The experiment
What I’m trying
I wanted to try starting new rose plants from cuttings with a simple Ziploc-bag setup. The bags help hold moisture around the cuttings while the holes in the bottom allow excess water to drain.
I divided the stems into two groups. I let the cut ends of the first group callous overnight before adding rooting hormone and planting them. The second group went from freshly cut stems to rooting hormone and soil without the overnight wait. I’ll keep the conditions as similar as I can and compare how the two groups respond.
Watch the process
Preparing my rose cuttings
In this video, I prepare the rose stems, dip each cutting into rooting hormone and place the cuttings into soil-filled zip-top bags before adding drainage holes.
The first steps in my Ziploc-bag rose-cutting experiment.
The setup
What I Used
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Day 1
How I prepared the rose cuttings
- 01
Prepared the stems
I trimmed the rose stems into cuttings and removed the leaves that would sit below the soil line.
- 02
Added rooting hormone
I dipped the base of each rose cutting into rooting hormone, following the product directions.
- 03
Placed them in moist soil
I put the treated cuttings into moistened soil inside large zip-top bags.
- 04
Added drainage
I poked holes in the bottom of each bag so excess water would have a way to escape.
This is the method I tried, not a promise that every rose variety will root the same way. I’m keeping the experiment visible so we can learn from the outcome.
Next observations
What I’m watching for
For now, I’m looking for cuttings that stay firm and green while avoiding soil that remains soggy. I’ll also watch for mold, blackening stems, heavy leaf drop and—eventually—resistance when a cutting is given a very gentle tug. New leaves can be encouraging, but I won’t call it a success until there is evidence of roots.
Experiment log
Rose cutting updates
Day 1 · Two groups started
One group was left to callous overnight, while the second group was planted just after cutting. Both were dipped in rooting hormone and placed in moist soil inside bags with drainage holes.
I’ll add new photos and compare any changes I notice between the calloused and freshly cut groups.