I plant right away, whether it's into a container or the garden. I've planted baby bands on very hot July days a few minutes after I recieved them. lol. Kept them well watered and they never skipped a beat.
But, that's me. Others may have a more civililized approach. lol

That's how I planted my Westerland last year. Right into the ground, and it grew like gangbusters! Of course, today, we are under a severe storm watch now, so it may have to wait anyways lol

Most often I put them, the whole set of bands that come in one shipment, at the bottom of a 33 gallon trash can filled with water for 30 minutes upon receipt. This is to get rid (by drowning) of any spider mites or other bugs that may have hitched a ride with them.

Then, after I take them out of their bath, I put them in the shade for a week or so, and water them heavily during that time (figuring they will be dried out after their postal truck journey). Then I plant them into 1 gallon pots and let them fill that out before they go anywhere else.

But that's just me - I baby my roses.

Kathy

Kstrong,

I had it on my mind to soak my RU roses I received late April. But, plain forgot and reverted back to my barbaric way of planting.
Kentstar, might be a good idea to soak those first as stated by Kstrong.

Soak the pot, soil and all? Sorry, I just have never heard of soaking ownroots, just bareroots. Why do you use such a big container (32 gallons) for soaking? I only have the three small bands! Do you mean set them in the water up to the rim of the pots? Or submerge the whole thing? Sorry, again if it's a dumb question, but like I've said, I've never heard of that!

Kentstar,

Someone else will have to answer your question. As I have the same questions on my mind. LOL. Questions I have about soaking them is: will the dirt wash away from the root - system???

Exactly! That was my question! I want to keep the rootball together and that won't work I don't think. Or, is it even necessary to keep the soil around the roots? Yes, you don't want to damage any roots, but the soil might not be the important thing...

When I get my bands, I use a 5-gallon bucket to soak mine in. I don't take them out of their little containers they arrive in, but let them soak like Kathy does. It serves two purposes: 1) rehydrates them; and 2) gets rid of the unwanted bugs. Soaking them in their lil' containers should...should...keep the dirt they came in intact. Sometimes the dirt falls apart when you attempt to ease them out of their containers, but the rootball should be intact.

I then ease them out of their little black containers and plant them...with the dirt they came in...into their new homes. I plant my bands directly into the ground. I seldom lose a rose using this method, and I have 300 roses now. Can u say addicted?

-terry

I ordered Pretty Jessica as a band from Heirloom last July. All I did was spray the band container and get the soil wet, then I put Pretty Jessica directly in this container and she has been here ever since. I used Scott's Moisture Control potting soil, mixed in 1 cup of Rosetone, and then watered with 1/4 strong Miracle Gro rose fertilizer...or in other words a VERY light dose of liquid fertilizer to just add a bit of trace minerals. Pretty Jessica hasn't grown much too much YET this year. This about the same size she was at the end of last year, just slightly smaller. These pics are from today.
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Jeffcat, how did you overwinter her in the pot? I'll be doing the same thing. She's staying in the pot. I don't have a garage, just a 12 by 10 shed, which isn't insulated. The shed has a loft, and I'm thinking of putting her up in the loft to keep out the window light. I can take her right down to water and such too. I have attic stairs up to the loft. Or just cover the window..

I didn't do a thing. I just let her sit out through the winter like that in that exact same spot on the south side of the house. With that said, I live pretty much in downtown Columbus, so it's typically less windy and a couple degree warmer in the city. None of my roses had any problems making it through the winter and they had little to no dieback for me aside from Christopher Marlowe which I think died for reasons unrelated to winter since he was sprouting new growth this spring then inexplicably started dying from the roots up. You live farther north, so it will probably get a few degree cooler, and if you live in the country, the wind will have a greater affect so your shed would probably be a good place. I don't think it should matter where in the shed, although the higher up, the warmer simply due to sunlight during the day heating the shed and the warm air rising inside.

That's true, the higher up the warmer. I think I'll just find a way to cover the window.

Thanks
Cathy

Hi - I was away for the day, but will now get back to your question about soaking the bands. Yes, the whole plant is submerged. Ya never know - there may be bugs hitching a ride on the upper leaves as easily as anywhere else on the plant. Some bands are pretty tall, so that's why the 33 gallon trash can - to fully submerge them.

Also, I typically get 5 to 10 roses in a shipment, so I need the larger diameter to hold them all. If you only have 3, and they fit side by side in a smaller bucket with the tops of the leaves covered with water, by all means, use that.

Fill the bucket first, and then carefully place (not drop) the bands on the bottom so as to dislodge as little soil as possible. You will need to lower them to the bottom slowly, to gently let the air in the soil come bubbling out of the pot. But once fully submerged, they will stay at the bottom just fine without disturbing the root ball. Then, when the time has passed, reverse the process and carefully remove them from the bucket.

It's easy, actually (but you have to remember to do it, lol).

Kathy

I started soaking most potted plants I have before planting. Many potted plants can get root bound and the inside of the root ball can be hard and not get a lot of water. Soaking in water helps loosen that. That usually isn't the case with bands, but soaking them also helps after planting.