my climbers growing too slowly?

11 years ago

Maybe I'm just rushing things a bit....

I ordered 2 climbing roses, and Eden and a Joseph's Coat from Brushwood Nursery. They came in great condition and I planted them.

With our weather in PA I had to water them constantly until we got our big bout of rain. They are growing but not a hint of flower or bud. Is this normal?

Granted, they were small plants when I got them so I wasn't sure if it they would bloom this year or not to next year.

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Comments (5)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
11 years ago
Climbing roses will take at least three years to mature and some can take even longer. My climbers have usually bloomed even when they were quite young but that may depend on the variety. On my Cl. Lady Hillingdon, one year old, which does get quite a few buds, I pinch them all off to redirect the rose's energy toward growth rather than blooming. Next year I'll probably allow it to bloom more and may take off half the buds. Debudding does accelerate the growth process, which can be a bit slow with some climbers.
roseseek
11 years ago
Yes, vampygirl, you're being impatient. Rose trials are usually two years for bush types, three years for climbers. There is the old saying about climbing roses that the first year they sleep; second year creap; third year they leap.

It often takes as much root under the rose as it does top growth to produce the expected results. Climbers are genetically larger than bushes and traditionally produce a significantly greater quantity of flowers than a bush type. It can take an average of thirty-five perfect leaves to produce one perfect bloom. You want yards of perfect blooms and that's going to require many yards of perfect leaves, which will require many yards of roots to produce.

Keep doing what you're doing and be patient. As long as they appear healthy and don't give you any reasons to believe something is wrong, other than taking their time, don't stress over them. Get focused on something else and they'll seem to hurry their development. That watched pot isn't going seem to ever "boil". Kim
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jacqueline9CA
11 years ago
What everyone else said. To expand on the old saying Kim referred to:

First year - SLEEPING (climbing roses are making ROOTS, underground, where you can't see them)

Second year - CREEPING (will put out short, non-climbing canes that usually flop sideways and confuse people)

Third year - LEAPING (will suddenly put out long, large climbing canes - stand back!)

Jackie
Melissa Mc (6b)
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks guys! I had a feeling I was impatient. They are growing quite nicely so I'll just keep them happy!
Melissa Mc (6b)
Original Author
11 years ago
Well when we got back from our long weekend away my Joseph's coat had one flower blooming but it had already wilted so I missed it!

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my climbers growing too slowly?

Comments (5)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

roseseek

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jacqueline9CA

Melissa Mc (6b)
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my climbers growing too slowly?

Comments (5)

ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9

roseseek

Related Discussions

jacqueline9CA

Melissa Mc (6b)Original Author

Melissa Mc (6b)Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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Melissa Mc (6b)
Original Author

Melissa Mc (6b)
Original Author