How to Grow Beautiful, Healthy Roses
Enjoy beautiful, healthy roses with these step by step easy tips
Ketaki Godbole Randiwe
20 June 2019
Whether you have limited space at home or a large garden outside it, the rose is definitely a must-have for all garden and flower lovers. Although growing roses may seem a rather daunting task, the sight of these blooming flowers is among the most beautiful additions in the garden. And the great news is that growing these beauties is very much possible in smaller homes, just as it is in larger ones. Except for the larger rose varieties, you can grow all types of roses in containers or pots in your balcony, terrace or patio. Here’s the low-down on how to grow these beauties at home.
What exactly is a rose?
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae.
Plant at a glance
Number of species: Over a 100
Habit: They form a group of erect shrubs, climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles.
Native to: Mostly Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa.
Special features: Large and bold flowers, ranging from white through yellows and reds. Different species hybridise easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.
Size: Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 metres in height.
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae.
Plant at a glance
Number of species: Over a 100
Habit: They form a group of erect shrubs, climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles.
Native to: Mostly Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa.
Special features: Large and bold flowers, ranging from white through yellows and reds. Different species hybridise easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.
Size: Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 metres in height.
Getting the right location
When deciding to plant the rose in your garden, balcony or terrace, it is important to choose a place which receives at least six hours of sun each day.
Did you know?
The original species of roses bloomed only for a very short time each year, and hence were hybridised and ‘budded’ onto wild brier roses called ‘stock plants’, which also made them hardy. These stock plants belonged to the original wild rose species called ‘brier rose’. The roses we see today are all still budded on these wild brier rose varieties.
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When deciding to plant the rose in your garden, balcony or terrace, it is important to choose a place which receives at least six hours of sun each day.
Did you know?
The original species of roses bloomed only for a very short time each year, and hence were hybridised and ‘budded’ onto wild brier roses called ‘stock plants’, which also made them hardy. These stock plants belonged to the original wild rose species called ‘brier rose’. The roses we see today are all still budded on these wild brier rose varieties.
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Soil mix requirements
Roses are heavy feeders that need a lot of nutrients to keep blooming and growing.
For the best combination, mix together in equal amounts: potting soil, garden compost, well-rotted manure or well-rotted mushroom compost. You can also add a cup of perlite for added drainage and an additional cup of bonemeal for fertilising. To avoid termites, spread a little gammexane powder near the stems.
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Roses are heavy feeders that need a lot of nutrients to keep blooming and growing.
For the best combination, mix together in equal amounts: potting soil, garden compost, well-rotted manure or well-rotted mushroom compost. You can also add a cup of perlite for added drainage and an additional cup of bonemeal for fertilising. To avoid termites, spread a little gammexane powder near the stems.
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Fertilising requirements
To produce an impressive show of flowers, a rose bush needs to be fertilised regularly. Organic methods provide a slow, steady supply of nutrients. Regular applications of compost, composted manure, and other organic and natural fertilisers work well. Fertilise once a month.
Take a look at these gorgeous gardens from around the world
To produce an impressive show of flowers, a rose bush needs to be fertilised regularly. Organic methods provide a slow, steady supply of nutrients. Regular applications of compost, composted manure, and other organic and natural fertilisers work well. Fertilise once a month.
Take a look at these gorgeous gardens from around the world
Pruning
Roses should not be pruned unless there is a good drop in night temperatures. Don’t prune if heavy rain is expected. It is advisable to wait till early October to wield your secateurs on the roses.
Also, deadheading or cutting off flowers after they fade, helps your roses look better and allows the plants to put more energy into producing blooms instead of seeds (which are produced at the base of the flowers once they wither).
Here’s a hint: Deadhead your roses with a pair of sharp pruning shears. Clean cuts heal faster and attract less disease than crushed stems.
Roses should not be pruned unless there is a good drop in night temperatures. Don’t prune if heavy rain is expected. It is advisable to wait till early October to wield your secateurs on the roses.
