Roses are often called the “queen of flowers,” admired for their fragrance, beauty, and symbolism. But while they may look delicate, roses are surprisingly resilient when given the right care. Whether you’re starting from a cutting or nurturing a mature bush, roses respond best to natural methods and consistent attention. Here’s everything you need to know about growing roses successfully—without relying on synthetic chemicals:
Growing Roses from Cuttings (the Natural Way)
Propagating roses from cuttings is one of the most rewarding ways to grow them, since you can create new plants directly from a healthy stem.
1. Choose your cutting: Select a healthy, disease-free stem about 6 inches long. Cut it at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node. Remove buds and the lower leaves, leaving just a couple at the top.
2. Use a natural rooting hormone: Dip the base of the cutting into raw honey. Honey works as a natural rooting aid—it’s antibacterial, antifungal, and provides carbohydrates that help the stem stay nourished. Alternatives include aloe vera gel, willow tea, cinnamon, or even coconut water.
3. Plant the cutting: Place it into a sterile mix (such as 50:50 perlite and potting soil/ manure).
4. Maintain humidity: This is the secret to success. A rose cutting needs a moist environment to root. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag, a plastic bottle dome, or even a repurposed food container to trap humidity. Mist lightly to prevent drying out.
5. Be patient: Roots may form in 3–12 weeks, depending on variety and conditions.
The Importance of Humidity
Humidity prevents the cutting from drying out before roots develop. Ideally, the environment should remain moist but not soggy. You don’t need an expensive greenhouse—simple DIY tricks work:
• Cut a clear 2-liter bottle in half and place it over the cutting.
• Use a zip-lock bag supported with sticks to avoid touching the leaves.
• Mist regularly with a spray bottle.
This budget-friendly “mini greenhouse” is often all it takes to get strong roots.
Soil and Planting with Manure
When planting roses into the earth, always enrich the soil with organic matter. Well-rotted manure is an excellent choice because it improves soil structure and provides slow-release nutrients. Never use fresh manure, which can burn roots and introduce disease—only composted or aged manure is safe.
For best results:
• Dig a deep hole.
• Mix manure into the soil at the bottom and around the sides.
• Plant your rose so that the crown (where the stem meets the roots) sits just at ground level.
Placement: Protect Your Roses
Roses thrive best when planted in spaces where they won’t be disturbed. Avoid spots where people or pets frequently pass and brush against them. Constant touching or breaking of stems can stress the plant, and not every hand has a “green thumb.”
I strongly believe that roses wither when someone with negative intentions towards their caretaker comes around. Pay attention. Your children are speaking to you.
Sunlight and Watering
Like most flowering plants, roses need plenty of light to produce blooms. Aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering should be:
• Regular – preferably every morning.
• Deep – so water reaches the roots rather than just the surface.
• At the base – avoid wetting leaves, which can lead to black spot and mildew.
Mulching around the base with compost, straw, or shredded leaves helps retain soil moisture and reduce weeds.
Pruning and Deadheading: The Key to Blooms
A common mistake is leaving roses untended after they flower. Without regular pruning and deadheading (removing spent blooms), energy is wasted on old flowers and woody stems instead of being redirected to fresh growth.
• Prune regularly to shape the plant, remove dead canes, and improve airflow.
• Deadhead promptly by snipping off faded blooms just above a set of healthy leaves.
• Annual pruning in late winter or early spring encourages a flush of new blooms.
The more you prune and deadhead, the more your roses will reward you with flowers.
Natural Fertilizers for Growth and Blooms
Chemical fertilizers aren’t necessary for healthy roses—nature provides everything they need.
• For strong growth:
• Alfalfa meal or tea (rich in triacontanol, a natural growth stimulant).
• Worm castings for soil health and balanced nutrition.
• Composted manure to keep the soil fertile.
• For abundant blooms:
• Bone meal or rock phosphate to encourage flower and root development.
• Banana peels buried near the base for potassium and phosphorus.
• Fish emulsion or kelp extract for lush growth and disease resistance.
• Coffee grounds and a light sprinkle of Epsom salts for added color and magnesium.
Feeding with these natural boosters not only enhances growth and flower production but also supports the soil’s long-term health.
Final Tips
• Start cuttings in spring or early summer for the best rooting success.
• Protect young plants from strong winds.
• Rotate your feeding—alternate between growth-boosting and bloom-boosting fertilizers.
• Always prune and deadhead for a continuous display of flowers.
Conclusion
Growing roses may seem like a delicate art, but with natural methods and a little patience, anyone can master it. From using honey to root new cuttings to nourishing mature bushes with compost and banana peels, roses thrive on simple, organic care. Give them sunlight, consistent watering, regular pruning, and protection from constant disturbance, and your garden will reward you with roses that bloom abundantly year after year.