Hello spring from a new bird:-)

7 years ago

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. Nice to see you all!

Last year, my husband sent me some gorgeous roses at my birthday. I have always loved roses and this year I decided to grow rose. It is my biggest hobby at the moment and I devoted lots of time online learning how to grow them well.

I am living in Sydney, Australia where the spring just started. It is my favourite season since everything begins growing!

I visited several local nurseries and bought three different potted roses by far. I love them so much that sometimes I spent a whole afternoon just watching and speaking to them (and myself) lol...

Seduction by Meilland

Moonstone by WEKcryland

(I have to say, Moonstone looks so promising....highly resistant to diseases...I did't spray anything on her.)

Violina by Rosen-Tantau

Violina was the first rose I bought. It is not very vigorous with many old brown branches. Maybe wait until her foliage was fully established?

I would be very very grateful if you could also give me one or two growing tips or suggestions of any other roses suitable for pots or your story....

Cheers!

Featured Answer

titian1 10b Sydney

7 years ago

Hi Grace, and welcome. Nice to see another Sydney rose grower. Yes, it is a lovely time of year.

I have been growing roses for 30 plus years, and have found that the most disease resistant are the OGR's, though I don't know how they'd do in pots as they're often quite large. Mostly I grow the old Tea roses now, which I order online as bare-rooted plants. They love the warmth, and flower almost all year. I'm on the northern beaches, so it's pretty humid, and blackspot is a big problem. The only thing I spray with to control fungal diseases is milk.

Though I see there is a lot of effort now being put into breeding disease resistant modern roses. I have one of these - Summer Memories - and it's very healthy and vigorous. It's one fault is that the flowers (white) turn a bit grey on the outer petals as it ages. But it's a big rose too.

Just to let you know, I have gone through hundreds of roses to find what works for me! So don't feel like a failure if that happens. I grew Seduction in a previous garden, and thought it very pretty.

Good luck,

Trish

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Comments (17)

Ashley Zone6b
7 years ago
Beautiful so far! It's so easy to get hooked, I just got into it myself this year.

How exciting to be at the beginning of spring and watch everything grow. I'm already impatient for spring next year for us.

Good luck with your plants this year and post pics!
Grace zone10b thanked Ashley Zone6b
Grace zone10b
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Ashley. Living with HOPE is such a blessing! I will definitely post my babies in a few weeks!!!
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Curdle 10a (Australia)
7 years ago
Hi back..and yes..post pics:) pics are always good!

Your roses look lovely- I can see Seduction is already loaded with buds, and Moonstone is seriously thinking about it. I need a Moonstone- I've heard it can be a bit slow between flushes, but if the blooms themselves are so beautiful, it seems mean to grudge a bit of time:).

Apologies in advance if you have come across all this before, but;

I keep all my roses in pots, and they really do need more constant care than ones in the ground. Watering (especially Jan/February) is really important- you may have to water at least once a day if there is no rain and the temp gets over 30 C- and if they are in full sun, or theres hot winds blowing keep an eye on them, or move them to shadier spots- last year I ended up keeping about 20 pots under the carport for most of Feb. after a few got badly sunburnt. Then again, you seem to have yours on decking which will allow for more air circulation underneath the pots, which is good. I can see one is sitting in a dish tho..drainage is the other important thing so be careful they don't get waterlogged. Fertilising is the other issue and I still haven't worked that out properly yet; roses tend to be hungry beasts, but if they're in pots, you can have issues with salt build up... Its tricky, but interesting learning, and there's nothing like getting a great flush of flowers and knowing you helped it along..

Re Violina- how long have you had it? Some roses really seem to wait for warmer weather to start going. Not sure what its been like in Sydney, but here in Melb, while its warming up, we are still mostly in the wet and grey stage of spring (well, it IS Melbourne after all).

As for the varieties-it depends what you want in a rose, fragrance, constant blooming, being able to cut flowers for vases, the flower itself - old/antique style or hybrid tea/high centred style, the colour. And the bush itself- growth habit ( rounded shape, upright shape or you don't care its all about the flower :) health- happy to spray on a regular basis, don't mind spraying, but only if there's a problem , will spray if its organic, too lazy to spray at all (I fall into the last category mostly).

