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Tried rooting rose cuttings in sand instead of water and lost half of them
I had a bunch of healthy rose stems from a neighbor's pruning last spring, so I figured I'd try the sand method I saw on a gardening channel. I filled a couple of pots with damp builder's sand, stuck the cuttings in, and kept them covered with a plastic bag for humidity. After about 3 weeks, I checked the bottoms and only 4 out of 8 had any tiny roots starting. The other 4 were just mushy and rotten at the base. I learned that sand doesn't hold moisture as evenly as a perlite and peat mix, and it can get too wet in spots if you're not careful. Now I'm sticking with a 50/50 perlite and peat blend for future cuttings, and I check the drainage holes every few days for standing water. Has anyone else had better luck with a different rooting medium for roses?
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leelewis14d ago
Tried perlite and vermiculite mix myself. Half and half. Worked way better than sand. Sand packs down too tight. Roots can't breathe or push through. That's why they rot. I use clear cups too. Lets me see root growth without disturbing them.
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grant13014d ago
Three clear cups here too. Funny how that same principle applies to everything - people, plants, even relationships need room to spread out and breathe or they just suffocate. We try to pack things tight for stability but end up killing what we're trying to grow.
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