Roses are probably the most beloved flowers all over the world. They enchant us with their intoxicating fragrance, as well as their vibrant colors and velvety petals. A symbol of love, the rose has managed to conquer its position as a plant used not only as decoration in bouquets or gardens but also as a raw material for refined perfumes and… sweets.
Today we will offer you some useful tips if you want to create a rose garden in front of your house.
Let's start with a little history
The history of roses is older than that of the human species. There are fossils that indicate that various rose species existed as far back as 35 million years ago.
They were first cultivated by humans in China, about 5,000 years ago, and during the glorious period of ancient Rome there were vast plantations in the Middle East, because rose petals were used as confetti at parties, military parades and other public events.
It is likely that the custom of scattering rose petals in front of the bride walking towards the altar is a continuation of this practice from ancient Rome.
Roses reached their peak in the Middle Ages, especially in England and France. Various noble families included roses on their coats of arms and for this reason the war between the houses of York and Lancaster for the English throne remained known in history as the War of the Two Roses.
In France, rose water was in high demand - so precious and sought after that in the 17th century the royal family considered adding it to the official list of coins used in transactions, alongside the gold louis.
Currently, the horticultural industry relies on roses as one of the best-selling flowers worldwide, generating hundreds of millions of Euros in revenue.
But let's put aside statistics and history and focus on the main topic of this article: how you can become the owner of a beautiful rose garden.
The first step is selecting the cuttings
When buying a cutting, you need to check if it is vigorous and viable. The stem of the cutting should be green and smooth and have consistency when you lift the cutting in your hand. A dry cutting is always light. You will also notice that the upper part of the stem is covered with wax. This serves to protect the plant from losing sap.
It is not necessary to remove this layer of wax - it will crack and fall off on its own when the rose plant starts to grow.
If you are going to plant the cuttings within a maximum of 2 weeks of purchase, you can store them indoors, covered with sphagnum moss or other materials that will conserve moisture in the roots and stem. If, on the other hand, you are going to keep the cuttings for more than 2 weeks before planting them, it is recommended to find them a place outdoors.
