Beginner gardner with a question about roses.?
Question:This is from James J's wife, Anna :)
I got a rose bush for mother's day and don't know how to care for it, really. I planted it in a spot that gets alot of sun, is that okay? How often should I water and how much? What other things should I do? I don't want it to die! Help?
Answers:
Yes, plant in the full sun. Put a lot of compost in the hole before you fill in the dirt.
Roses are a tropical jungle plant and they use up a lot of organic nitrogen every year. Fertilize every spring, and then again 2 months later.
Roses like water too, but don't water them in the full sun. Droplets of water can become little magnifying glasses.
Let the morning sun dry up all water from the leaves, this prevents leaf rot.
CHECK EVERY DAY FOR APHIDS sucking juices out of the tender new leaves! Aphid spray!
Around October or so, cut everything down to 8 inches. Less chance of freezing the plant. Let the rose bush start again in the spring.
Cut wilted flowers immediately, so new ones can have more energy to grow.
You'll be fine..
I am now multiplying my roses from cuttings (3 leaves down). And I have too many roses..want some?
The sun should be fine. Water it every couple of days, wait until the sun has gone down to water. Get a plant food that is specifically made for roses. This should be sufficient. Rose bushes are relatively easy to care for. This is my personal experience.
The sun is good - the tag on the rose plant should tell you proper care but really, they are easy - I pulled out 2 and the roots produced 2 more plants...ugh.
Anywho, mix 1/2 cup of sugar with 2 qts of water and water it with the sugar solution - sugar produces an energy for the plant to set root and assist in flowering.
Bone or blood meal is used as a fertilizer but there are soooo many items on the market especially for roses and proper nutrient needed to grow them.
Relax - they really grow themselves - especially the climbing style (which do not climb but produce 10-15 ft canes that can be secured to a wall or arbor or structure of your choice).
Water until a puddle forms daily until the plant is well established (1-2 wks)
Your rose bush will thrive with good soil ( they are heavy flower-ers, so are heavy eaters!), good sun and good water.( I occasionally rinse out the milk carton and pour around the base of the plants. They love the nutrients!) Make sure your surrounding soil is rich in organic material which drains well. Roses like lots of water, but don't like to stand in it! As long as you water in the mornings so the leaves can dry during the day, you should not have a lot of fungal problems, but a good organic pesticide/fungicide will likely boost tha hardiness of the plant. They like their "heads" warm and their "feet" cool!
You did good, so far, get some rose fertilizer and use according to directions, water every evening, not direct sunlight. Enjoy. Roses are fairly easy to grow because they grow from the heart-seriously. My grandma always called the root ball the heart.
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