Rose cuttings - advice for novice please ?

[52andblue]

I am a novice trying to take cuttings from an unknown old rose bush before I move from a rented cottage (with permission)

I've taken about 20, all about 6" long and used root powder and put them about 3" deep in compost in large terracotta pots.

I put them in the greenhouse but they are starting to wilt (top flew leaves left on) so I've moved them to against a shady wall (north facing, and I'm in the NE so never very hot). Keeping them well watered.

Is this okay do you think?

My experience - the rose cuttings I put into full sun in slightly dry soil and empty pot are all dead, the cuttings I put into pots already full of plants in consistently damp/borderline waterlogged soil thanks to this horrible weather in light shade have all rooted and looking great.

Take off all the top leaves until you have about a postage stamp sized bit of leaf left. There are no roots to take up water, so you need to cut transpiration from the leaves to a minimum.

You should have cut the base of the stem horizontally just below a node where the leaves come out. I would have put them more deeply in the soil than you.

I would then have put the whole pot into a plastic bag to keep the air moist.

I would also have used a plastic pot, about 6 cuttings to a pot- plastic loses less water than clay.

They’ll take months to root. Don’t disturb them until you see good healthy roots out of the bottom of the pot

Oh thanks.
I will pick the top leaves off, top up the soil and put plastic bags around them.
I've moved them to the shade and am keeping them VERY well watered.
I will resist the urge to peek.

I have the option of moving the whole bush too.

It is old, but is now pruned back thanks to me taking the cuttings.
I am worried I wouldn't be able to get the whole root ball up though?
I'd absolutely HATE to kill it?

NONE of the cuttings took.

but... I bought some Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi and the main plant is growing a bit. Fingers crossed....

I have my fingers crossed for your rose bush!
I've had varying results with cuttings too. Some do, some don't, for no apparent reason.