or straight into the ground and mulch them up for the winter? The second lot probably don’t have roots yet…how do I handle this last lot?
Thank you for your emails and information.
Joe
Joe,
Depending on what you are trying to root most likely your cuttings were not as soft as you think. This late in the season (Nov) things are really starting to harden off. But none the less, just uncover your cuttings or at least your unrooted cuttings and put them in a protected area outside and they should root in the spring. Hardwood roots very slowly so be patient. If the first batch is rooted you can leave them as is, outside, or plant in a bed or pot. A bed is probably better at this point. All of my rooted cuttings spend the winter in the propagation beds, out in the elements, uncovered. See this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-winter-time-plant-propagation-can-home/
Thanks Mike.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the tip, It snowed last night so feel it’s a little late for roses, but I do have a question about paniculata hydrangeas like my old Tardiva & PeeGee’s. I keep reading about soft wood cuttings in Spring/Summer, but nothing about hardwood cuttings. Since the plants will be cut down anyway (in the Spring) can I start new ones with the hardwood in the Winter?
Let me know if you can,
Ken
Ken,
Absolutely you can! I do a lot of Annabelle as hardwood cuttings and this winter we’ll also do Nikko Blue, Forever Pink and All Summer Beauty. See this https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-winter-time-plant-propagation-can-home/ and this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/09/hardwood-cuttings-winter-of-20152016/
The Burrito Method – Can you do this method in fall/winter?
Joe,
Yes you can.
Please say a little more about PLANTING the rose cuttings after they have sprouted roots.
Lisa,
Very simple. Once rooted just plant them in your garden, keep them trimmed so they fill out. Then when dormant move them to a permanent place in your landscape.
Can I root a dogwood, gardenia or hydrangea the same burrito way?thx!
Diane,
Hydrangea yes, some dogwood shrubs yes, but see this https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/09/hardwood-cuttings-winter-of-20152016/
I’m here in Indiana… a neighbor 🙂 And SUPER interested as I have an old rose I love! But, as you know, 6 weeks after today the ground here will be frozen. How do I deal with that? Chip out a hole in the ground and then fill the hole with potting soil? I know I’m not suppose to leave air pockets and that frozen dirt is not going to enclose those rooting ends as it should. And secondly, if that answer is yes to potting soil, what kind should I use? What I used this summer (2016) would not allow my seeds to germinate! You’re so great Mike… I love this article and really want to be successful!!! Thanks!
Deb,
The ground may or may not be frozen. If you have snow cover, the soil under the snow will actually thaw. Place some bagged leaves, really tight together in the corner of your garden, pile them up a bit, under those the ground will not freeze. Or at least not right away. This is a tricky time of the year but we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting for a freeze so we can do our hardwood cuttings. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/09/hardwood-cuttings-winter-of-20152016/ Store bought potting soil really needs to be lighted up in most cases. Usually holds too much water to be used outside.
Here are some tips on getting good potting soil;
Looking online for mulch is probably not the best place to look because many of the dealers who sell mulch really have little to no web presence at all. I’m sure there has to be some hardwood bark available in New Jersey.
I’d pick up the phone and start calling around. Garden Centers, landscapers and excavators will know who sells bulk hardwood bark mulch. These dealers are often hidden away on some side street.
I’d take a full day and visit as many garden centers and nurseries in your area that you can. Browse, ask some casual questions.
1. Do you know of anybody in the area that sells bulk mulch.
2. Do you know of anybody in the area that sells bulk potting soil.
3. What do most growers around here use as a potting mix.
Bulk potting soil is available, usually around $55 a yard, but worth it. But it’s not readily available in all areas and in most cases you need to send a truck to get it.
But it won’t cost anything to ask these questions. You’ll either get really good, answers, might get the brush off, or you might find somebody who loves to talk about growing plants and will bury you in valuable information.
Good info here about potting soil, https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/12/mike-mcgroartys-secret-bed-building-and-potting-soil-recipe/
and here;
https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/10/how-to-make-your-own-awesome-potting-soil/
Thank you so much for this great, easy way to do hardwood cuttings, Mike. Does the burrito method work generally for other hardwood cuttings? I would love to give it a try with a few shrubs here in Western Washington.
Diane,
More than likely it would, but it might be just as easy, easier really, to just stick them outside in sand, garden soil or potting soil. See this; https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/09/hardwood-cuttings-winter-of-20152016/
Hi mike,
Thanks for your tips regarding wet newspaper wrap .my success rate is about 25 percent,I am sure I will improve with your advise.thanks buddy.
Karan Rai
Mike,
I tried your method of starting roses in sand. I now have more roses than I know what to do with. It’s very simple and productive.
Ray,
Thank you for sharing your success! Others truly need to hear that this really does work.
Hi Mike! Will this method also work for blueberries? Mine have just lost their leaves.
Tricia,
This winter I will be doing hundreds of blueberry cuttings via traditional hardwood cutting methods. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/09/hardwood-cuttings-winter-of-20152016/
Perfect timing a neighbor just pruned. Thank you
mike i am in ontario canada…zone 5b nov 8 is it too late to do the borrito method for rooting rose cuttings…..we will have snow by the time they root
Hi Mary and Bruce:
I am not a professional and I am not saying that what I do will work for you, but I cut a branch off my roses and cut the butts at an angle, soak in root stimulator and wrap the bottoms with damp paper towels. I then let them lay in a container with a lid for about 3 weeks and then plant them in a pot in the house.
Patricia,
Thanks for sharing, sounds like a pretty simple method.
Mike i am in ontario canada zone 5b ,this is nov 8th can I do rose cuttins now and if the answer is yes does that mean I have to grow them on under lights in the house for the winter…,by the time it rootes it will be too late to plant….help
Bruce,
I’m not big on trying to keep things happy under grow lights all winter. If you get them rooted I’d plant them outside and hope for the best. That might sound strange but often times when rooting plants you have to take chances. Which scenario is more problematic then choose the other. Truly, that’s how we learn.
Finnegan and Ferguson have my vote. They’re both better looking than the öther”candidates!
It’s early november here in Washington. Can I still do this?
Thanks in advance,
Juliana
Juliana,
Absolutely you can! This is something that you can do anytime during the winter.
Thanks Mike for this info…I bought your system in 2004 and even though your son cant find me in your email list I love reading about you and lifes adventures…passing this along… Marlene Raitt