@envisionda, Dorris
Success with rooting rose cuttings has so many variables that can impact success, even in Rose Heaven, and no matter how expert someone may be at rooting rose cuttings, many cuttings fail simply because it always depends on the rose first. Some roses root like fire, while others are temperamental about rooting, but can be fine roses.
Some of those variables ... note I used the word "some" ... are:
1. when the cutting was taken
2. what part of the plant the cutting was taken from
3. the length of the cutting
4. time of year you are trying to root the cutting
5. type of rooting medium you are using
6. ambient temperature where you are growing the cuttings
7. ambient humidity
8. time of year you are trying to root the cutting
9. moisture in the rooting medium
10. type of light the cutting receives
11. whether or not you use rooting hormones and the strength of the rooting hormone
and on and on and on ...
Some of these variables can change even if your expert lives within a block of your home where you are trying to propagate the cuttings.
I know several experts who have had to change their propagation method when they moved to a slightly different climate in the same zone.
When I lived in southern California, I had an 80 to 90% take on all of my cuttings. Now that I have moved to a completely different climate, my take is less than 25%. I am still experimenting to find the best method of propagation for this climate.
I agree with Elaine in that it is much easier to start off with a healthy plant than to start of by rooting your own roses. Even then, you need to know how to grow bands ... started cuttings ... forward correctly for success. If a rose is happy, it's a weed and is easily grown.
I may know more than the average gardener about roses, but I would never claim to be an expert. The more I learn, the more I realize I have more to learn. There is always some one else that can teach me something they have learned from their experience.
Growing roses is fun. Feel free to ask lots and lots of questions. The folks on ATP love answering questions.
Smiles,
Lyn
