With just a few familiar ingredients in the kitchen, you can turn a rose branch into a healthy new plant, sprouting and rooting after only 1 week. I will share a special recipe that is extremely easy to do, and anyone can do it successfully at home.
For another simple method that pairs well with this recipe, see a simple trick for rose propagation.
1. Rose Cutting Propagation: Pick the Branch
Choose a healthy rose branch with moderate age. Use sharp scissors to shorten the branch, leaving only about 15-20 cm, and cut off all the leaves and sharp thorns, keeping only 2-3 leaves on top.
Keeping few leaves helps limit water evaporation so the branch concentrates nutrients on forming roots and new shoots.
2. Rose Cutting Propagation: Garlic Antibacterial Soak
Prepare 2 cloves of garlic, peel, and cut into thin slices. Garlic contains allicin, a very strong natural antibacterial compound that helps protect the base of the branch from mold and bacteria.
Garlic also contains vitamin B and trace minerals, supporting the metabolism in the root tissue, helping the roots form faster and stronger. Put the garlic in a clean plastic cup with 0.5 liters of water. Stir well and soak the rose branches in this solution for about 30 minutes.
For a complementary approach that encourages stems to root and bloom, see this technique for getting rose stems to root and bloom.
3. Rose Cutting Propagation: Banana Peel and Rice Nutrients
While waiting for the branches to soak in garlic, prepare another nutrient mixture. Take 1 ripe banana, peel it, and cut the peel into small pieces.
Banana peel is rich in potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It helps increase resistance at the cut site, stimulates root cells to grow quickly, and supports strong young shoots. Put the banana peel in a clean plastic cup.
Add 1 spoon of rice, then pour 0.5 liters of warm water into the cup. Rice contains vitamin B, starch, and minerals, which nourish new cells in the roots and help the branches recover after cutting. Stir well and let stand for about 30 minutes so the nutrients dissolve into the water.
4. Rose Cutting Propagation: Combine the Solutions
After soaking the branches in garlic for 30 minutes, take them out and filter out the garlic residue, keeping the clear solution. Filter the banana peel and rice to get the nutrient water.
Mix the two solutions together. Dilute to get 1 liter of a complete nutrient mixture that is both strongly antibacterial and provides energy and micronutrients to help the branches grow healthy roots.
5. Rose Cutting Propagation: Planting Medium and Setup
Prepare a clean plastic cup and add treated river sand to about 1/3 of the cup. Place the rose branch in the middle, then add sand and press lightly around the base to secure it.
Pour the garlic – banana peel – rice solution into the cup so the sand is moist enough but not soggy. River sand has good drainage and ventilation, helping to avoid waterlogging and reduce the risk of root rot, while creating a stable, clean environment for young roots to develop.
Create a Moist Greenhouse
Use a plastic bag or a transparent plastic cup to cover the mouth of the cup. This creates a greenhouse environment to retain moisture, helping the branch not lose water and easily take root.
Place the setup in a cool place, away from harsh sunlight and strong winds.
For more variations on getting stems to root and bloom quickly, see additional ways to get rose stems to root and bloom.
6. Rose Cutting Propagation: Rooting Results and Potting Up
After only 7 days, you will see green shoots begin to grow, and new white, plump roots appear around the base of the branch. This is a sign that the branch has successfully taken root and is ready to move to a new environment.
Plant the rooted branch in a large pot, using a well-drained substrate such as coconut fiber or a mixture of coconut fiber – sand – humus, so the plant can grow sustainably.
Final Thoughts
With just garlic, banana peel, and rice – ingredients that are always available in the kitchen – you have an effective method of propagating rose branches. Buds sprout quickly, and roots grow strongly in just 1 week.
I wish you success and a lush, green rose garden.