For those of you who grow in pots

last year

last modified: last year

I know the ideal is to change out the soil every 3 or 4 years.This just seems like a really difficult job at my age to change the roses out of these huge potsI know that some of you have dozens of pots. Are you changing them out or are you trying to improve the soil ?My Munstead and Darcy are looking particularly sad this year and they have been in their pots for 5 or 6 years.Is totally changing out the pot the only solution?

Featured Answer

susan9santabarbara

last year

Kristine, I grow >200 roses in 15 gallon pots permanently. They tend to sink over time, and eventually need to be pulled up and have the soil replenished below. I usually shave a bit of the sides and bottom during this to maximize the amount of new soil. I tend to do this maybe every 4-5 years, depending on the rose and my health. One of the main reasons I don't go above 15 gallons is my ability to pull them out to do this... I'm a pretty beat-up 66 year old. I usually do this during the late fall/winter/very early spring, and I always let the pots get dry-ish for several days to minimize their weight. The last few years, I've made a triage list of priorities to do this. If the rose has simply sunk a bit and is doing fine, I will add potting soil to the top. I also regularly add dry organics and other stuff to the pots. My DH used to sometimes help, but after 40 years at the Post Office, his hands are in bad shape and it's hard for him. But despite my hip in October, and the lens falling off my eye in January, I managed to process ~30 roses this year... yay!

Comments (34)

seasiderooftop
last year
Hi Kristine,

I believe after so many years in a pot, the soil does need to be changed, and the lower third of the roots pruned off.

You may be able to get them to perk up a little by removing just the top 10cm of soil and refreshing that, but it won't really help long term. Eventually the soil compaction and root congestion will harm the plant and will require repotting.

It's a pain to do, but soil change + root prune is the best way. And when it's done you can relax knowing your roses are set for several years!
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked seasiderooftop
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
When is the best time to do this ?
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berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
Kristine LeGault Just a thought- if any are Austins , you could call David Austin and ask them for suggestions. It's a stickery situation, I would guess you would need to trim your bushes down to a manageable point and wear LOTS of protective armor.

Wish I was there to help you, demolition is my specialty.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
last year
I'm sure it would be the dormant Winter season, Kristine.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
That's what I was thinking Sheila . I guess that I have a few months to build up the courage to take it on.

Berrypie, come on down. We eat donuts and trim roots

Whoo hoo
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
If I could still drive , I believe I would take you up on that.

I'm hoping you will find much better help than I would be, although a more passionate donut fiend might be hard to find.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
Amazing Susan, I can't relate to 200 roses, or your 15 gallon pots - 5 gallon buckets are my absolute limit.

Some enterprising individual should have a specialty mobile rose service, they would never be out of work.

and preferably in addition cater donuts.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
last year
Susan that’s very helpful. I have a couple of years before I need to do this but was looking for a video on YouTube to give me some courage. Mainly I’ve learned I’m BAD at transplanting roses between pots…they end up losing more roots than they should, defeating the purpose…so I’m loathing root pruning.

Do the root balls tend to stay intact, meaning can you pull out the entire rose? Or do you literally have to dig it out? Thanks in advance.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
seasiderooftop
last year
last modified: last year
I'm not sure what the temps are like in your area right now. If it's really hot I would wait until the fall. Dormancy is ideal, but in my climate where plants never sleep, I just do it from around October/November to March.

If you are worried about the plant and think it needs to be done in summer, then do it very early in the morning when the temps are coolest.

Prepare a large bucket/tub full of water to bathe the rootball while you repot, this will ensure it stays fresh and will also help loosen the roots up and help getting the old soil out of them.

Tip the plant pot to the side, pull the plant out on its side, and immediately saw off the lower third (I use a large breadknife for this). It'll be lighter to work with immediately! Then tip the plant back upright and saw 5 to 10cm off down the sides.

Then dunk the now-smaller rootball into the tub of water and let it bathe in there there while you prepare the pot with fresh soil.

Before replanting, go back to the soaking rootball and get as much of the old soil out from the roots as possible, either teasing/scrubbing it out manually or just use a hose and the water will get a lot of it out for you.

When you replant, almost like with a bare root, make sure the new soil gets in there and has good contact with all the roots.

The only time I've injured my back while repotting is when I was rushing/stressing about it. Take your time, breathe, and don't worry it will be fine!
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked seasiderooftop
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Well done Susan!! You must feel very satisfied to have gotten so many roses done.

When you say that your lens fell out , is that your retna ?

It sounds like a huge deal. Is your eye healed up ?

Seasider, that is some great and helpful information, thank you.

And since we do have a dormant season I will hold of until then

I have 4 that need to be done.

In the mean time I will add Azamorite to the existing soil and maybe improve the soil for one more growing season.

