Roses. Why not,'Layer'?

Recently here on GC various questions have been asked regarding roses. I step aside, when it comes to identifying roses. I leave that to my Hon. friend Woo. He's so much better than me, at it.

In particular, the practice of propagating roses has cropped up. I have looked at you-tube and all the successes people have, sticking cuttings in pots, covering with plastic bottles etc. Been there, done that and ZILCH. The question was asked, why don't commercial breeders/growers use this method. Zimples. Not commercially viable. One cutting might have five good buds on. Using the grafting or budding method, the more buds, the more plants.

It is interesting and enlightening to learn of members/gardeners trying their hand at proporgating. This can be done in many ways. When it comes to Roses. I so often ask. Why not layer, or even air layer. It basically can't fail. It's so easy.

 

I still think it must have more to do with having a known rootstock, similar to fruit growing.
It makes no other real sense to me to go through the process of propagating rootstocks ,then the grafting process then the growing on all before sale.
When the alternative is basically pushing a few shoots into a propagating bench and pretty much letting them get on with it.

 

I think the known rootstock is less important for roses as the graft is generally planted below ground level where the scion can then root. Fruit trees the graft is left clear of the ground so that the scion doesn't root and growth is controlled by the rootstock.
It probably comes down to economics and speed of production.

 

Also, I believe roses vegetatively propagated do not always produce a strong enough root system to enable good growth. So the method may not generate the consistent results required by commercial nurseries.

Blackstart

 

My point of starting this thread, was asking why gardeners who like to propagate roses, take cuttings and go to varying lengths to root them. When a very simple method of layering is available.

Some prose and cons have been mentioned, basically applicable to commercial growing, eg; budding/grafting is quicker and cheaper. As said. My suggestions wre directed at the 'have a go gardener'.

Actually David Austin did produce many roses from cuttings, and in the US. they went down well. There are benefits with using cuttings. The resulting plant is stronger, hardier etc etc. To support this. Gardens: roses on their own roots.

So why not give layering a go?

 

Here is one of my cuttings that's just about to bloom.
As my Dad's house is about to go on the market I will stick with taking cuttings from some of Mum's beautiful roses, take loads and cross my fingers. I have 4 more cuttings doing well that I took last year but despite looking healthy they are to young yet to throw out buds.

 

I still cant see how it can be faster and definitely cant be cheaper, too much labour involved and labour is the biggest money problem these days.
Add to that the annoyance of suckers which have always happened when ever I have tried growing them and it doesn't make any sense to graft for any other reason than some plants will not make good root systems.