Opinions/experiences on growing roses in pots
After looking at my roses and making an observation, I really do like growing them in pots, but will admit I need to winterize them better! That’s something I can do, just need to make more effort, which I haven’t done the past couple of seasons.
My grafted roses in pots, especially multiflora grafted ones repeat quickly! Especially Oklahoma, Pope John Paul II, and Dream Come True. I planted quite a few own root Hybrid Teas in pots and while most of them got a slow start, they are looking very good right now and are setting on lots of buds. Last year I noticed the Austins I planted in pots, both grafted and own root did really good, but like I said I didn’t take enough precautions for winter protection. Munstead Wood, which I planted this year in a pot, just got through blooming and is already setting on more buds. My Mystic Beauty is also doing good.
I love growing roses in the ground too, it‘s just a matter of finding the ones that, after they become established that will improve with time, like Poseidon, Beverly, Zaide, Dark Desire, Orchid Romance, Liebeszauber, and Belinda’s Dream that I can think of.
Own root GRANDE AMORE, which has already had several beautiful blooms looks very healthy, as do most of my other own root potted roses.
I would like feedback from others on this topic.
Comments (16)
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Opinions On Miracle Gro Potting Soil for Roses
Comments (28)Your mileage may vary, but I plant all of my rose wraps (Burrito Method) in it. Those planted in the coir product this year worked well. Those planted in the "organic" blend containing "landfill material", did NOT. But, again, I have extreme evaporation here. There is no summer rain. There is almost constant wind of low humidity. There is extreme UV, to the point where roses and hibiscus sinensis REQUIRE some protection from the direct, all day sun or the foliage burns. If you don't have those kinds of extremes, and if you receive rains so your pots don't dry out in a day, you may not need, nor even benefit from it. Too much fertilizer? I don't think so. I think the issue is the amount of moisture it retains and the humidity and moisture of your conditions/location....See MoreAnyone in Phx area grow roses in pots?
Comments (4)A lot of modern roses will grow in containers and survive summers quite well. As Judy said, providing afternoon shade helps a great deal. Use light-colored pots, preferably plastic rather than ceramic or terra cotta. Plastic doesn't hold the heat or suck moisture away from the roots like the others although cheaper plastics can rot from sun damage within 2-3 years. This actually works pretty well since the rose will need to be repotted due to soil compaction and wash-out after about 3 years. The containers need to be sized for mature growth so planting a floribunda or small hybrid tea in anything smaller than a 24" container will leave a rose rootbound within the first year. 20-gallon nursery pots are best for this type rose and you can use a white roofing paint to cover the black. Lightly sand the plastic before application of the paint so it'll adhere. Containers must drain. Cover the drainage holes with screen or weed fabric, cover with 2-3 inches of drainage material (bark, pine needles, charcoal, large gravel), then use a rose planting mix or combination of 1 part potting mix to 1 part compost. Some people will use parts cactus mix, clay or about a dozen other things. If you're buying dirt to begin with, just buy a rose planting mix and save your back, IMO. Mulch the container to retain moisture and help keep the roots cool. Keep the container free of weeds and grass. I keep most of mine on a gravel area so they drain into the tree roots of the pine below them. During the summer, I'll move some over into a rose bed so they drain into the rootzone of an in-ground rose that needs more water than the drip provides. Fertilize less but a little more often, depending on what you use. Amendments tend to wash out during the watering. Use a slow-release, like Osmacote, during June thru September. Miracle-Grow is fine during spring and fall bloom cycles. If you plan to put these containers on a cement apron, using a piece of outdoor carpet and elevating the pot a little will cut the light reflection and help with drainage. I've used flimsy saucers underneath the pots during summer but now that we have mosquitos, I don't use them anymore....See MoreBest Edible Rose +Will grow in Pot, only Morning sun in West LA?
