How to propagate roses using potatoes?

 Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly plant a rose cutting using one method:

### 1. **Choosing the Right Cutting**

   - **Cut from a Healthy Stem**: Select a healthy, mature rose stem that is about 6-8 inches long with a few leaves at the top. It’s best to use a stem that has flowered already but isn’t too old or woody.

   - **Cut the Flower Off**: As you did, remove the flower at the top. It’s better to cut just below a node (where a leaf meets the stem).

   - **Make a Clean Cut at the Bottom**: Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to make a clean cut at a 45-degree angle, just below a node. This helps expose more surface area for rooting.

### 2. **Prepare the Cutting**

   - **Remove Lower Leaves**: Strip off the leaves from the lower part of the stem, leaving a few at the top.

   - **Optional: Dip in Rooting Hormone**: You can dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth (honey is sometimes used as a natural alternative, but it’s not as effective as rooting hormone).

### 3. **Inserting the Cutting into a Potato**

   - **Why Use a Potato?** Potatoes are sometimes used because they provide moisture to the cutting. However, it’s not a scientifically proven method and might not significantly boost success rates compared to using soil directly.

   - **Make a Hole in the Potato**: Create a small hole in the potato using a nail or similar tool. The hole should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the cutting so that it fits snugly. 

   - **Insert the Cutting**: Place the bottom of the cutting (with honey or rooting hormone) into the potato, making sure it’s secure.

### 4. **Planting the Potato with the Cutting**

   - **Prepare the Soil**: Choose a pot or a spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Roses prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.5.

   - **Plant the Potato**: Dig a hole deep enough to cover the potato and plant it in the soil with the rose cutting sticking out. Make sure the soil around the potato is firm.

   - **Watering**: Water the soil thoroughly after planting.

### 5. **Creating a Humid Environment**

   - **Cover with Nylon or a Plastic Bag**: Wrap the cutting (and the potato) loosely with a transparent plastic bag (or transparent nylon as you mentioned). This creates a mini greenhouse effect to maintain humidity, which is crucial for root development.

   - **Ventilation**: Make sure the plastic is not airtight. You want to allow some air circulation, so poke a few holes in the bag or leave a small gap.

### 6. **Caring for the Cutting**

   - **Place in Indirect Sunlight**: Put the pot or garden spot in a location with indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause the cutting to dry out.

   - **Water Regularly**: Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Over-watering can cause the potato to rot.

   - **Monitor the Cutting**: After a few weeks, you should see new growth if the cutting has taken root. You can gently tug on the cutting to see if it resists, which indicates rooting.

### 7. **Transplanting**

   - Once the cutting has developed roots (typically after 4-6 weeks), you can transplant the rose cutting into a larger pot or a permanent spot in your garden.

### Notes:

- **Success Rate**: Rooting rose cuttings can be challenging, and not all cuttings will succeed, so you may want to try several at once.

- **Alternative to Potato**: While the potato method is interesting, most gardeners find better results by simply planting the cutting directly in soil with rooting hormone.

By following these steps, you increase the chances of successfully growing a new rose from your cutting. Let me know if you need more details on any part of the process!