When it comes to learning how to grow roses from seeds, there is no quick route.
Growing roses from seeds is truly a testament to a gardener’s patience and skill. Even seasoned gardeners might find this task to be a bit daunting.
That’s why we’re here for you! In this step-by-step guide, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about growing roses from seed.
I. Materials Needed
- Rose seeds
- Seed starting mix
- Seed trays or pots
- Water
- Light source
II. How Long Does It Take To Grow Roses From Seeds
The tricky part about growing roses from seeds is the wide variety in germination time.
It can take anywhere from several weeks to several years for rose seeds to even germinate.
After the seeds germinate, growing the seedlings into a fully formed plant is an odyssey in itself.
In cases of fast-growing varieties, it should be expected to wait at least 3 growing seasons for your seedlings to develop into a mature, productive rose plant.
Despite the variability in germination time, the process of growing roses from seeds offers a sense of excitement and anticipation as you wait for each seedling to sprout.
It is a wonderful way to connect with nature and learn about the growth and development of roses.
If you’re looking for a more efficient and reliable way to propagate your roses, consider learning how to grow roses from cuttings.
III. How To Grow Roses From Seeds In 6 Steps
Step 1. Selection Of Rose Seeds
Due to their vast differences in germination times, selecting your rose seeds require some research first.
Please keep in mind that roses have a naturally low rate of germination. A rose seed is not guaranteed to grow into a plant.
In order to narrow down your search, think about what kind of roses you would want to grow.
Color, family, size, etc. are all factors to take into consideration when choosing your rose variety.
Step 2. Soaking The Seeds
While soaking rose seeds in a water and hydrogen peroxide solution is an optional step, it is highly recommended in order to prevent the development of mold.
In a bowl, combine 1.5 teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water. Stir to combine the mixture and then place the seeds in the bowl for one hour to soak.
While the seeds are soaking, you may notice that some of the seeds have floated to the top, while most seeds have sunk to the bottom of the bowl.
This is the float test. The seeds that have sunk have a higher chance of germinating compared to the seeds that float.
In a situation where hydrogen peroxide is unavailable, the same results can be achieved by dusting the rose seeds with anti-fungal powder.
Stratification
In order to sprout, rose seeds require cold temperatures.
You will need to place the seeds in moist, cold storage. This process is known as stratification.
Wet two paper towels and place the seeds in between them. Place the seeds in either a tray or in a plastic bag and keep the seeds in the refrigerator. Allow them to sit for several weeks.
Alternatively, you can place the seeds in a container with moist salt-free sand, vermiculite, or peat moss.
Just like the paper towel method, place the container in the fridge for several weeks.
Some seed distributors sell seeds that have already been stratified. If this is the case, then feel free to skip this step.
Step 3. Planting The Seeds
The rose seeds are able to be sown once they begin sprouting in the fridge.
Even if the seeds have sprouted, gardeners must still determine if it is the right time to take the seeds out from their cold storage.
Before removing the seeds from the refrigerator, the outside temperature must be at least 70° F.
For most gardeners, the ideal time when the air reaches the optimal temperature is in the early spring after all threats of frost have passed.
Prepare small pots or seed trays and fill them with potting mix meant for seed starting. The potting mixture should be moist, but not oversaturated with water.
Sow the germinated seeds 1/4” deep in the potting mix.
If you are growing multiple seeds in one pot, space out each seedling 2 inches apart to allow them enough space to develop without being stifled.
Step 4. Covering The Seeds With Seed Starting Mix
Once the seeds are placed in their trays, cover the sprouted seeds with the seed-starting mixture.
Gently pat the soil down, but be cautious and do not apply too much pressure.
From here, growing the seeds is relatively fast, it takes about 1 to 2 weeks for the sprouted seeds to become seedlings.
Step 5. Watering The Seeds
During this sensitive time in the rose seeds’ life, it is important to find the balance between the perfect amount of water to give your seedlings.
While seedlings enjoy lightly moist soil, it can be very easy to overwater your seedlings.
