Rose Cuttings in a Potato

This article tackles a popular gardening technique: rooting rose cuttings in potatoes. While this method can work, it’s largely unnecessary. Instead, we’ll explore a simpler, more effective way to propagate roses that avoids complications and delivers great results. Originally published on June 11, 2016, this article by Larry Hodgson continues to be highly regarded, securing its place as one of the five most popular gardening articles on this blog.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Laidback Gardener blog, and for the occasion we’ve compiled a list of the 30 most popular articles of all time. Some must-reads are a natural on the list, while others may surprise you. These choices reveal what has piqued our curiosity and fueled our passions over the years.

Here’s a tip you see a lot on the Internet: how to root roses in a potato.

It certainly seems simple enough. You just drill a hole in a potato and slip a section of stem from a rose bush into the hole. Now plant the potato in the ground about 4 inches (10 cm) deep. Water well and cover with an inverted bottle to maintain high humidity. After a few weeks, your little rose bush will be well rooted!

The basic concept is that, as the potato rots, it will provide moisture to the cutting… and indeed that’s true. Some sources claim that the rotting potato will also provide the new roots in sugar, which is… impossible. Sorry, but sugar molecules are far too large to be absorbed by roots.

Yes, It Works, But…

The weird thing about this tip is that you would get the same result without even using a potato! That’s because rooting a rose cutting is very simple. Here’s how:

1. Cut a green or semi-woody stem from your favorite rosebush in June or July (can vary depending on climate). It should be about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) long.
2. Remove the lower leaves and any flowers or buds.
3. Slip the bottom end of the cutting into the ground, directly in the garden, in a partially shaded location. (Alternatively, you could start the cutting in a pot of soil.)
4. Water well.
5. Place an inverted wide-neck bottle or the bottom of a soda bottle over the cutting to act as mini greenhouse.
6. When new leaves appear, remove the bottle: your cutting will be rooted!
7. Transplant the cutting into a spot suitable for growing roses (full sun, rich soil with good drainage)… and watch your new rosebush grow!

Yep, it’s that simple! Rooting a rose without a potato is faster, requires less effort, and gives results that are just as good. In fact, sometimes even better (sometimes rats or skunks will dig up potato-grown cuttings, attracted by the smell of the rotting tuber.) Plus you will have an extra potato to feed your family.

Why make things complicated when they can be so simple?