Also, deadheading or cutting off flowers after they fade, helps your roses look better and allows the plants to put more energy into producing blooms instead of seeds (which are produced at the base of the flowers once they wither).
Here’s a hint: Deadhead your roses with a pair of sharp pruning shears. Clean cuts heal faster and attract less disease than crushed stems.
Mulching
Mulch helps the soil stay cool and moist longer during hot, dry weather, so you have to water less often. And a layer of mulch over the soil effectively stops many common weeds from growing. Plus, mulches made from organic matter (such as bark, grass clippings, rotted manure, straw, or shredded leaves) break down and improve the quality of your soil.
Here’s a hint: Don’t mound mulch right up against the base of your roses. Leave a 1- to 2-inch-wide gap between the mulch and your rose stems. The depth of the mulch layer should be 1 to 3 inches deep.
Mulch helps the soil stay cool and moist longer during hot, dry weather, so you have to water less often. And a layer of mulch over the soil effectively stops many common weeds from growing. Plus, mulches made from organic matter (such as bark, grass clippings, rotted manure, straw, or shredded leaves) break down and improve the quality of your soil.
Here’s a hint: Don’t mound mulch right up against the base of your roses. Leave a 1- to 2-inch-wide gap between the mulch and your rose stems. The depth of the mulch layer should be 1 to 3 inches deep.
Watering
Most roses do best if they get about an inch of water each week during the growing season, depending on your soil type. Gardeners with sandy soil often find their roses need a little more water than those gardeners who deal with clay soil. Water in the morning, at the base of the plant to help discourage black spot disease.
Preventing diseases: Roses are commonly attacked by a number of fungal diseases, including black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. The best way to help your roses fight disease is to keep them strong. Make sure they have good growing conditions and ample moisture and nutrients. Remove dead foliage from your rose plant too; it can spread disease.
Most roses do best if they get about an inch of water each week during the growing season, depending on your soil type. Gardeners with sandy soil often find their roses need a little more water than those gardeners who deal with clay soil. Water in the morning, at the base of the plant to help discourage black spot disease.
Preventing diseases: Roses are commonly attacked by a number of fungal diseases, including black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. The best way to help your roses fight disease is to keep them strong. Make sure they have good growing conditions and ample moisture and nutrients. Remove dead foliage from your rose plant too; it can spread disease.
Removing ‘stock’ (brier) shoots
Each plant should be examined from time to time for the appearance of suckers or shoots of the brier rose (these can be distinguished from the budded rose by the fact that the stems are thornier, the leaves more bluish, with their edges heavily serrated), and any shoots should be removed immediately so that they do not overtake the budded plant.
When to replant or repot?
July is an excellent month in which to plant or replant roses. Be careful that the soil is not wet when this is done. It should be moist and workable, not sticky as when the earth adheres to the spade.
Each plant should be examined from time to time for the appearance of suckers or shoots of the brier rose (these can be distinguished from the budded rose by the fact that the stems are thornier, the leaves more bluish, with their edges heavily serrated), and any shoots should be removed immediately so that they do not overtake the budded plant.
When to replant or repot?
July is an excellent month in which to plant or replant roses. Be careful that the soil is not wet when this is done. It should be moist and workable, not sticky as when the earth adheres to the spade.
Climate-wise container requirements
Gardeners in colder climates can opt for plastic containers, which resist cracking in colder temperatures, while gardeners in warmer climates will find that clay pots do a better job at keeping rose roots cool during hot summers.
Container sizes: Use containers that are large enough for the type of rose you’ll be growing.
Use 10-inch-deep containers for miniature roses (up to 1 1/2 feet tall); at least 1-foot-deep containers for patio roses (up to 2 feet tall), 15-inch-deep pots for small shrub roses (up to 2 to 3 feet tall), and 18- to 22-inch-deep pots for larger shrub roses that grow up to 4 feet tall.
Gardeners in colder climates can opt for plastic containers, which resist cracking in colder temperatures, while gardeners in warmer climates will find that clay pots do a better job at keeping rose roots cool during hot summers.