This is a sad day.

Im off the donuts ( pies, cakes, cookies and ice cream)

I think that my energy level will improve without the sugar.

Here's to new beginnings
sautesmom Sacramento
last year
I used to grow a lot of roses in pots but repotting them was just too much. I would always get lacerated from thorns, pulling them in and out. Now I just have roses in pots for a year or two to see how they bloom, how they take the heat, and where I want to plant them.

When I did, I learned the most important thing was to buy pots that flared OUT at the top, not in.

Carla in Sac
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked sautesmom Sacramento
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
Carla, im coming to the same conclusion that pots can be a lot more work.

I love having pots on the deck that I can putz around with but changing them out is a daunting task
susan9santabarbara
last year
Ryan, when I pull up a rose to re-pot, it's always well-rooted and established, so it comes up as an entire mass exactly the shape of the pot. I grab it by the neck and pull straight up, although occasionally i have to put the pot on its side and pull it out. My goal is not to disrupt the roots much, just to give it as much new soil as (reasonably) possible. If it's super pot-bound, I'll shave ~ an inch all around, and at most 2 inches from the bottom. With the big knife, LOL. Remember, these are roses who have been in their pots for quite awhile, so their root ball has sunk a lot. I definitely don't bare-root them, or soak them to get rid of the old soil. My best suggestion is to be a combination of ruthless, and to have soft hands (in the baseball sense).

Kristine, I had cataract surgery in 2017, The first one was fine, but the second one a week later, the surgeon dropped the lens and it migrated to the back of my eye and dissolved. Had to have emergency corrective surgery 2 days later with a specialist. All fine until this January when I woke up and the lens on the problem eye had slipped off, for no apparent reason. I had to wait until mid-Feb for a new surgery to fix it with a specialist. It went fine, but two days later, I went totally blind in that eye due to excessive bleeding (probably due to the blood-thinner I take and the 5 day stopping it before surgery not being enough). So it took ~ 6 weeks for me to gradually regain my sight in that eye. The pisser regarding the garden is that I was only supposed to be out-of-commision for a week, but I ended up not being able to lift, bend, etc for almost 6 weeks. The lens is the thing at the front of your eye that allows you to focus, and that's what they replace in cataract surgery. The retina is at the back of your eye, and that's where all of the blood flowed, obscuring my vision. I'm fine now.

Profound apologies for writing so much!
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked susan9santabarbara
Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
last year
Thanks @susan9santabarbara for the repotting steps. Like I said I have a couple of years (hopefully!?) since i just started growing roses last year.

I'm sorry to hear about your surgery and subsequent complications! I'm glad it's all sorted out it sounds like, except for some time away from the garden. If it ended up being this past February when you were out of commission, it was too hot to be out and about in the garden anyway! (sadly).
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
last year
last modified: last year
Here’s a Great Video by the Belendezs that demonstrates repotting. I had to dig out about 30 big roses in pots to move them. I agree with all it’s hard work and you end up looking like you lost a fight with an angry kitty, meow! So far I have resisted starting a pot ghetto at the new place.

Susan,

What an ordeal, glad it’s behind you! I agree with what you said about getting the plant out, one thing I also found helpful is to put the pot on the side and whack the bottom with a heavy duty shovel. `That helps loosen the rootball if its stuck to the bottom.

Carla,

I came back here to post about the importance of pots with outwardly flaring sides, but you beat me to it!

Bad pot: middle rounds out wider than the rim

Fabric pots are fine, but be prepared to sacrifice the pot by cutting it apart with scissors if the rootball is stuck.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
susan9santabarbara
last year
Ben, Kitty Belendez and her late husband Bob are two of my rose icons. They have tons of great videos like the one you linked. Even though she lives in the Santa Clarita Valley, CA, I'd stongly suggest anyone in a hot summer area subscribe to the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society newsletter (Rose Ecstasy), which Kitty has edited for years. The sheer amount of rose info is amazing. It's a bargain at $20 per year.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked susan9santabarbara
Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
last year
Thanks Ben that video is great. Also, what rose is that peachy yellow in the blue pot? It looks very happy in that pic and very pretty…must…resist….

Susan I stumbled upon the Santa Clarita rose society web page when searching for a monthly rose schedule suitable for our more mild climate. It led me down a deep rabbit hole of web info. I think I spent an entire evening browsing that site! Good to know the video is the same people.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
Ben, thanks for the video link. Most of my pots are way bigger but that gives me a good idea of what to do.

Why did you remove roses from pots to move? What did you put them in?

Susan, holy moly ! I have had eye issues but nothing like a bumbling Dr. , Geesh!

I have had a torn retna and 2 cataract surgeries all went off without a hitch.

My brother in San Diego had a badly botched retna surgery and he can hardly see.

