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Ten Things to Think about when Growing Container Roses |
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Written by Chrissy S.
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Friday, 15 September 2006 |
If you'd love to grow roses, but don't feel you have the room or sufficient time to look after them, then container roses might be the answer for you!
1. Location, Location, Location!
There are many good reasons for growing roses in containers. If you live in an apartment and don't have a yard to garden in, they are the perfect answer. They can also be put on a patio or moved around to suit your decorative needs. It is really a breeze to relocate or move container roses as long as you're gentle, although some of the bigger containers can be quite heavy once filled with soil and the plants. With very large containers, be sure you have them situated before you start planting. You can also turn the containers regularly so each side of your plant gets enough light exposure.
When deciding upon a location for your container rose, you do need to consider things like light exposure, ease of watering and temperature. Roses in containers have the same needs as roses planted directly in the ground, so remember they will need at least six hours per day of direct sunlight to thrive.
2. Type of Roses
Not all roses are adaptable to container growing. You'll need to look into the type of roses that will thrive in your container. Try asking the staff at your local garden center. They should be able to give you all sorts of helpful information on this.
3. Size of the Container
With containers, you can plant your roses closer together than when putting them directly in the ground. You still need to take care that there is enough room in your container for the plant to grow. Any plant in a container needs space to grow and for air to circulate. One mistake that a lot of novice gardeners make, is planting their roses in containers that are not big enough. You may need to re-pot if your roses grow too large for the first container you select.
4. Type of Containers
There are many various types of containers you can pick for your roses. Most roses come in plastic pots that you can reuse, but you need to keep in mind that dark coloured plastic containers will attract heat and dry out your roses more quickly than lighter colored pots. You may prefer wooden or ceramic pots. Many garden centers sell attractive terra cotta pots for planting in, but they don't hold water as well as other types of containers. so you may have to water more frequently. When choosing a container, you want to pick one that is as practical as it is pretty. Rose size, shade, and the surrounding environment should be taken into consideration when making your selection.
5. Drainage
When selecting a container, you need to be sure that there is sufficient drainage. Some pots may look great, but they may not have the necessary openings to allow for the run-off of excess water.
6. Soil Mix
A high quality soil mix is vital. You can purchase a suitable pre-mixed soil at your local garden center or you can make your own blend using top soil, compost and organic material.
7. Watering
You need to be careful not to over-water or under-water your container roses. Water will drain out more quickly in the container than it does in the ground. If your roses are planted in hanging baskets, then you will need to water them more than those in other types of containers. Hanging baskets lose much more moisture than roses planted in the ground or in other containers. It's important to try and avoid getting a lot of excess water on the leaves.
8. Feed Me!
You should dilute plant food for your container roses. You will also need to fertilize more often than for roses planted in the ground since water runs through more quickly in containers.
9. Grooming and Pruning
You need to be observant for signs of disease or pest infection especially if your roses are growing inside. Be sure to remove dead blossoms and prune old canes.
10. Baby, it is Cold Outside
Roses in containers are more sensitive to temperature and are therefore more apt to freeze than roses planted in the ground. You need to protect your roses from freezing and you need to be sure to bring your container roses inside during the cold weather.
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