If you know how to graft roses, you can achieve two different flower colors on the same bush. Roses are among the easiest plants to transplant, and most bushes are the result of grafting a specific rose color or variety onto a stronger, healthier rose. Grafting also allows you to preserve the petal color of a diseased plant by using a healthy plant as a rootstock. The stem of the rose you want to graft into a different color is called a graft.
Best Time of Year for Grafting If you decide to graft a rose or experiment with it at home, you should first consider the season. It’s recommended to do this primarily in summer, when the sap circulates vigorously within the plant. You can also do it when you notice rapid growth and a fresh, radiant appearance. Now pay attention, and we’ll begin the grafting process step by step.
Step 1: Clean the knife you’ll be using to cut the grafts with rubbing alcohol. This will help prevent the spread of disease during transplantation.
Step 2 Cut some stems from the rosebush that you want to combine with others. This is called cutting collection. Cut a section of the stem that contains three buds. Cut the piece from the top of the lower bud and measure two buds, making another cut at the top of the third.
Step 3 Using a utility knife, cut a “V” shape into the bottom end of the graft.
Step 4: Select one of the rose plant’s woody stems to use as a base. This must be a biennial variety. New extensions won’t work. Cut off the top of the stem and make a one-inch-deep cut down the center of the stem.
Step 5: Insert the graft into the cut you made in the rootstock stem. Wrap the graft tightly with tape. The graft should take four to six weeks to establish. Repeat these steps to add more grafts to the rootstock plant. The new rose colors will only grow on the grafted stems.
Care after transplantation
Water the grafted plants generously and frequently, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist for the first 15 days. It is recommended to cut the first shoots of the stem until the plant has stabilized, approximately the first two or four shoots, to help the graft consolidate. Remove the tape automatically when the graft begins to grow. Ensure that it is well-maintained with a mixture of incense and compost. Roses generally need space, air, and sunlight to thrive. Now that you’re informed, there’s no excuse not to graft and get beautifully colored roses.
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