Comments (1)Diana, the stronger smelling the rose the more flavorful the jelly so you want to look up the most fragrant roses and go to your local nursery to do the sniff test. I've only been growing roses since 2009 and I kill other plants by accident if they are not roses, haha- for the life of me I cannot grow any plant indoors!! But roses, bless them (I have 23) they have been able to flourish so long as I feed them sea tea and make sure they are well watered if they grow in pots. (Potted roses require far more watering than ground raised roses) Hybrid teas can grow real well in a pot but you have to get a very strong scented rose. Teas and some of the antique roses get too large. Help Me Find is a great way to check for sizes. Another thing, most hybrid teas are bred for form and color and not for scent. I refuse to grow anything without scent. So go to your local nursery and look for the strongest scented rose that you can find.. You are in California so that is a great thing, you won't struggle with Blackspot like we do in the rainy Midwest, lol! Organics should be easy for you! Mine is all organics but only the strongest will be able to survive. Unfortunately, most nurseries plaster their roses with insectides, but don't let that stop you from purchasing a rose. It is far more crucial how you raise and care for that rose. As long as you stick with the organics that is far more important. By the way, you want the darker color petals for a deeper hue of jelly. Lincolns and Fragrant Cloud I've used for my rose jelly. Very delicious...use jelly for sweet spreads and cake, but I've also used rose jelly for savory dishes like pork loin (part of the glaze) and for red meats. Rose jelly goes real well with marzipan fillings and you can use port wine with rose jelly as well. You can also create hot sauces with the rose jelly. Many, many uses. I watch a lot of gourmet cooking shows so the list goes on and on and on. Have fun! :) Oops, Lincolns will get too tall in a pot but if you get them as an own root they will stay at a manageable size. Good own-root vendors are Long Ago Roses and Roses Unlimited. Long Ago Roses however are far more organic.... Oops, just noticed your other problem, roses require a lot of sun to bloom more! the ones that are more tolerant of shade cannot do well in a pot. They are way too large (hybrid musks some of the antiques) and most shade-tolerant roses also have far smaller petals as well. It's tradeoffs...Maybe you can move your pots around each time the sun pattern shifts?...See MoreBest Edible Rose +Will grow in Pot, only Morning sun in West LA?
Comments (1)I know this is an old question, and that the OP received some answers on another forum. Just wanted to share a nice article about edible flowers, linked below. Rugosa and gallica roses are mentioned. Here is a link that might be useful: edible flowers...See More
User
4 years agoSara Ann... you have a nice rose in a pot.. I've noticed though that the pot seems only half full with compost... is that the usual way of doing things?.. I tend to fill up almost to the brim yet I often see potted roses with much less, and doing well... it surprises me.. I wonder at times if I use too much..
...here are most of my potted roses... I have about a dozen or so, ever increasing..
'Lichfield Angel' [Austin]
.
'Lavender Ice'...
'Ballerina'...
'Chandos Beauty'....
'Midnight Blue'...
'Sweet Dream' [patio]
'Blue For You'...
'Marie Pavie'...
'Oranges and Lemons'...
..a couple of photos of 'Vanessa Bell' [Austin]
I buy new ones each year for pots...
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoWow Marlorena, you have some gorgeous popotted roses.
I fill mine to the Brim with soil and as it dissipates I add more to the top. I know I should totally change the soil out every few years but that seems like such a pain to me.
I fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks and water daily. this year all I have done , because of being so busy with the baby, is just miracle gro . last year I did all the fish fertilizer and the kelp and honestly the roses seem even better this year.
kristine_legault's ideas · More Infosara_ann-z6bok thanked Kristine LeGault 8a pnwKristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoUser
4 years agosara_ann-z6bok
4 years ago
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoUser
4 years agoBen... I know what you mean... these days for practical purposes I use lightweight resin pots... they are not glamour pots like the ceramic ones, but they suit my purposes.. they are all straight sided, no curves or bulbous shapes... if I had those I would have to use a shovel and get right in there and dig it out... with straight sides they should pull out easily enough... although my 'Marie Pavie' shown above is in a rounded pot but the sides are straight within.. and that rose will be going in the ground this winter..
..another trick with these types of plastic pots is that I can cut out the base... here's an example of a climbing rose 'Ballerina' planted in one of these... I did not want to dig a hole here, so the pot was necessary.. obviously I planted it up in situ because the base was removed... so the roots if they want can get out the bottom into the ground below... but again I may not keep the rose that long, but if those roots have gone down into the ground and I want to discard the rose, I would just tilt the pot, sever any roots going into the soil, lay the pot on one side, and pull Ballerina out of it... then start again with another rose... but I reckon this rose could be kept going in this pot, this way, indefinitely...
...this is my Lichfield Angel trough just after I planted it... my Benjamin Britten was in this for 5 years and I noticed signs of deterioration.. it wasn't flushing so well or so often.. I used to get 4 or 5 flushes a season from that rose... so I used a shovel and dug it out... very easy to do.. then replanted with LA...
...some pots I have I think will only serve for 2 seasons, but by then I shall just remove the rose completely... and move on to something else...
...it's the regular watering I dislike the most... I never have enough rain water, and they hate my tap water... that's my biggest issue with pots really...
totoro z7b Md
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoflowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
4 years ago
cyndita (west coast zone 9)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoI also have a lot of roses in pots - since I’m in zone 9 & don’t get a winter freeze I use clay pots, but I’ve noticed that the roots can adhere to the sides of the pot, making the plant hard to remove If you want to change the soil.
Some of my roses in pots do better than others, but honestly I don’t have the experience to know if it’s my climate, the pot, the location, or the rose itself.....
Here are a couple that did well this year:
Dame Judi Dench
Molineux
Edit: Sorry about the photos posting horizontally - I didn‘t take them that way on my phone, so no idea why they’re posting that way...cyndita (west coast zone 9)
4 years agoBenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)