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Rose cuttings - leaves turning yellow - HELP?

CatieCatie Posts: 50
in Problem solving

Hi All,

Last November, I took some cuttings of my Uncle's beautiful Dortmund climbing rose bush. I was delighted in January when there appeared two or three that were growing shoots. I assumed this meant that the cuttings with shoots had rooted. 

Last week when we had such beautiful weather here in the North West of England, I took the cuttings out of the greenhouse to let them get some air. I was giving my sweet peas a feed with some diluted miracle gro, so I gave the cuttings some too. I hadn't watered them since I took the cuttings in November but didn't think a small drink would do them any harm. Since then, when I checked on them today, the leaves are turning yellow. One is even drooping, and I'm terrified I may have damaged them in some way. 

image

 

I will post some photos and I would be grateful if any of you could comment and tell me what I've done wrong (if anything), and if there's some way I can salvage these cuttings? I'm really hoping that with a little sunshine and lots of patience all will come right in the end, but the second cutting is looking less than healthy and I fear the other cutting is going the same way image

Best,
Cate 

Posts

  • CatieCatie Posts: 50

    image

    The second cutting is going the same way image any thoughts?

    Cate

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Roses can take up to a year to root, so don't expect results too soon. Most roses are grafted onto new rootstock, so cuttings may not come true to the original.

    I'd put the pot to one side or put the cutting straight into garden soil.

    Patience is the key with cuttings, the leaves yellowing will be the food supply in the stem running out and this will encourage the cutting to take root and it won't need feeding or if you keep it in a pot not too wet either.

  • CatieCatie Posts: 50

    Thankyou Dave, a very informative answer.

    Much appreciated,

    Cate 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,887

    the cuttings will come true , it's the rootstock which is different. 

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    Don't panic - I'd move the pot into a sheltered place outside - keep the soil damp but not wet and soggy.  Hopefully by this time next year you'll have some healthy new growth.  Don't worry about the current leaves yellowing - the reason is as Dave explains.  

    Don't worry about feeding until next spring. 

    As for whether it will come true to the original - the grafting only affects the vigour of growth, it will not affect the appearance of the flowers - you might find that your new roses are more vigorous than their parent. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    I don't know of any roses that are really happy indoors - my guess is that this needs potting on into new compost and hardening off so that it can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    I would pot it into some fresh compost - I would use John Innes loam based No 2, but you could use a good quality Multi-purpose compost.  Then I would start putting it outside in a warm sheltered spot during the day and bringing it in at night, to get the plant acclimatised and the leaves toughened up - then when we're free from the risk of frosts at night you can leave it outside.  

    In the autumn, when we start getting frosts again I'd put it into a cold greenhouse or conservatory, or if you don't have those then bring it indoors onto the lightest windowsill you have.  Most roses are winter hardy, but yours may be slightly more tender so a little winter protection won't do it any harm. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CatieCatie Posts: 50

    Brilliant Dove!! Sounds very optimistic! I'm a little confused about what rootstock is? In simple terms, will my cuttings be similar to the parent plant or not?

    Also sounds promising that the cuttings maybe more vigorous than the parent plant! Very exciting indeed! image 

    Cate 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,124

    Catie, yes your roses will be similar to the parent plant.  image

    Here's some useful information about how and why plants are grafted by commercial producers http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/9412665/No-need-for-all-that-hard-graft-to-make-roses-grow.html . 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CatieCatie Posts: 50

    Oh fantastic! Very informative.

    Thankyou. 

    Catie 

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