Propagate Roses Quickly

You can propagate roses quickly and easily by following the steps outlined below from Gregg Lowrey of Vintage Gardens in Sebastopol, Calif.:

1. Mix 3 parts potting soil with 1 part perlite (thoroughly dampened) in a one-gallon planting pot. (The perlite will help maintain sufficient drainage.)

2. Find a stem with a bloom on the end and three nice leaves. Remove the bloom, cutting from above the top leaf with sharp shears.

3. Pull off the bottom leaf and cut the stem 1/16 inch below the leaf node. Place the cutting in a rooting hormone (liquid or powder) for one to two minutes.

4. Create a hole in the soil to prepare for the cutting, then insert it up to the middle leaf and tamp lightly into the soil. Water thoroughly.

5. Form a greenhouse with bamboo stakes and a plastic bag to cover the cutting. Add water frequently to maintain an adequate moisture level. Within three to five weeks, the cutting will have rooted.