Starting rose cuttings in Florida?

11 years ago

I'm going to probably go ahead and order leafy cuttings from UC Davis in the next couple weeks. Well at least try to, I don't know if they'll sell to an individual. I've been doing a lot of reading on the topic of starting cuttings and it seems most recommend a misting box. I've never used one before but have started plenty of Cherokee rose cuttings. It seemed like the ones that failed generally just rotted form the ground up rather than dried out. Of course, I didn't know about using rooting hormone back then or peeling back some of the 'bark'. Just cut them off, stuck them in a pot and watered them.

So, my question is, should I invest in a misting box or is such a thing probably unnecessary with Florida's humid summers? I'm toying with the idea of finding out what it takes to get a nursery license around here and sell roses at the local farmer's market. I doubt it would be a particularly profitable venture, but I'd like to help people get a hold of a rose other than a cherokee rose or a knockout rose that may still stand a chance of surviving here. I'd also like to try grafting roses, but that's a future project. The only roses we seem to get on fortuniana around here are Nelson roses, and our local nursery only got 12 and didn't get to pick the types. I know Cool Roses has them, but shipping is the killer there thanks to Fortuniana not really handling bare root.

So, there's my ramblings. Do I need a misting box? I'm thinking of starting with 100 cuttings. What size should it be for that number of cuttings? I'd like to start 100 fortuniana for rootstock later in November if UC Davis will sell to me too.

Any other advice welcomed too.

Comments (7)

floridarosez9 Morgan
11 years ago
I think for grafting, you will need a mister system. If you want to root in the hot summer months, you will need one. If you're happy rooting in spring and fall, you don't need one. I have never gotten a rose cutting to take in the hot months.
thonotorose
11 years ago
Jenn, I've never had luck with rooting in the heat either.

Where are you? I have several forts rooted from Dr. Manners' efforts at Florida Southern College. In the past, when the root stock from my grafted roses purchased there sent up suckers I broke them off and rooted them.

Veronica in Thonotosassa
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I'm no expert, but I started 9 hardy rugosa rose cuttings a couple months ago. I made the cuttings as you describe, but also scraped the ends lightly with a knife before dipping in the rooting hormone. I planted them on the north side of my house under some shade trees with plastic pop bottles (caps on, bottom of the bottle cut off) placed over the cuttings which keeps the moisture in like a little greenhouse. It's very important to keep them watered so that you see condensation inside the bottle at all times. So far I've only lost one of the cuttings. The rest have all sprouted brand new leaves. Oh yeah, cut the leaves you do leave on your cuttings in half so you can tell when new leaves form. I've noticed that my new leaves are lighter in color. I'm planning on leaving my cuttings outside under their bottles all winter. I'll probably try and protect them with leaves or evergreen branches. I've never tried this before. I might end up with 8 dead cuttings next spring, but they didn't cost anything anyway.
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jenniferinfl
Original Author
11 years ago
It sounds like there's plenty of good reasons to wait for fall, guess I'll be ordering for November shipping then if UC Davis will let me. Just as well, I hate being outside when it's this hot anyways. :)

Unfortunately Veronica I'm a ways from Thornotosassa, I'm in Deland, I think about 2 hours away. My husband and I have been planning to go to Tampa for a weekend, but I'm waiting on my new work schedule as I'm starting a new job. We love going to the zoo and aquarium there, I'm hoping to stop at Florida Southern too to see the Wright buildings now that I know they're there.
seil zone 6b MI
11 years ago
I don't have a misting system but I also don't have a very large success rate with rooting cuttings either. If you really want to be successful I'd get the mister. Even with your high humidity it would really help to keep them at a constant moisture level. We have very high humidities here in Michigan too and it isn't enough to keep them continuously damp so I have to watch them very carefully and water frequently. Sometimes I'm lucky and they take but not that often.
thonotorose
11 years ago
Jenn, I am 8 minutes from I-4 between Tampa and Lakeland. PEM me at my Garden Web page when you are heading over and we will arrange a hand off.

If you join the Central Florida Heritage Rose Society you will receive notification of future rose sales.

Here is a partial list of fort grafted roses I got from those wonderful sales.

Mrs. B R Cant, Devoniensis, Clytemnestra, Souv De St. Anne, Monsieur Tillier, Souv Pierre Notting, E Veyrat Hermanous, Lady Hillingdon and many others that are own root.

Veronica

Here is a link that might be useful: CFHRS
jenniferinfl
Original Author
11 years ago
I think I'll probably have to join then, I saw that there was a sale in January, but haven't found anything more recent. I don't know how often I would make it to meetings, but every other month is probably a possibility. Hopefully there will be another sale soon. I'll definitely private message you whenever I know I'm heading to Tampa. I like to have everything planned out months in advance, but, the new job is making it impossible to plan anything.
thonotorose
11 years ago
Great! I'll be looking for your note.

Veronica

Starting rose cuttings in Florida?

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Starting rose cuttings in Florida?

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