The resiliency of warm climate roses is amazing.

13 years ago

Yesterday I finally dug up and potted two Jean Bach Sisleys that I bought as Le Vesuve. They were quite large, now standing over 4' tall in 3-gallon pots, and they had lots of new growth and buds. Unfortunately, I am never able to keep very long roots on plants I dig up and root balls are impossible due to sandy soil. Within 30 minutes of being in the pot the new growth was all limp, but 5 or 6 hours later it was standing up strong and straight. Yesterday was an unusually cool (er, less hot - 90 - with a breeze) and overcast day (thankfully), but I don't think it made any difference except for the gardener. It will be interesting to see down the road how much dieback they will have (but I'm giving them to a co-worker so probably won't know), but so far they're doing mahhh-velously!!

Sherry

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Comments (5)

imagardener2
13 years ago
I agree Sherry about how well OGR roses hold up in Florida but the gardener has some credit due also. I'm sure you dug as carefully as possible and then put the pot somewhere out of the sun for recuperation.

We finally have gotten some rain here and my garden (especially the part we call the lawn lol) is looking less shabby. Isn't the overcast great? I get so much gardening done when the sun isn't 1000 degrees.

Denise
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
13 years ago
Sherry, it's difficult for me to believe that your garden is basically sand. I'm willing to bet a lot of blood, sweat and compost/manure/amendments went into the ground for your roses to look the way they do. But you're right to give the roses credit too. They're not all created equal and the teas and chinas are definitely built for the heat. I don't know how it is for you, but the bourbons are also very eager bloomers here, at least the small ones, and have almost no disease. I've really come to believe (after discarding an appalling number of roses) that choosing the right roses may be THE most important factor in a successful hot-weather garden, although good soil and water are hugely important also. If the roses can't stand the heat, they definitely have to stay out of my kitchen!

Hope to see more pictures of your garden as it is now.

Ingrid
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sherryocala
Original Author
13 years ago
Ooops, all that new growth is drooping again and more water doesn't perk 'em up, so I'm thinking it will be lost. They're out of the sun plus it's still overcast. Blessed relief from the blowtorch sun. I'm glad you got rain, Denise. That's the best part of hurricanes - rain. Not that I'm complaining but it's beginning to resemble a jungle here.

Sherry
sherryocala
Original Author
13 years ago
Ingrid, simultaneous postings!! You're right, lots of amendments help, and it IS black and crumbly but I'd give my eyeteeth for some nice clay. Daily watering has helped everything. I believe the microbes and the earthworms love it. Too bad garden soil isn't actually improved by blood and sweat except incidentally. I love my SdlM's. They are healthy and bloom alot and don't seem to be bothered much by normal rain. Now, downpours are another thing, but in general they aren't like Clotilde Soupert, turning to mush in a little rain.

Sherry
sherryocala
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm back to being amazed. All the new growth is standing up again, and one bud has opened into a lovely flower. I guess it's still possible that the new growth could die, but I'm pretty impressed - again.

Sherry

The resiliency of warm climate roses is amazing.

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imagardener2

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

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The resiliency of warm climate roses is amazing.

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imagardener2

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

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