Jockewing, Hi there. I live in the San Francisco/Delta Bay area. Probably similar climate as you. I don't have Neptune but I have Gemini and she less than 2 and about 6 feet tall. But I have a number of pots and the ones that are colorful and are staying a nice size are Teasing Georgia(Yellow), Lady Emma Hamilton(Multi Color), and Falstaff (wow red) is looking like he will stay suitable size for large pot. As you can see, these are all David Austins and smell heavenly. My pots are 24 Gallon and are about the same size you are getting. I really like the pots. They don't take any more work than the in grounds. Have a lovely spring, andrea

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions... Patricia, don't worry... I always get the "super specifics" from Karl when I get stuck... I just try to email once every 2 weeks so I don't get too obnoxious LOL! I'm not using the organic supplies until the appropriate time...I just like to try to catch the sales to save money... In April I'm totally broke but will have a bit more money in May, that is why I've had to delay and have to go to my County Rose Society until next year when I can join the official ARS Society...Also my Dog Agility with my Border Collie already costs me over a thousand dollars per year...I am hoping that my County Rose Society and this forum will help me at least get started... Peace and Mr. Lincoln were recommended by the Overland Park Rose Society (my "county" rose society) and I loved how they look and fragrance to me is very important as well... Also I have childhood memories of a very beautiful rose bush that had gigantic blooms on it that looked identical to Peace (sunset yellow with pink blush) when I was a kid growing up in Queens, NYC in the tiny duplex that we lived at... I am hoping since Dan_Keil and Illinois has similar climate to Kansas (just a bit more colder and windier) that I'll be o.k with Mr. Lincoln and Peace? In the meantime like you all suggested I will make sure I talk to the local rosarians for any other possibilities for hybrid teas that I may have missed on... Katsrose and Liane, thanks very much about the thoughts on trying to plant a little earlier so that my roses can establish stronger roots for the winter... I will also be sure to use the insulation mulch barriers as well when the cold weather hits (saw pictures online on how to insulate them) Karl, I will email as soon as I can...

Hi, Frank...Argh, I am reading thru and am very embarrassed about being called the "expert"... I am a "rose dummy" to the max. Karl is the true expert... but what I do know for sure! is that every single one of my roses except for 3 were planted with a lot! of what others would call either moderately bad transplants or a nightmare transplant... My tree rose actually survived 2 horrid transplants... Baby bands... with super dilute only once a week... if in 1 gallon pots about 1-1/2 qts... If planted in a very large pot 15-25 gallons or in the ground you can pour in as much as 3 qts. Note soil has to be loose with some hand-felt dryness, but spongy, NOT PARCHED... when you initially water... Takes about a month at the very least of this super dilute dosage... Once baby bands are about 1' high or! have very large full adult sized leaves, you can start increasing incrementally to a full dosage... Young root roses...healthy ones can start with super dilute once every 5 days...but next 5 days can start increasing incrementally. Once you return to full dosage you can feed as much as once a week. Some people only need to feed biweekly because they have super rich soil... I have poor surrounding soil away from the roses, so I feed once a week... I don't pot my young root roses so they receive a gallon of water/sea tea... Nursery roses and very green healthy bareroot roses can actually receive up to 1/2 dosage 1 gallon of sea tea/water...if they are healthy on their first 5 days......Since yours is already producing undersized buds I would do the 1/4 mix for a gallon sea/water. For really sick nursery roses/bareroots like ritug's I'd do the baby band mix for the 1st 10 days (feed once every 5 days), and then start the incremental increase (which is adding a tablespoon of sea tea)right away The sea tea normal dosage is 1 TBS. per quart so the "math" is thankfully! easy to calculate...

It is easier to identify a plant using the Latin or scientific name as opposed to the common name, or a name given for marketing purposes. Most here would recognize the name Adenium obesum, but I am sure there are many here like me who have never heard the name Gemini Rose. Mine, which were grown from seed, do not go through dormancy, as they are in a warm south facing window. One or two yellow leaves is normal. Christopher