Buzz
Growing roses from seeds can be a challenge because most seeds you collect may not sprout, no matter how much care you give them. Luckily, most rose plants produce a lot of seeds within their fruits, so a low germination rate isn’t a major issue. Keep in mind that the rose plant that grows may have different characteristics or appearance than the parent plant, especially in cases of grafted or hybrid varieties.
Steps
Harvesting Rose Seeds
Provide the right conditions for the rose fruit to develop by leaving the dead flower on the plant. Roses are often pollinated by insects or are self-pollinating in certain varieties, so manual pollination isn’t necessary unless you want to cross-pollinate different varieties. Instead of cutting the flower off, leave it on the plant. After it wilts, the flower will develop into a rose fruit.
- Note: The seeds you collect may grow into plants with different characteristics. This occurs when you collect seeds from a hybrid or cross-pollinated rose plant.
Harvest rose fruits when ripe. The rose fruits start off small and green, gradually changing color as they mature, eventually turning red, orange, brown, or purple. You can harvest the seeds at this stage or wait until the fruit begins to dry and wrinkle. Don't wait until the fruit becomes overly dry and turns brown, as the seeds inside may have already died.
Cut open the rose fruit and extract the seeds. Use a knife to open the rose fruit and reveal the seeds inside. Pull the seeds out with the tip of the knife or other tools.
- Different rose varieties will produce fruits with varying amounts of seeds. A single rose fruit can contain anywhere from a few seeds to several dozen.
Remove the pulp from the seeds. The pulp can inhibit seed germination. The quickest way to remove it is to place the seeds on a sieve or strainer, rinse them with water, and gently rub the seed surfaces.
Encourage Seed Germination
Soak the seeds in diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (optional). A mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide can help reduce mold growth on the seeds. Mix 1.5 teaspoons (7 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide into 1 cup (240 ml) of water. Soak the rose seeds in this solution for at least 1 hour.
- Some studies suggest that a small amount of mold growth might actually help break down the outer shell of the seed. However, it's still advisable to use the method above to prevent excessive mold growth.
- You can also sprinkle a little anti-fungal powder on the rose seeds.
Place rose seeds on damp material. Rose seeds typically won’t germinate unless they are stored in cold, damp conditions similar to winter weather. Place the seeds between two slightly damp paper towels or in a container with unsalted river sand, peat moss, or vermiculite.
- This is the first step in the rose planting process, called stratification. If you purchased pre-stratified rose seeds from the store, you can skip this step.
Put the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks. Place the rose seeds along with the damp material in a plastic bag or seed tray within a plastic bag, then store them in a cold area of the fridge, such as the vegetable drawer.
- Don’t store the seeds with fruits or vegetables to prevent chemicals from being released that might hinder seed growth.
- Maintain a moderate level of humidity for the seed storage environment. Add a few drops of water to the paper towels whenever they dry out.
Remove the seeds from the fridge. Try to take the seeds out of the fridge around the typical germination time, such as early spring. Ensure the environment outside the fridge is around 21°C. The seeds won’t start germinating until they are removed from the fridge. Depending on the rose variety and the individual seed, the germination period can take 4-6 weeks. Generally, more than 70% of the seeds will never sprout.
Planting Seeds
Fill a seed tray with sterile seed-starting mix. Small seed trays can help care for multiple seeds at once. Alternatively, you can use a cup with drainage holes at the bottom to easily observe the seed's rooting progress.
- Avoid using regular garden soil because it tends to drain poorly and can cause the young plants to rot.
Plant the seeds. Seeds purchased from the store can be planted immediately. If you’ve followed the germination process described above, plant the seeds as soon as they sprout. Position the sprouted seed with the root facing down. Cover it lightly with 6 mm of soil. Space the seeds at least 5 cm apart to minimize competition.
- Germinated seeds can develop into seedlings within a week. Store-bought seeds don’t require home stratification and may take a few weeks to sprout into seedlings. Seeds that haven’t undergone stratification but have followed the germination process described above may take 2-3 years to grow into seedlings.
Keep the soil environment warm and moist for the seedlings. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. A temperature range of 16-21ºC is ideal for most rose varieties. Seedlings generally thrive when they receive 6 hours (or more) of sunlight each day. However, you should research the parent rose variety to better understand the ideal growing conditions for your seedlings.
Know when to transplant the seedlings. The first two leaves that appear on the seedling are called cotyledons. When the seedling grows true "leaves" that resemble typical rose leaves, it is strong enough to survive transplantation. Transplanting is easier if the seedling is first grown in a larger pot for 1-2 years before moving it outside.
- It’s best to transplant the seedling as soon as you notice the roots have filled the seed tray.
- Don’t move the seedling outdoors until after the last frost of the season.
Rose Care. Once the seedlings appear to be thriving after being moved outdoors, you can start watering them as usual. Fertilizing a few times during the warm growing season, according to the instructions on the package, can help the plant grow and bloom. However, remember that some rose varieties may not bloom during their first year.
What You Will Need
- Water
- Paper towels (or refer to the guide for alternative options)
- Rose fruits or rose seeds
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (optional)
- Seedling soil mixture
Advice
- Consult with nurseries to find rose varieties that are well-suited to your garden’s climate and conditions.
Warning
- Be cautious of advice suggesting that soaking seeds in water is an effective test for their germination potential. While this may work for some plants, rose seeds can float even if they are viable or not.