Too much water can be very counterproductive and harmful.
In this stage, it is best to mist your seeds’ soil in order to give it a gentle amount of moisture without overpowering it.
Step 6. Placing The Seed Trays Or Pots In a Warm And Light Location
Rose seeds require an abundant amount of light and warmth in order to grow into healthy, fortified plants.
It is imperative to maintain an air temperature of at least 70° F in order to ensure the best growth rate possible.
In addition, please ensure that your seedlings are receiving at least 6 hours of light per day.
If you are growing your rose seedlings indoors and cannot sustain enough light, then introducing grow lights is a great supplement to the seedlings’ growth.
IV. How To Care For Young Roses
Light Requirements
Young roses thrive on abundant light, just as mature roses do.
It is necessary for your young plants to receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day in order to encourage vigorous growth.
Water Requirements
Maintaining lightly moist soil is essential for the growth and survival of your young roses.
However, it is equally as important to make sure that you do not overwater your roses plants.
Rose plants (especially juvenile specimens) are incredibly sensitive to being overwatered. It is often better to err on the side of caution and under-water your plants.
Overwatering can cause premature death in your rose plants, which can be particularly devastating considering how much time you’ve dedicated to growing these plants from seed!
A good rule of thumb to make sure you do not overwater your roses is to wait until the first few inches of soil have dried before rehydrating your plants’ soil.
Fertilizing The Seedlings
Fertilizer is a helpful addition to the growing of roses from seeds.
However, applying fertilizer to your plants should be done with extreme caution, as it can make or break the longevity of your plant.
At their young age, rose seedlings are sensitive to the addition of fertilizer.
As a result, gardners should opt for gentler, diluted fertilizers that can safely deliver nutrients to their plant without the risk of causing harm.
We recommend investing in organic, high-quality fertilizer for this particular situation.
Fertilizers that are fish or kelp based are suitable for this purpose.
Select a balanced fertilizer and dilute the recommended dosage in half.
Roses thrive in a soil that is rich in organic material.
Related post: Best Soil For Roses
A few weeks prior to transplanting your seedlings into the garden, mix a few scoops of rotted compost or manure into the garden bed. Work the compost 10 inches deep into the soil.
It is important to amend the garden soil ahead of time in order to allow the soil to “settle.”
This addition will provide extra nutrients to the young roses as their root system starts to grow and develop deeper into the ground.
Transplanting The Seedlings Into Larger Pots Or In The Garden
Once you have successfully grown your rose seedlings indoors, it’s important to prepare them for outdoor conditions by hardening off your seedlings before transplanting them into your garden.
This is a crucial step in learning how to grow roses from seeds and ensuring that your seedlings thrive in their new environment.
“Hardening off” seedlings is the process of slowly acclimating seedlings to the outside elements before transplanting them in the garden.
Hardening off the seedlings will mitigate the risk of transplant shock that could kill your seedlings and squander the months of hard work you’ve already put in.
Transplant shock refers to a number of stressors that a plant undergoes when it is removed from its comfortable situation.
While transplant shock is unavoidable, there are multiple ways gardeners can alleviate the stressors.
Hardening off your seedlings is very simple and only takes a couple of weeks to do it properly.
Every day brighten your tray of seedlings outdoors to sit.
Start off slow with about 1 to 2 hours of outdoor time before bringing them back into their familiar area.
Every day, gradually add more time until your seedlings are fully integrated into the outdoor elements.
After transplanting your seedlings, it is important to give them a deep watering to further reduce the risk of transplant shock.
The watering helps the soil settle around the roots of the plant, while also providing nutrients as they recover from the transfer.
Related post: Planting Roses (A Step-By-Step Guide)
V. Conclusion
If you’re up for the challenge, learning how to grow roses from seeds can be a highly rewarding experience.
As you embark on this journey, keep in mind that there may be some difficult moments, but don’t give up.
In the end, you’ll have the satisfaction of looking back at your accomplishment and being proud that you grew your own roses from scratch.