Sorry for the TLDR
Grace zone10b thanked Curdle 10a (Australia)
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
7 years ago
Hello Grace! Very nice pics!
Grace zone10b thanked jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
Lisa Adams
7 years ago
Grace, I know how fun it is to discover roses. Soon you'll be needing every gorgeous rose you see. This is a very dangerous place for rose lovers. Don't say you haven't been warned:)

I'm In zone 10a and have many roses in pots. I do have some in the ground and more open spots( not enough though). I like to keep them potted a while for a number of reasons. The main reason is procrastination. ( too hot out, don't feel up to digging a giant hole in my hard clay, etc...) Another reason is that I like being able to move them around. I drag them out if it's mild out and drag them under shelter when it's blazing hot. (Right now it's the latter. We have just started out first Santa Anna. Ugh! 100F temp and high winds. Very dry. My roses hate it.) but I can protect them from the worst of it by moving them to the patio. The third reason is that I kind of like getting to know my roses before I choose a permanent spot for them. I really hate moving them once they are planted in the ground. During the time they are potted I can see the growth habit, see if the leaves or blooms scorch in the hot afternoon sun or are better in some shade. I can then choose a spot for them that is more likely to suit them. By the time late fall comes, ( the best planting time in my zone) I know where to plant it, or if it is happy to live as a pot pet, or sometimes that it just isn't a rose I want to keep. Then it's easy to give away since it's already potted.

The watering issue is crucial in a land of hot and dry. During the worst of it I sometimes have to give them a drink twice a day. This can be a problem sometimes, but I have found that moving them under the latice of the patio means they can survive on every other day watering. It's not ideal, but it works if I'm away on a trip or sick in bed etc... My family is helpful, but it's really too much to ask of someone to come over twice a day to water about 100 potted plants. Using mulch in the pots also helps with the drying out issue.

On yeah, another reason I use pots is the gophers around here. I don't know if you have those in Australia, but at my house I've found some 5 year old rose bushes dead overnight. Really sad. I now use cages in the ground, but that does add to the work of planting out. And adds to the cost.

i have really rambled on and on here,sorry. It's too hot to go outside. I guess that's my excuse. Enjoy your roses. I look foreword to seeing them grow. We all really do love pictures here. Lisa
Grace zone10b thanked Lisa Adams
Grace zone10b
Original Author
7 years ago
WOW......Feeling so welcomed! Thank you so so so much for those suggestions and genuine wishes! Rose lovers are full of love....
fragrancenutter
7 years ago
Your roses are so beautiful they look like florist roses!
Grace zone10b thanked fragrancenutter
Holly Webster(7bNC)
7 years ago
Welcome! Also check out "Fall of the Rosen Empire" thread. Several Australian growers post there. We talk about dogs & cats, too :D
Grace zone10b thanked Holly Webster(7bNC)
Grace zone10b
Original Author
7 years ago
What happened a month later?

Violina has established! Look at the new leaves!

-----------------------

Seduction:

-------------

Moonstone:

Not yet full bloom.... I just can't wait to post her.....

---------

Neighbour's cat:

Cant believe I bought three pink roses this year...haha

I totally enjoyed the journey and considering ordering more in 2017!!!!!

Thank you all for your advice!
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Those roses are gorgeous and that's a cute cat! With your love for roses, you will fit right in here. Welcome, welcome :-)
Grace zone10b thanked Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
7 years ago
Looking so pretty Grace! I just discovered these forums too and it's so wonderful to share passions with others who appreciate the same. :)

Your roses look amazing healthy. Perfect foliage in addition to beautiful blooms. Great choices! Gorgeous!
Grace zone10b thanked Cori Ann - H0uzz violated my privacy
nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
7 years ago
What stunningly beautiful rose you have grown, Grace. I knew Violina would do well--all my Tantau roses are wonderful, and I want more! Keep posting the great photos. Our Australian members grow some of the best roses on the planet. Diane
Grace zone10b thanked nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
totoro z7b Md
7 years ago
Lovely soft pink and blush shades. My favorites.

I am new to gardening and I think you will find that only buying 3 roses of a color is showing restraint!
Grace zone10b thanked totoro z7b Md
rose_crazy_da
7 years ago
The rose are lovely ..the cat stole the show though he is so smart looking
Grace zone10b thanked rose_crazy_da
Grace zone10b
Original Author
7 years ago
I really really really do love moonstone! HUGE LONG LASTING flowers (already over two weeks) with SUPER healthy leaves.

Violina is lovely. However, it confused me a lot.

Bloom #1

Bloom #2

SAME plant, SAME branch... Hmm, which one is its true self???
nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
7 years ago
Hmm, sounds my Augusta Luise. Violina is gorgeous. It's very young and may settle down, or continue to be changeable, which can be lovely, too. Diane
Grace zone10b thanked nanadollZ7 SWIdaho