12 month growing season, fertilization ?

15 years ago

Hi All,

I have always fertilized throughout the year. This year I thought I'd stop for the summer, to force them to rest a bit. They look the same except more thrip damage. But then I had more thrip damage last year than the year before. Is it a good idea to stop feeding them in the summer. I'm not trying to get them to bloom more, since most of the blooms are damaged anyway.

What do you 12 month rose growers think?

Nancy

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Comments (8)

sherryocala
15 years ago
I grow OGRs organically & no-spray, Nancy, and this year (my second year) I'm fertilizing monthly. I didn't last year because I didn't know what I was doing, was afraid of "over-fertilizing"! I think my roses suffered for it. They didn't look well in a number of ways. With our sandy soil and heavy rain in the summer I think we have to fertilize just to stay even. My roses are doing much better with the extra attention. And I was told (and ignored) that in Florida roses must be fed monthly; they're heavy feeders, especially Hybrid Teas. Since our roses don't go dormant or have the risk of freezing - and even though they slow down in the heat, they really are still growing & using energy, I think feeding in the summer is better than not. They suffer without food. And blooms aren't the only process in roses that needs support. As to thrips, I don't think I have them - at least I don't know what thrip damage looks like so I don't know if I have it. Could ignorance be bliss in this situation? Probably not.

Sherry
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
15 years ago
Sherry, I think you make a good point, if they are stressed from the heat they may need food even more this time of year. I thought they would slack off and relax if not fed but they haven't. Most OGR's are generally more resistant, in my opinion, to both pests and disease here. For the first time my Cramoisi SupÃ©rieur has thrips. I've had it for years. But many of my roses are showing thrips for the first time. You'd know if it you had them. The blooms looked burned on the tips. Thanks for your help.
Nancy
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thonotorose
15 years ago
I am going for big growth this year so I am still fertilizing everything. I wish I could say I am doing it, at least, monthly but I am doing much better then the last few years.

Veronica
ehann
15 years ago
My fertilizing is kind of unorthodox: I shake some miracle gro into my sprayer when I'm mixing up my fungicide and just spray it on 'em. I also put down some rose-tone.

With all the rain we've been getting here of late--it's more important for me to keep up with the weeding. I noticed today that I had some plants that were nearly choked to death by Bermuda grass.

Elaine, who also hate chili thrips.
ken_se_fl
15 years ago
June, July, August, they get Milorganite. September they get Milorganite and alfalfa.
teka2rjleffel
Original Author
15 years ago
Ken, really? I always buy the expensive mix but I know that you have nice roses in this area (at least for a while longer). I'll pick up some Milorganite.Thanks.
Nancy
petaloid
15 years ago
I will put a link below to a by-the-month rose care calendar, created by Kitty Belendez who is one of our Southern California rose experts.

It is a helpful guide that could be adapted to other warm-winter areas. She sticks to organic fertilizers in the heat of summer:

Here is a link that might be useful: Monthly Rose Care
amberroses
15 years ago
I would say that if the rose appears to be actively growing it needs fertilizer. If it isn't doing much and appears to be "resting" in the heat, it probably doesn't need fertilizer.

12 month growing season, fertilization ?

Comments (8)

sherryocala

teka2rjleffel
Original Author

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12 month growing season, fertilization ?

Comments (8)

sherryocala

teka2rjleffelOriginal Author

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thonotorose

ehann

ken_se_fl

teka2rjleffelOriginal Author

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teka2rjleffel
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teka2rjleffel
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