Rose Cuttings

Someone has just sent me an email for my daily web pages claiming if you first insert Rose cuttings in an non-scrapped potato, before burying about 4 in in the ground, it will help the cutting to root.

Does that make sense, if so would it help with cuttings of other shrubs, such as if you do not bother to use a hormone powder?

Thanks

 

Not my idea actually, just one of the daily emails sent to me.

 

Willow (and maybe Poplar?) contains plentiful hormones that aid rooting which is why those plants are often sold as "setts" in November time and just inserted into the ground rather than going to the trouble of rooting them and growing them on. I use Cornus, from the prunings when I stool the plant by cutting it to the ground in the spring, as Pea Sticks ... and many of those root.

People recommend putting Willow twigs in water with cuttings, or making a solution and using that as a "rooting aid". Of course nowadays you can buy Hormone Rooting Powder, or latterly gel-like compounds such as Clonex ...

I suspect that the Potato thing is based on either the hormones or having some moisture at the base of the cutting.