• George, what is your secret to success when it comes to getting them off and growing?
  There are a number of elements combined to get them growing !
  1. I use only healthy cuttings, NO mildew, blackspot or yellow leaves.
  2. I use only the upper and middle part of a stem & 2 to 3 sets of leaves.
  3. Using only # 4 Sunshine-Mix which the professionals use.
  4. I put # 4 mix in loosely & only water the pots once really good and take the tent off only once a week for misting and checking.
  5. Temperature is very important for successful rooting. I keep mine at 70 min. to 74 F. MAX. and needless to say, "Use rooting powder" !
  6. My cuttings start growing from the top eye or sometimes from the lowest eye in about 11 to 15 days (check out my "Own-Root Setup Image Gallery" & info. and see the photos # 11 to 15)
  7. I wait until the the new roots come through the drain-holes of the pots before transplanting.
  8. Any long roots, or those growing around in circles already are cut "OFF" before transplanting which helps to make many new fine hair-roots.
  9. From the small 2 1/4 " pots I only go to 1 or 2 litre pots. After 6 to 8 weeks they go into one gallon pots.
  10. After transplanting I raise the temperature to 80 min. to 84 F. MAX. and then they really take off !
  11. For about 4 to 7 days I put a clear cut-off 2 litre bottle over each and then let them go (grow !) Check out images 17, 18 & 21 on my "Own Root Cuttings Setup Gallery"
  12. When outside, never ever put newly rooted cuttings into the sun. I keep mine in the shade for at least 2 weeks.
• What do you use to fertilize your newly rooted cuttings?
  1. Right after transplanting I use water soluble fertilizer, but ONLY one quarter strength. After another 7 to 10 days I use 1/2 strength.
  2. Watering is with plain water.
  3. Only after 4 weeks I use full strength of fertilizer.
  4. VERY IMPORTANT ! Never ever over-fertilize, but rather use a bit less. When it calls for one teaspoon per gallon, make it a LEVEL teaspoon only. When I first started in the early nineties I used a heaped teaspoon and wondered why my new cuttings did not take off. Upon inspection I found that the new roots where turning brown. I learned all those tricks from my friend, the owner of the local Miniature Nursery 'Select Roses'.

Note that in 56 days I was able to make "Cuttings from Cuttings" again. For those interested, there is a page of more Q & A on my "Own Root Cuttings Setup Gallery".

Also note : All the above information is about my work with minis. Four weeks ago I have just started my first rooting experiments with my new Mini-Flora/Patio rose 'Ingrid'. It's almost as big as a Floribunda and in 20 days the roots came through the drain-holes. At 25 days I transplanted it with new shoots 1 - 2" long. Will post two rooting images on HelpMeFind during the next week under the "Ingrid" rose.

Good luck to ALL.