Roses are Red; Violets are Blue
Not Anymore, Roses come in so many colors nowadays, and there are so many kinds of roses. I have grown climbing roses outdoors before, but this time I want to try growing them in a container. Join me to learn all about roses.
I recently purchased some starts through the mail and researched how to start them. So far, so good! It has been successful, and I am beginning to see a lot of new growth on several of the stems.
With over 150 different species of roses and thousands of hybrids out there, I want to talk about a few of the basic care tips for successfully growing roses.
Successful Rose Growing
Getting roses growing from starts has proven to be easy so far. Here are the steps I took to grow them. Supplies needed:
Clean, sharp knife or scissors,
Pot and soil,
Plastic bottle, milk jug, or plastic bag
Rain, distilled, or filtered water
Root hormone powder
Cut the stems’ ends with a clean, sharp knife or scissors, then dip them into the rooting hormone.
Next, place the rose starts in the pot with soil. Now water the starts thoroughly, letting the water run out the bottom of the pot.
Next, cut the plastic bottle or milk jug in half.
And finally, place the plastic bottle, milk jug, or plastic bag over the top of the rose stems, then place them under a grow light or, if available, set in a sunny window.
Once Roses Take Root
Decide where you want to plant your roses. Are they going to a spot in your garden, climbing a trellis, or will you keep them in a pot?
Once you decide the location, transplant your roses in the new location and water them thoroughly. If you are going to keep your roses in a pot, here are some tips on potted roses.
Potted Roses
Keeping roses in a pot with soil can be successful if you follow these tips. First, select the best type of roses for pots. Miniature Roses and Patio roses work well in pots.
Best Pots for Roses
Select a clay or terra cotta pot. These pots have better air circulation to help prevent root rot. Plus, they dry a lot more quickly, which helps prevent root rot, but bad for the plant parent that forgets to water. Just remember they are still babies at this point and need extra attention and care.
Pick a lighter color of pot. Roses are heat sensitive, and if you are going to have them in direct sun, darker pot colors will heat up and transfer the heat to the soil, and your roses will get too hot. Be sure to select lighter-colored pots for your roses. Read more about selecting the correct pot for your plants here.
Soil Mixture for Roses
The best ingredients for roses are the following:
Quality commercial potting soil
Garden compost
Organic matter
Perlite for drainage
Bonemeal
Fish or Blood meal
Mix these ingredients as follows:
One-third quality commercial potting soil, one-third garden compost, and mix the following one-third with mostly perlite and organic matter. Add in some bonemeal and a little bit of fish or blood meal for added nutrients.
If you are like me, you are thinking, where do I get all of these ingredients? You can get almost all of these items from your local lawn and garden or tractor supply store. Also, plant nurseries should have them available for sale. If not, you can order them online.
If you are like me, you are already thinking about how many other plants I can use this soil for. This is me because I do not want to waste ingredients. I also do not want to store these ingredients.
Here is what I do. I buy all my ingredients in bulk in the spring and make a great big mixture of soil in a large plastic container with a lid. This is what I store my soil in. I usually do this and do all my repotting before moving the plants outside in late spring.
As far as the ingredients go, you have a few options:
You can store these ingredients in a covered container for later use, or you can buy smaller amounts instead of bulk. Also, you can use this in your garden and use it for herbs and start an herb garden. Or you can buy a rose-specific soil and be done with it. If you use this option, be careful about fertilizing.
Learn more about soil in my Beginner’s Level Rules #4: Digging in Soil coming soon.
Watering Potted Roses
Finding the proper watering schedule for your potted roses may take a few weeks. My best advice is to check the soil using the 2-finger method every 2-3 days until you know your watering schedule.
The 2-finger method for watering is simply taking your index and middle finger and pushing down into the soil to feel the amount of moisture. Here’s how to tell if you need to water:
Can you visibly see the soil is moist? If so there is no need to water.
However, if the top of the soil looks dry, stick your fingers in to see how far down the soil is dry. When the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, water them.
Check your roses every 2-3 days; you want the soil to be moist but not wet. After checking your roses every 2-3 days to see if they need water for a couple of weeks, you will know how often you need water.
Here’s an example:
Be extra careful not to overwater your roses. And with that said, be cautious about fertilizers too.
Fertilizer’s for Roses
If you do include bone meal and fish or blood meal into your soil, you do not need to fertilizer as much. Typically, April through September, you will want to fertilize roses according to the fertilizer directions during the growing season.
Recently, I purchased a fertilizer specific for roses. Since I always want to get the most bang for my buck; I looked to see what other blooming plants I can use to fertilize. The packaging states it also fights against pests. I felt like this was a double duty, and it only needs to be used every six weeks. Also, it can be used on other flowering plants and shrubs. The shelf life on most fertilizers is between 3-5 years when stored properly. Taking all of these into consideration, I know I made a good investment for my roses.
Common Problems for Roses
Pests, Mildew, and Fungal Diseases
Aphids, whiteflies, mites, mildew, and fungal diseases like black spots are common problems for roses. Depending on the level of invasion of pests will depend on how to treat it.
Most of the time, if it is caught early enough, the damage can be repaired, and it will not be fatal to your plant. However, if it is let go too long, you may not be able to salvage your plant.
If caught in time, it’s easy to treat most of these problems with extra care, and with the help of a pesticide, you can help your plant recover in no time. The best thing you can do for your plant is exercising the proper preventive measures from the start.
More to come on pests and other plant problems soon!
Let’s Wrap Up About Roses!
Caring for roses can seem like a lot of work, but honestly, they are not much more work than any other blooming plants. Consider your plant’s basic needs, provide the best environment possible, and take preventive measures for pests, and your roses will thrive.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about caring for roses.
Until next time!