So glad that you are finally on the mend. Eyesight is sooo important.

My Heirloom is a disaster this year and must meet Mr Shovel. So my potted All American Magic will be released from her pot bondage.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
Back to that video, that rose was in bloom when they transplanted it.
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
I think you do what you have to, whenever you have to do it.

I was hoping my son would take the dog out for hamburgers so I could mop the kitchen floor , but it looks like I'll just have to mop around their feet.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
Berrypie, just hand your son the mop and watch the exodus.
berrypiez6b
last year
Kristine LeGault Brilliant !
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
last year
last modified: last year
Ryan,

the rose you asked about is Well Being, gorgeous rose, strong grapefruit fragrance, excellent garden performance. Even foliage and buds seem extra beautiful. If you are trying to avoid buying more roses, this is really the wrong one to ask about!

Kris

I was told only bare root roses could be moved to California, so I dug out about 80 roses and washed the soil off them!

Susan

I’ll have to look into Kitty Belendez’s newsletter. I agree, she and her late husband have done so much to promote rose knowledge.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
Last year I spoke with someone at Heirloom Roses. She told me one of her favorites is Well Being. I'll have to watch for it on sale, I need to buy it to avoid buying 12 others , so those pictures did help me Ben.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
last year
Thanks Ben. I actually have wanted Well-Being for a while so thankfully I’m not adding to my wish list, I just haven’t been able too find it…Heirloom hasn’t had it for sale for a while. I’ve been on the wait list since last summer and it’s not been available since. Crossing fingers for this fall or winter!
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked Ryan Coastal LA Zone 10b
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
last year
Hopefully you’ll both get Well Being soon! Long Ago Roses also carries it (mine came from there) but I think recently she limited the areas that she will ship.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
susan9santabarbara
last year
Ryan, I just had an experience with Heirloom that should cheer you about eventually getting Well Being. I get a daily email from them, but have no intention of ordering new roses (I have too many). Today's was a deal on some supplement, but when I scrolled down, it listed Rose Rhapsody as available. I grew my first RR back in the early 2000s and eventually lost it, got another one from Heirloom and lost that one down the road due to root gall. It's one of my very favorite roses, now incredibly hard to find, and last time I checked Heirloom for it a couple of years ago, it wasn't even listed for me to get on the waiting list, so I figured they discontinued it. I jumped on it, and it's being shipped the week of 7/18... so there is hope!
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked susan9santabarbara
susan9santabarbara
last year
Ben, I think you should consider subscribing to the Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society newsletter. Her temps match the Sacto area fairly well. Even for a very experienced rose grower, I find it very enjoyable to read. It's usually 16 color pages, and for $20 for 9 issues per year, well worth it. Here's the link: http://www.santaclaritarose.org/JoinSCVRS.html

Also, while I have your attention, I will tell you that your praise for Elle on a thread from a few months ago pushed me to get it today. As I described to Ryan above, Heirloom finally re-stocked Rose Rhapsody, and while perusing their selections for something to get free shipping, I ran across Elle and remembered your high praise. I tend to pay attention to your rec's. (I also scored Limelight, a fave from my past that I lost a long time ago).
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked susan9santabarbara
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
susan9santabarbara ,

its great to have Ben as a rose coach. now I need to look up your favorites too on hmf.

I thought this year would be my last to garden but there are still too many good roses I haven't seen.

Rose Rhapsody looks unique. It was amusing to read the review about rose petal sauce, jam, and rose spiked vodka. Wonder what else she has come up with ?
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
last year
Susan

We’re on the same wavelength, I looked up Santa Clarita (Newhall) and saw the weather , Warm `Summer Mediterranean, was quite similar to mine. I’d subscribe to her newsletter even if was a different climate, but having the same climate makes it even more relevant.

I love Rose Rhapsody too! When I saw the parents are Fragrant Cloud X Ingrid Bergman, how could that not be great?

Mine came from Heirloom too, is starting to get bigger, I already know this one will be amazing.

Berrypie, i’m glad you’re still able to garden, such a rewarding hobby, even if sometimes it is hard work.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
Original Author
last year
You keep gardening Berrypie. It is a ton of work but such rewards.
rosecanadian
last year
Ben - wow!!! Your RR is soooo beautiful!!! I want one! :) :)

Berrypie - I'm glad you're still gardening. And if it gets too onerous...cull a few roses, but keep growing the best. :) :) It's soooo good for the soul. :)
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked rosecanadian
berrypiez6b
last year
last modified: last year
rosecanadian I am like Gollum with his precious ring only worse thanks to Rose Forum helping me collect more and more connoisseur roses. After years of reading, I have yet to see someone write a thread about how to reduce their flock of roses to "the best", I suppose I should be the first.
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw thanked berrypiez6b