I’m so glad you ask this question, Lilyfinch! I’m equally glad to hear that you recommend Osmocote Plus. Sheila! Lilyfinch and I were just talking about this question the other day. I often just top up my large containers with compost. There are plenty of worms in there, so it seems to work well. My smaller containers, particularly the hanging basket roses, have no space to top them up routinely with compost. They’re not accessible to the earthworms, either. I have Osmocote Plus on hand for my regular flowers, so this is great news. Thanks! Lisa

PS. It was SO nice to see you the other day, Jenna, even though it was from a distance. I’m always happy to see you, but it was especially wonderful given the circumstances of late. It was SO hard not to hug you and love on the kids. You made my day! Lisa

Another vote for Osmocote!

Aw yay !! Thanks for the vote of confidence for osmocote Sheila , Lisa and K S. I had it in my cart last night on amazon and darn if they didn’t raise the price $3 between now and then . But I need it . So grateful I can order online .

sheila , do you ever use bloom booster water soluble feed also or just leave it with the osmocote?

Lisa it was wonderful to see you too! Lisa was a doll and gifted me with seedlings from her garden . How wonderful to have a friend near by ! It was even nicer seeing you Lisa !! I can’t wait for regular visits again !! The pool will be ready for us !

I have not used the bloom booster, Lily. In Alaska, I had lush pots on my deck of annuals and I regularly used soluble fertilizer on them. Here, in the heat, I don't want to burn the roses and I do not have potted annuals.

I use Dr. Earth Rose Fert. and Bud and Bloom faithfully as well as osmocote. Im pretty happy with the results.

Hi Lilyfinch, I seem to like Algoplus. I use that about every 2 weeks but still use a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote or Miracle Gro Shake N Feed.

Any reason we couldn’t use fish emulsion in pots? I fed my potted roses with this the other day.

Nik the Greek said something about organics not being good in pots that stuck with me. I'm satisfied with the Osmocote Plus. I am somewhat afraid of overdoing it. I bet FF would be fine, Sylvia.

Many folks use it diluted for newly rooted cuttings so I imagine it would be fine for larger potted roses.

I have a good friend who grows most of his roses in pots. When I say they look fabulous, that is an understatement. He picks the unattractive leaves off, sprays regularly and uses one main fertilizer - triple 13. Sprinkles around the whole pot lightly, every 3 weeks, and I have never seen such perfect roses that bloom their heads off! I have started using triple 13 and although I am not as disciplined, mine do very well. He uses Epsom salts also. Long time ago, I read something about fertilizing roses I have never forgotten - "roses are hogs - feed 'em". I took that to mean - they love to eat and will respond to most any kind of food.

I really enjoy hearing what everyone feeds - I am trying to get my pots organized so they will be easy to fertilize instead of scattered.

Sheila and Vape, thanks. I dilute the stuff, of course (says to on the bottle). What I like about fish emulsion is how fast it works — I see a difference within a week! I use Osmacote, too, btw. Usually right after pruning.

alameda, about Epsom salts — Didn’t I read here that its benefits are a myth? Somebody said so, somewhere. Personally I’m open to whatever works, especially in California.

I have fertilized with and without epsom salts. My personal experience is that many times I will see basal breaks coming up after I have used it. I also read that it was a myth.......but it appears to work for me, and I use it. Coincidence perhaps.......but I see results whether its from the ES or something else. I read on a daylily site about a spring tonic for the lilies using it diluted and with a touch of Garret's fertilizer or Monty's Joy Juice. I intend to try it on my daylilies. I have too many different areas that I garden in to do all those soil tests. I dont overload the plants with it so if my soil doesnt need it, I have not seen it harm the roses in any way.

Sylvia - yeah, I remember reading that here too.

alameda - wow! Sounds amazing!

Last year for the first time I used the Osmocote Plus on all my container roses, it worked great.

The thing that worries me about using fertilizer that you don't dissolve into water is that it lasts for about 3 months or 6 months...that's too long to be fertilizing here. Well maybe 3 months may be okay now that I'm using my dollies to extend my rose season. So if you put the fertilizer down (Osmocote for example) you don't do any weakly, weekly fertilzing?

Carol

Nothing beats ‘weakly, weekly’ in my opinion. If you don’t have time or inclination to be consistent with such a routine, a slow release like Osmocote is the next best thing. Osmocote certainly beats out ‘If I Remember’ or ‘One Big Harsh salty chemical dump’

Posted this pic many times, but Heirloom and Rosie relish their ‘weekly, weakly’ below (hopfully have some new ones to post this spring):

What do you use weekly ben ?! I already have the osmocote coming . And I have miracle grow liquid feed too .

