I'm going to let you in on my secret to rooting roses:
Cut a rose stem about the diameter of a pencil. Cut off any blooms. Get a glass of water. Put the rose stem into the glass of water and set it on a window sill filled with bright but indirect light. Change the water every two or three days. Wait. When the rose roots, plant it in the garden.
Don't laugh. It's how I've rooted almost every one of my roses. But for some reason folks want something more complicated. I suppose there is a ritualistic thing involved, so I'm going to tell you how to root roses if you need the more complicated methods.
Always, the stem will be the same: A nice, healthy stem about the diameter of a pencil. Select a plump green one, as they root more easily than the woody ones. Make your cutting below a bud eye. Some people advise removing all but the top two sets of leaves. I tend to leave them on, as they seem to fall off eventually anyway. Meanwhile, the leaf is providing energy to the rose. The green of the stem will do this as well, so even if you lose all the leaves, don't despair.
SAND
Some rose growers swear by rooting in coarse sand. Make the cutting, dip the cut end into rooting hormone, following the instructions for the brand you select, and insert the cutting into a small, sand filled pot. Water it, keeping it moist but not soggy, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
You may wish to "tent" the cutting with clear plastic to create an evenly humid environment. Studies show cuttings rooted in misting chambers root with more success, but unless you have one of these treasures, another way is to create a mini-greenhouse environment for your little cutting. I have propped up mine with chopsticks so the plastic does not contact the rose's leaves. You can also purchase little plastic rooting homes for your cuttings, or you can use clear plastic cake boxes if you want to save money. A nice oblong one would house a dozen or more cuttings if you are into mass production. Either remove the cover once a day to ventilate the cuttings, or punch holes in the plastic.
When the stem has at least three to four new sets of leaves on it, and is growing vigorously, move it into the garden. I do *not* pull on the rose to see if it resists, indicating new roots. The leaves will tell me that soon enough, and I leave them in peace. Some growers like to keep the newly rooted roses in a shaded location for a few days. I tend to rush the process and stick them straight into their new permanent home.
