3-5-7 or 6-6-4 organic fertilizer

15 years ago

I have a question about fertilizers for my roses. In the past I have used Rose-tone, alfalfa tea and sometimes a liquid fertilizer. Last year I did not get any rebloom on John Davis rose so I called the place I purchased it from. They told me it may have been the alfalfa tea; too much nitrogen. All of my roses are healthy and put out a lot of growth. This fall for the first time I put three year old horse manure down. So with that said to my question; Rose-tone is 6-6-4 but Flower-tone is 3-5-7. What do you think about using flower tone to try for more flowers. How can you shock a rose into flower production? I have heard that pollution will cause more flowers. I think Chicago is polluted enough. Any ideas or thoughts would be great. Thank you. Amy

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Comments (5)

karl_bapst_rosenut
15 years ago
The figures I've read regarding the NPK of alfalfa are 4-1-2 and 3-1-2. Neither indicate a lot of nitrogen.
John Davis is not that good at reblooming. It's a Canadian Explorer rose and a description of it states "Occasional repeat later in the season."
My experience is very occasional, not very often.
So often these garden centers recommend throwing fertilizer at any plant that fails to bloom. Their intent is to sell you an expensive product. If they were familar with the rose they could have told you it's slow to repeat
John Davis will give to a nice first bloom but you'll be looking until doom's day for any reliable repeat. The good thing about it is that it's very cane hardy for your zone and requires little or no winter protection.
There are many roses that will give you good repeat. No matter how much or what kind of fertilizer you throw at John Davis, it's not one of them.
The best way to get good flower production is to have the right variety, good organic rich fertile soil, provide plenty of water, and keep it disease free.
both
Original Author
15 years ago
Karl,
I thought that John Davis had good rebloom and that I was doing something wrong. So many of my climbers did not rebloom. Thanks for the heads up on John Davis. You are in the same zone as me, do you have any hardy climbers that repeat for you? Amy
p.s. I did join the Chicagoland rose society. Thanks for the advice and connections. Smiles, Amy
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madcitymike
15 years ago
Hi Amy. My John Davis does not repeat either, but the spring flush is outstanding.

You might consider Awakening. Mine was in bloom all summer (no exageration) and reached about eight feet. This was it's second season. There was very little dieback last winter, but I wrapped it with burlap. Mine was also very clean in full sun, with occasional spraying.I bought own-root from ROSES UNLIMITED.

Mike
michaelg
15 years ago
Karl's advice is right on. My John Davis repeated only a smidgen.

It's folklore and superstition to blame poor bloom on nitrogen. That simply does not apply to roses. Experiments have shown that fertilizers higher in nitrogen produce better bloom on modern bush roses than the high phosphorus fertilizers formerly recommended. Greenhouse growers fertilize at a 3-1-2 or 2-1-2 ratio. They know what they need to do to optimize production. However, to optimize fertilizer in the garden, you would need to get a soil test.
karl_bapst_rosenut
15 years ago
Dublin Bay, Berlin, Fourth of July, Autumn Sunset, Compassion, Viking Queen, and Clair Matin rebloom well for me all summer and get to be about 8 feet tall. I don't protect so lose a lot of cane to dieback but they come back strong after spring pruning.
I suggest you find another nursery that with more knowledgeable help.

3-5-7 or 6-6-4 organic fertilizer

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3-5-7 or 6-6-4 organic fertilizer

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karl_bapst_rosenut

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