How do I propagate forsythias? how do I propagate rose bushes?

-- hector g (hector@wabcmail.com), April 15, 2002

Answers

Forsythia works pretty easy. Just cut off a piece and put it in a container of water and it'll start to root. Once it has some decent roots, put it in soil. I've only done it while they're in bloom, though it should work anytime spring/summer.

Roses are a bit tricker, at least for me. Had some sucess with taking green stem with good leaf on it, using a tiny bit of rooting hormone and putting it in soil, keep it pretty moist to start with. I seem to have good luck with lessening the water as time goes on. My thought is that it causes the roots to grow faster in search of moisture, but that might just be my imagination.

For both, cut the stem off at an angle.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Hi Hector g, Try this site -has a lot of propagation information: http://freeplants.com/frame%20set.htm

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

Hector, I grow a lot of roses from cuttings. However I do not do this with Hybrid Teas, I prefer ramblers and old fashioned types. We have many abandoned homesteads around here, up in the hills, and many very old varieties can be found still growing at these places. I take my cuttings, including at least 3 joints, put them in sterile rooting medium, after a dip in a rooting hormone, cover the pot or tray with something to hold in the moisture and put them in a place with no direct sun. Once you start getting new leaves you are ready to plant them out in separate pots. Have fun, I now have roses growing all over my fences, up trees and covering buildings and I have no idea what any of them are! LOL :) Well, except one. The local Rose Society id'd one as an old Heritage Rose brought to this country from France about 1910 and called "Violet'" Has sprays of little purple, lemon scented flowers and I love it! Have fun, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 16, 2002.