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Did I kill my K.O. with kindness?

stinky-gardener

14 years ago

Hi! Planted a Knockout rose in May (light pink). It did well all summer, then about a month ago, I gave it an application of Rose Tone. It has not bloomed since. It still has healthy-looking foilage. It still seems to be growing upright, but there's not a bud to be found on it!

Went to the KO website & found this on their FAQ:

'How much, what type and when do I fertilize knockout roses?'

"The Knock OutÂ® Family of Roses will perform beautifully even with out fertilizing.If you choose to give them an additional boost, it is very important not to fertilize until after the roses are established and go through one bloom cycle."

O.K., so I didn't wait for the appropriate time to fertilize them. I jumped the gun. Now what? Is it a goner? It rained so much here in August, I would have thought the Rose Tone would have been extremely diluted anyway!

Any thoughts, or suggestions? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

michaelg
14 years ago
If it only got one cup of Rose Tone for the year, it may have wanted more.

If it is making new growth, it will bloom again this fall.
rosesnmint
14 years ago
Well, I know when i planted my KO around the same time. i gave it miracle grow and Bayers advanced 3 in 1...and it's still alive.
It also seems fond of "taking breaks" it did one big flush and didn't bloom for two months..then all of a sudden it started back up again and now it won't stop!
I suspect it is just taking a rest and will start up for you again..
but im not the expert.. :P
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diane_nj 6b/7a
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Knock Out needs a couple of years to mature. A newly planted rose of any type won't exhibit the characteristics of a mature (2 - 3 years) plant. Agree that it would probably have taken one additional application of Espoma Rose-tone. If it is growing leaves, it it growing roots, which is really what a rose wants to do in the first couple of years.

Also, Knock Out does rebloom faster if deadheaded, but mature plants will rebloom nicely without deadheading.
stinky-gardener
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, Michael, Rosesnmint, & Diane! I here y'all suggesting that I be patient, & that you don't think it's actually dead. Great!

Also, have dead-headed it regularly, as I don't want it to get too big. Maybe I've cut it too much? Thing is, it grows really fast & I don't want it to get out of hand. During the summer, before the RT, dead-heading seemed to stimulate blooming.

All the other KO's in town are blooming like mad right now. They are planted all over the public landscape areas, shopping centers, etc., & they're all blooming profusely.

Then there's mine...looking lackluster & forlorn. Hope it snaps out of it soon!

Thanks again!

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