Roses...David Austin and others

The rose cutting that sat on the kitchen window sill all winter was planted in a larger pot and is now growing on the deck. The variety is Queen of Sweden, planted in memory of my grandmother, Anna Marie. The rose cutting is blooming today.

For you, grandma. 🌺

Cuttings update...today I found one of the rose cuttings has a bud on it. It's a tiny rosebud, may fall off instead of opening, but I'm hoping this means the cuttings are happy. Except for those that died.

binnylou, I've never tried taking cuttings of rose bushes to sprout over the winter. But that's a great idea. Do you think the David Austin roses will bloom true to the parent? I believe many of them are hybrids. But I don't think there are any Austin roses that aren't stunningly beautiful.

They should if they are cuttings and not seeds. Also, if from grafted rose bushes, the cuttings should be taken from branches which grow above the graft. Any taken from below will have flowers like the root stock. Another thing in reference to grafted plants, if they were grafted as a means of rapid production, they may do fine with their own roots. Some plants, however, are grafted onto rootstocks because their own are weak. There are also rootstocks that confer disease resistance and in fruit trees, they have dwarfing rootstocks for those who want smaller trees. Some nurseries will sell root stocks for those into grafting their own plants.

Cutting update: While the rosebud is tiny, it is starting to open...and it has that divine "old rose" fragrance.

Rose/insect question...my rose cuttings are planted in 16-20 ounce soda bottles with the top removed. They were planted in a purchased potting mix...container has good drainage and get a dip in the sink once a week. They are under grow lights.

I’m seeing masses of white insect eggs between the soil mix and the wall of the soda bottle, below the soil line. Whatever it is, I can’t allow it to hatch in my laundry room and I need to eliminate the problem before I start any more seeds down there. Eggs are white, round, the size of a pinhead in a cluster of at least 50 eggs.

Would you do a diluted soil drench of neem? 50%?...25%? Suggestions?

Rose cuttings are now relocated to the garden shed. They will grow cool and get good light out there. The cutting taken 2019 and blooming 2020 spent the winter in the garage. I hauled it outside today....it has new growth already.