Rooted rose cuttings should spend their first winter with a roof over their heads. Spring planting is highly beneficial for growth and abundance of flowers. You can find out how and where you can successfully overwinter rose cuttings here.
How can you successfully overwinter rose cuttings?
Rose cuttings should be kept bright and frost-free in winter at temperatures between 3° and 15° Celsius. Suitable winter quarters are greenhouses, winter gardens, balconies, cold frames, garages or garden sheds. A balanced mix of light and temperature promotes the growth of roots and leaves.
Overwinter rose cuttings brightly and frost-free
When caring for roses, knowledgeable hobby gardeners specifically look for suitable cuttings for propagation. By late fall, rose cuttings have developed a small, delicate root system. When planted in the bed, the young offshoots have little resistance to the bitter cold. For this reason, freshly rooted rose cuttings should overwinter once to gather strength for a life as opulent rose bushes. The appropriate framework conditions are easy to create:
- Temperatures: frost-free at an ideal 3° to 10° Celsius (minimum 1° C., maximum 15° C.)
- Light: bright to partially shaded (no direct sun)
- Rule of thumb: the less light, the colder it can be
The recommended light and temperature conditions are aimed at preventing your rose cuttings from dropping their leaves. Then the offshoots can concentrate on rooting quickly in the bed next year instead of investing valuable energy in budding.
Suitable winter quarters for rose cuttings – table
There are a variety of options for providing rooted rose cuttings with winter quarters in or around the house and even in the garden. The following table provides an overview with information about the best light and temperature conditions:
| Winter quarters | Light | Temperature | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse | bright to sunny | 0.5°C to 3°C | Set up a fan heater with a universal thermostat |
| Winter garden (tempered) | bright to sunny | 8°C to 15°C | with shading |
| Balcony | South or West side | 0.5°C to 15°C | pack up, put on wood |
| Cold frame (high, transparent cover) | bright to partially shaded | 0.5°C to 10°C | with natural heating |
| Garage/Garden House | bright to partially shaded | 0.5°C to 10°C | with frost monitor |
| Overwintering tent | bright to sunny | 0.5°C to 15°C | with shading and frost monitor |
| Staircase | bright | 8° to 15° C | with lighting |
| Room | bright to sunny | 8° to 15° C | unheated |
In the endurance test at 500 meters above sea level in the mountains, the greenhouse with fan heater (€149.00 on Amazon) and universal thermostat has proven itself excellently. Even though it was a cool 18° Celsius outside in winter, the power consumption was surprisingly low. The heater was set so that it switched on at 0.5° Celsius internal temperature and switched off again at 2° Celsius.
Tip
Do you still have a spot free in the winter quarters of your rose cuttings? Then rooted cuttings of lavender, hydrangeas and other flowering trees like to overwinter in this place. Every pruning of ornamental shrubs produces hordes of potential offshoots that take root better in warm spring soil.