I just want my roses to be happy!!

haku I received a bag of that fertilizer to sample and used it on roses in the front yard..

Dave : I heard about that too !! I’m saving it in my amazon cart .

Judith I used epsom in Tennessee and loved it . I see no harm in it either !

Today I hope to organize my pots and I’ll post a picture. I think I have 40 roses in pots

Great thread, Lily.

I too am growing a lot of roses in pots and have been curious about feeding regimens. I always used fish emulsion weakly, but sporadically, and probably did not get the desired results due to my inconsistent use. Now, with even more roses in pots, it is less likely I will follow a weekly regime of fish emulsion, and am using Osmocote Plus for many of my roses.

I have wondered if Osmocote is too harsh for baby non-grafted roses less than 1 y/o, and because I am unsure, I will only use it on those going into year two and my grafted roses. For the newer roses (bands)... weakly and as close to weekly as I can get will continue to be my protocol. Although now that I am working from home... no more commuting... maybe I will find the time.

Ben - oh my sweet heavens!!! No one grows roses like you and Diane IMHO. Those are amazing!! I will definitely stick with weakly, weekly. Thank you!!

Lynne, I have had terrible luck with OR babies and granule fertilizer so now stick to worm castings, rotted manure or commercial liquid fertilizer. BTW, Walmart has an excellent Miracle-Gro dupe for cheap. I've bought it for a couple of years now and it's a huge savings when one has many roses potted or in the ground.

Vap-

I have never used the granular fert. on bands due to fear of killing my baby plants. I began purchasing bands about 7-8 years ago and trying the fish emulsion weakly, weekly advice on the Antique Roses forum but must confess I have never adhered to the schedule.

I always gave maturer roses in pots whatever organic... (usually one of the tones) that I was giving the ground roses. The best-potted rose I ever had, a bare root Intrigue, was given rotted manure because I ran out of Rose Tone and wanted to give it something. Boy was it healthy, and had magnificent blooms!

Another vote for osmocote..and sometimes fish emulsion but on and off.. osmocote is twice in a season and oh then it’s earthworm castings for them frequently..

I've been curious about earthworm castings - what do they do for roses?

I think the Osmocote Plus is great for containers since it is slow release and I use it in my annual beds by the patio. I also love Sea Grow by the California company Grow More. They sell bags of it at Armstrong Nursery. My local Armstrong is doing phone-in orders with curbside pickup. I like it since it’s basically a regular 16-16-16 NPK fertilizer supplemented with seaweed extract. It has a nice dark brown color with the exact texture of brown sugar, kinda soft and clumpy. It doesn’t have any odor, which is extremely important to me. I don’t have potted roses, but my roses seem to love this. I mix 2 Tablespoons Sea Grow with 2 Tablespoons Magnesium Sulfate into my 1.7 gallon watering can per rosebush and do this about every 3 weeks. The Sea Grow completely dissolves in water.

Do you buy your MS as epsom salts?

Vaporvac, yes on Amazon as Epsom Salts. The Solimo brand is sold as a bundle of three 8lb packs for $20. I tried several stores locally and it was all fragranced and expensive.

BenT what do you use as your weakly weekly.... what brand.... and what ratio.....

thanks

Sharon

Hellooooo Ben? Bumping this back up. Thanks so much!

hi folks, I use Mills Easy Feed mostly. I supplement with Alfalfa, Kelp, and Fish. I do think you’d get good results with something like Miracle Gro with the supplements too, the main thing is a very soluable and readily available liquid food.

Ben, I have alot of new roses for this year that I have planted in big pots. Some are starting to bloom [like Roald Dahl who is just covered in buds and blooms!]. How and with what do you feed your new bare roots? I have top dressed with some Mills Magic Rose Mix and would like to start supplementing but dont want to risk burning roots and would appreciate your advice. Thanks!!

Hi Judith

Just a cup or two of water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Gro or Mills every week.

Thanks Ben !! You are always so generous with your knowledge. And your bloom pics !!

Thanks, Ben!!! I've been googling Mills Easy Feed and I don't think they ship here. Although I did send them a message. Cause who wouldn't want to have roses like yours!!!

That's a good reminder...I need to get some Alfalfa pellets...I didn't use any last year.

Thanks Ben!! I have the Mills Magic Rose Mix - been meaning to order the Easy Feed - going to do that right away. I think I have been too cautious on these newly planted roses, so afraid I would burn the roots. The weather is so gorgeous its a great time to start fertilizing these roses that are starting to really put out the buds!

Dang...I got an email back from the Mills Magic Rose place...they don't ship to Canada. Darn.