To plant rose seeds you have to be patient since it is not the fastest method to reproduce these beautiful flowers. However, once you have achieved the expected results, you can rejoice in its beauty and its colors.
It is important to clarify that, when planting roses through this method, you may not obtain plants the same as those from which you obtained the seeds since they do not always usually retain the characteristics of the mother plant. For example, it is possible that they may be weaker or give fewer flowers. To obtain roses equal to those of the mother plant, you must use other methods, such as grafting, cutting, or layering.
From the seeds, we can obtain roses species or patterns, or new varieties of roses. Ideally, the seeds do not come from gardens to avoid any possibility of contamination.
Before starting the process, choose which variety of rose you want to plant, as there are about a hundred different varieties. To choose it, take into account the needs of the plant, such as the climate and space they need. For the climate, you can check the region where the variety you chose comes from, or where it is most common to find it. For the space, take into account the size that the plant can have.
1. How to get rose seeds?
To get the seeds, you must first get a ripe rosehip from a rose bush. They will be ripe when they have a reddish tone (in some cases they can reach darker tones such as purple or a little lighter, such as orange ). You must remove it before they dry, otherwise, the seed will no longer serve. The fruit of roses usually ripens in autumn, so that will be the starting point to start with your rose bush.
Once you have the ripe fruit, you must remove the seeds from inside the rose hips. Remember to clean them well, removing any type of fluff or pulp. Then let them soak overnight, or at most a day, but no more than that. You can use an anti-fungal product in the water to reduce the chances of a lot of mold growing on the plant, although it is not essential.
Leaving them to soak can help reduce germination time, so it is advisable to do so if you want to achieve faster results, but it is not a mandatory step. Some people comment that if the seeds float it is because they are sterile and will not germinate, but ignore it. This is not the case with roses; it is common for them to float. However, it is also common that many of them do not germinate.
2. How to germinate rose seeds? Stratification method
Rose seeds need a stratification process to germinate. This process, in nature, occurs with the arrival of winter since its seeds need cold to be able to develop.
To simulate it and promote the germination of our seeds, what we will do is place them in a bag or container with peat, substrate, or coconut fiber, slightly damp. Put the container in the fridge for 3-4 weeks. In some cases, it can take up to 16 weeks for the seeds to germinate, and some may even never germinate.
Check several times a week that the container is kept moist, as well as pay attention to whether any breakouts have emerged.
If you have bought the seeds, verify that they have not already gone through this process. If you have, you can skip it and go directly to planting them.
3. How to plant rose seeds?
Once we have our seeds ready to be planted, you must transfer them to a seedbed or tray of alveoli. Unless you are using purchased, ready-to-plant seeds, you should plant them as soon as you see the sprouts.
Use soil that has good drainage to prevent the sprouts from rotting. The shoots should go down. When planting, leave a space of 6mm downwards and try, if possible, to maintain a minimum distance of 5 cm between each seed. If you have followed the steps above, it would be normal for you to get scions after the first week.
You must keep the earth moist; For this, you can also add mulch or mulch. Remember that you should not use excess water and always use land that has good drainage. In addition, it is important to allow them to receive around six hours of sun per day for optimal growth of the stem, and if it is in the morning, the better. The ideal temperature for this plant will be between 15 and 25 degrees.
4. Transplant the stem
When you see that you already have several leaves (make sure they are real leaves and not stems), or that the root is running out of space, it will be time for the transplant. If possible, try to avoid transplanting it if it is still too cold where you are; Ideally, near the end of winter or early spring.
To transplant, moisten the stem and place it in a hole with enough room for its roots. Again, remember to use the right soil for your rose garden. Add plenty of water after the transplant is complete.
When your stems have recovered from the transplant, you can continue with normal rose care.
5. Basic tips to take care of your rose bush
Roses are very delicate plants that require a lot of care. It is important that they receive sunlight, preferably in the morning, and frequent watering. Always remember to use soil that has good drainage, but with some degree of moisture retention. The ideal temperature for this plant is between 15 ° C and 25 ° C, although it can withstand up to -10 ° C (it is better than if it gets so cold they are protected since the flowers and roots can be damaged).
Another important fact is to carry out correct pruning, winter being the most suitable time for this. This will allow the plant to grow healthier.
Finally, we must not neglect them from the possible pests that can attack your rose bush.