Honestly, roses are the vegemite of plants. They're classic, and you either love them or you hate them. We are personally rose lovers, so we've put together 7 quick tips to master the art of rose growing in pots. Whether you're dealing with scorching summer heat or the occasional chilly winter morning.
1. Give Your Roses Plenty of Sunshine All Year Round
If you want to know the key light requirements of roses being grown in pots, you need to know that they are sun worshippers! What does that mean? Give your roses at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If your pots or garden gets partial shade, morning sun is best to dry off dew and prevent the dreaded fungal issues.
2. Water Your Roses Deeply, But Not Too Often
Roses are like us. They like a good drink (particularly on weekends) but too much can lead to them looking a little worse for wear. In summer and when it's warm, you can water the, twice a week, until water run from the bottom of the pot. You can add a squirt of Grow Concentrate everytime you water to stimulate new growth.
3. Use Support Pellets and Bloom Concentrate on your potted roses
Roses are hungry mo-fos, so keep them happy with a good feed. For potted roses, use Support Pellets and Bloom Concentrate all year round for a good dose of microbes, beneficial fungi and growth promoting nutrients,
4. Prune Your Roses Heavy In July and August
Give your roses a good chop in late winter (July-August). Literally, you can cut them back by about one-third of the plant - pretty awesome right?! Get rid of dead or weak stems, and make sure they're not too bushy, so that air flows.
5. Watch for Aphids and Fungal Issues
Roses are super susceptible to aphids and black spot. You can use our leaf cleaning gloves to wipe your potted rose leaves. Many people use a Neem based leaf spray to take care of pests and fungal issues.
6. Add a Top Layer to the Soil for Moisture and Protection
It's a great idea to add a thick, 5cm layer of mulch (like sugarcane or composted bark) around the base of your roses, particularly if they're in pots. This will helps retain moisture, stop weeds and grass seeds growing, and keep soil temps even through scorching summer!
7. Keep A Check On Extreme Weather
Roses can have temper tantrems, so when the weather is super hot in summer, consider giving them extra water or even shade cloths. You could even be like my grandma and tape an umbrella to post to protect your roses....
Well, hopefully these tips are handy. Roses can be such a beautiful way to enjoy cut flowers and blooms.