If you know how to graft roses, you can achieve two different colors of flowers on the same bush. Roses are among the easiest plants to transplant, and most shrubs are the result of grafting a particular color or type of rose into 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 that you want to graft into a different color is called a graft.
Best Season for Grafting When you decide to graft a rose or experiment with it at home, the first thing to consider is the time of year. It is recommended to do this especially in summer when the sap circulates vigorously in the plant. You can also do this if you notice that they are growing quickly and look fresh and bright. Pay attention now and we will start the finishing process step by step.
Step 1 Clean the knife you will use to cut the grafts with rubbing alcohol. This will help prevent the spread of disease during transplantation.
Step 2 Cut some stems from the rose bush that you want to combine with others. This is called collecting cuttings. Cut off a section of the stem that contains three buds. Cut the piece from the top of the bottom 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 plant variety. New extensions will not work. Cut off the top of the stem and make a 1/2-inch-deep cut in the center of the stem.
Step 5 Insert the graft into the cut you made in the trunk of the rootstock. Wrap the graft tightly with tape. The graft should take four to six weeks to solidify. Repeat these steps to add more transplants to the rootstock plant. The new rose colors only grow on the grafted stems.
Post-transplant care
Water the grafted plants abundantly and frequently and ensure that the soil remains consistently moist for the first 15 days. It is recommended to cut off the first shoots of the stem until the plant has stabilized, about the first 2 or 4 shoots, to help the graft solidify. Remove the tape on your own when the graft begins to grow. Care should be taken to ensure a supply of smoking and compost substrate. Roses generally require space, air and sunlight to thrive. Now that you are informed, there is no excuse not to graft and get beautifully colored roses.
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