The nicest part about growing roses in containers is that you can add them nearly anywhere you’d like, no matter how large or small your garden. Provided you give your potted roses a sunny spot, your options are practically limitless.
Potted roses need a little extra care. Help them thrive by watering them whenever the soil becomes dry, fertilizing them every 2-3 weeks and shielding them from direct sunlight when temperatures climb.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
The downside to container roses is the fact they’re subject to greater stress than inground plants. First, the amount of soil available to nurture them is limited. Combine this with the fact that roses grow quickly to fill the soil in their pots, and you’ve got trouble. In fact, roses grown in containers require annual repotting to keep them healthy and producing optimal blooms. The last thing you want is a root-bound rose with hardly any foliage or flowers.
Another thing about containerized roses is that the pots themselves are often problematic, exposing plant roots to the air, which fluctuates in temperature to a greater degree than subsurface soil. Many pots are porous, permitting soil moisture to wick away and evaporate. This all means it takes a bit more attention and effort to care for potted roses.
To help counteract the drawbacks to containers, start by choosing the largest planters possible for your roses (that’s still aesthetically pleasing for your garden) and filling it with loose, organic soil able to resist compaction. Establish a schedule for fertilizing your container roses every 2-3 weeks, and follow it scrupulously. Use a dilute liquid fertilizer, such as liquid fish emulsion.
Adjust watering schedules as weather conditions change to ensure that the soil in the container remains moist. Avoid placing the container in a drip catching pan that retains standing water, and always provide good drainage – roses that are left in standing water often develop root rot or other fungal diseases.
Every 2-3 months, water your potted rose deeply by submerging the entire container in fresh water for half an hour, then allowing it to drain completely. (Deep watering like this helps leach evaporative salts.) Mulch the surface of the soil with ground bark or peat to help retain moisture and provide additional nutrients as it decomposes. You should also regularly cultivate the soil, loosening it to allow water, air and nutrients to easily penetrate.
You should repot your rose to a larger container at least once a year. (The best time to do this is when roses are naturally dormant, usually in late winter or early spring.) When repotting, free any root-bound strands and cut any encircling roots. Use this opportunity to completely replace the soil surrounding the outer third of the plant. Wash away the old, depleted soil with a gentle stream of water as you carefully rub it with your gloved hand, then replace it with fresh potting soil in your larger container. Take the easy steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions when it’s time to repot your favorite potted roses – and keep your blooming beauties happy and healthy for another growing season!
Repotting Root-Bound Roses
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 1
Choose a new container that’s at least 8 inches wider and deeper than the rose’s previous home. Sterilize it with a mixture of 1 part household bleach and 9 parts water. Protect its drainage hole and fill it 25 percent full with potting soil mixed with equal parts sand and compost.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 2
Carefully cut around the root ball margins with a knife, invert the plant while supporting it with your open palm, and tap the bottom of the container to loosen it.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 3
With a hose, gently wash away the outer 2 inches of root ball soil, exposing the rose’s roots. Prune 25-33 percent of the roots away with sharp pruning shears.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 4
Holding the rose by its root ball, gently lower the plant into its new container. Add soil as necessary to raise it until its soil junction is 1-2 inches below the container rim.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 5
Fill the sides of the container around the plant with potting soil.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Repotting Root-Bound Roses - Step 6
Thoroughly water your repotted rose until water runs from the drainage hole and bubbling stops at the soil surface. Allow the container to completely drain, then add more soil (if needed) to replace any that’s settled.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
