Can You Regrow Roses from Florist Bouquets?

Roses go back thousands of years, capturing our adoration like no other flower. People have been breeding and hybridizing them through the centuries, creating endless varieties. The prolific Greek poet Sappho called them ‘The Queen of Flowers’ in 600 BC. They also became the national flower of the U.S. in 1986. 

Since antiquity, we’ve distilled their essential oils into perfumes and made candies out of their essence. During the 19th century, multi-blooming Rosa chinensis varieties were bred with European roses. They created hybrid tea roses, which soon became the showpiece varieties we associate with Valentine’s Day. 

Besides the showy hybrid teas, florists use all kinds of roses in their bouquets. If you have a green thumb, you’ve probably wondered if you can regrow the beautiful roses from your bouquet to yield an entire rose bush! Keep reading below to learn how you can. 

The Long Answer

Regrowing roses from a bouquet will take a little patience and gardening know-how. You should also understand that this won’t always work. 

Below, we cover the steps to do it. If you’re successful, you can try this on any flower cutting. While some are easier to propagate via cuttings than others, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.

Find Healthy Stems

Bouquets of roses usually come from shrubs grown in greenhouses in warm areas. They’re shipped overseas or very long distances to nurseries and flower stores across the country. 

Because of this, many rose cuttings will have lost their flexible strength. In your bouquet, find stems that are not too bendable and soft and not dry and brittle. Stems that feel strong and alive have the best chance of regrowing.  

If your stems buckle or feel too soft, toss them. Don’t be let down if all of them are in poor shape. This is normal, especially considering how far most rose bouquets have to travel to wind up in your hands. 

Take Your First Cut Below the Leaf Nodes

To start, grab disinfected cutters or hand pruners. Make sure you’ve properly disinfected them with rubbing alcohol. This reduces the risk of transferring harmful pathogens between your plants. 

Grab the stem and see how bendable it is. It should be flexible and feel fresh rather than dry and breakable. 

Find the bumps, or leaf nodes, where the leaves grow from. The plant’s new roots will form from these nodes. Make your first cut at 45° below a leaf node towards the bottom of the stem and your second cut 6 or 8 inches above that. 

Trim Excess Leaves

If your cutting has a bunch of leaves on it, go ahead and trim them off. You only need 3 or 4 leaves to encourage the plant to produce new roots. This is an important step in propagating stem cuttings that many gardeners, like myself, miss. 

If you plant your cutting with leaves towards the stem, they will eventually rot and attract disease-causing fungi. Too many leaves at the top increase the surface area and take too much energy from the roots. 

Remove the Flowers

Although they’re pretty, rose flowers have no use when you’re trying to regrow cuttings from a bouquet. Admire their beauty one last time and clip them away. 

If they’re organic roses and still have their aromatics, save them! You can try steam distilling the pedals to create delicious rose water. Only do this with roses you’re sure haven’t been treated with pesticides or chemicals. 

Prepare Your Growing Medium

Roses love well-drained, loamy soil. Any organic potting soil will work. You can add a little compost to increase its nutrient content and help your little clippings grow. 

Fill your containers with your potting soil mixture. Make a narrow and deep hole in the center with a clean piece of wood or stake. 

Dip the Stems in Rooting Hormone

After you’ve collected your healthy 6 to 8-inch stems, dip their ends in a rooting hormone. There are many types of root hormones on the market. They all work by encouraging the plant to grow roots in the cut area near the leaf nodes. 

Rooting hormones come in liquids, powders, and gels. Below are the steps to using them for rooting rose clippings:

Plant Your Cuttings

After applying the rooting hormone, it’s time to plant the cuttings of roses you want to regrow from your original bouquet. Gently place them, cutting side down into your soil, and cover their crowns. 

Simply place them deep enough so the plants can stand on their own. You don’t have to push the stem to the bottom of the container. 

Cover With a Germination Dome

Cover your cuttings with a humidity dome or germination dome. You can use any clear plastic bin or store-bought germination dome as long as it’s large enough. Milk jugs or soda bottles will also work for individual plants. 

This step helps trap moisture and heat for the plants to grow. Make sure it has plenty of holes for air circulation. It has to be completely transparent to let enough light in. 

Grow Indoors

You probably get bouquets during Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, but outside temperatures will still be too cold to regrow roses. Bring your cuttings inside and place them in bright, indirect light. You can use indoor grow lights as well if there’s not enough light entering through your windows. 

Rose clippings are delicate and need consistent temperatures to regrow. If you live in warmer regions like southern Florida, place your cuttings outside in a shady space. 

Water Thoroughly 

Water your rose cuttings with a mister and keep them covered. Be careful not to overwater them or they could develop root rot. 

You’ll see some condensation on the inside of the germination dome. This is a sign your plants are taking in enough water and they have enough moisture to grow. 

It’s Time for Planting

Give your roses a slight pull to check their root development. If you feel some resistance, it means their roots are growing into the soil. This usually takes a few weeks to a month. 

Once your roses are rooted into the soil, remove the germination dome. When the outside temperatures are between 40 and 60°F (4-16°C) in spring, it’s time to plant your roses outdoors. 

Dig loose holes 2 to 3 feet apart in a spot with over 6 hours of direct sunlight. Place your roses into the holes and cover them with a soil and compost mixture. Give them a nice thorough watering and cover them with a layer of mulch.