Learn how to plant roses easily, using… potatoes!

Returning to school routines means returning to other routines, particularly gardening, where innovative techniques can be applied. Find out more with us!

Potato.
The potato is a tuber widely consumed by the population today.

Thousands of students are already returning to school in mid-September, and their guardians are returning to their routines, including taking care of their gardens. Now comes an unusual way to develop a rose garden, even for those who don't have a very large backyard or don't have the land to do it.

It may seem unlikely, but it is possible to root rose branches using nothing more or less than potatoes as a support. This tuber, rich in nutrients, also provides enough moisture for a rose bush to develop and flower quickly and healthily. This could already be done using a container of water, but this new technique promises to revolutionise gardens.

The reason for the potato

When moving a plant from a smaller pot to a larger one, for example, it is always necessary to ensure that the plant receives the right amount of nutrients and water, and to be very careful until the plant takes root. Using a potato can be 3 times more beneficial for the plant than making a seedling in a pot or container with water.

It is assumed that potato cultivation originated in the Andes Mountains and was eventually taken to other regions of the world by European colonisers. Today, thousands of varieties of potatoes are cultivated on all continents, making them a fundamental food in global culture.

Potatoes are tuber plants that have the potential to provide the right amount of moisture to the rose bush. Therefore, there is no need for additional watering in a conventional pot, nor for adding water when using a container. With the right amount of moisture, there is no risk of the rose bush drying out.

Potatoes.
Potatoes are very important in the diet of the population worldwide, and now they could have a completely unusual use.

Another advantage of potatoes is that, being rich in starch, in combination with other nutrients, they provide everything the flower needs to develop without resorting to other types of compost or chemical fertilisers. In addition, potatoes provide protection against bacterial and fungal infections that traditionally appear in roses when the cutting is made in soil or water.

Steps to success

To ensure that a cutting made from a potato grows perfectly, it is important to pay attention to a few aspects. For a cutting or branch to take, it must be fresh (never dry or wilted), at least 15 cm long and have at least 4 or 5 nodes along that length. In addition, the cutting must be chosen from a healthy rose bush.

The same goes for the potato: a healthy potato of considerable size must be chosen. If the potato is too small, it may not be sufficient to ensure the healthy growth of the rose bush and its flower.

The rose is one of the most popular flowers in the world, having been cultivated by man since ancient times.

In the final phase, the potato, properly connected to the rose, can be placed in a pot with soil. In this case, you should pay attention to the size of the pot and the correct watering regime. The roots of the rose bush will grow, nourished by the potato, and within 6 weeks you will be able to enjoy a true miracle of nature, which looks great in any garden, even an improvised one.