Container sizes: Use containers that are large enough for the type of rose you’ll be growing.
Use 10-inch-deep containers for miniature roses (up to 1 1/2 feet tall); at least 1-foot-deep containers for patio roses (up to 2 feet tall), 15-inch-deep pots for small shrub roses (up to 2 to 3 feet tall), and 18- to 22-inch-deep pots for larger shrub roses that grow up to 4 feet tall.
Container and plant distances
Keep the containers spaced at least two feet apart for good air circulation around your roses, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Keep the containers spaced at least two feet apart for good air circulation around your roses, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Suggested roses for containers
Nearly any rose will grow well in a container, with the exception of very large shrubs and climbers. Here are a notable few:
Damask rose
The damask rose (Rosa x damascena) has an intense perfume. The roses are a light to moderate pink to light red. The relatively small flowers grow in clusters The bush has an informal shape. This species of rose, extremely popular in India, is a cultivated hybrid, native to Asia Minor, introduced to Europe.
Nearly any rose will grow well in a container, with the exception of very large shrubs and climbers. Here are a notable few:
Damask rose
The damask rose (Rosa x damascena) has an intense perfume. The roses are a light to moderate pink to light red. The relatively small flowers grow in clusters The bush has an informal shape. This species of rose, extremely popular in India, is a cultivated hybrid, native to Asia Minor, introduced to Europe.
Hybrid tea rose
There are several hybrids of tea roses, and it is an informal classification. It is particularly notable for its strong damask rose fragrance. It is a larger shrub rose, growing up to 6 feet tall, and has remarkable heat tolerance. The flowers are fully petalled in tones of pinkish lavender and bloom freely throughout the season. There are many other colours available in the hybrid tea varieties, ranging from yellow to orange and red.
There are several hybrids of tea roses, and it is an informal classification. It is particularly notable for its strong damask rose fragrance. It is a larger shrub rose, growing up to 6 feet tall, and has remarkable heat tolerance. The flowers are fully petalled in tones of pinkish lavender and bloom freely throughout the season. There are many other colours available in the hybrid tea varieties, ranging from yellow to orange and red.
Mini roses
Miniature roses are true roses that are bred into small compact plants with small flowers in many types and colours and small in-scale foliage. Minis are hardy plants and easy to grow. They are profuse-blooming and more winter-hardy in the ground than the hybrid tea roses. Mini roses do well in pots as well as outdoors.
Miniature roses are true roses that are bred into small compact plants with small flowers in many types and colours and small in-scale foliage. Minis are hardy plants and easy to grow. They are profuse-blooming and more winter-hardy in the ground than the hybrid tea roses. Mini roses do well in pots as well as outdoors.
Moss rose:
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora), not a true rose, is a succulent with small cup-shaped flowers and needle-like foliage, known for its ability to withstand a lot of direct sun and dry conditions. It grows only to about 6 inches tall, so it works well at the edges of containers. Moss roses come in a wide variety of colours and look lovely spilling over the sides of a pot, as in this photo.
Read more:
A Beginner’s Guide to a Beautiful Butterfly Garden
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
Tell us:
If you enjoyed reading this story, like it, bookmark it, and tell us about it. What was your experience with the rose? Write in Comments below.
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora), not a true rose, is a succulent with small cup-shaped flowers and needle-like foliage, known for its ability to withstand a lot of direct sun and dry conditions. It grows only to about 6 inches tall, so it works well at the edges of containers. Moss roses come in a wide variety of colours and look lovely spilling over the sides of a pot, as in this photo.
Read more:
A Beginner’s Guide to a Beautiful Butterfly Garden
Outdoor Plant: A Guide to Growing the Golden Bamboo
Tell us:
If you enjoyed reading this story, like it, bookmark it, and tell us about it. What was your experience with the rose? Write in Comments below.
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I'm very fond of roses but every time I plant it in my balcony , it gets powdery mildew , and doesn't last even a week. Is it because of lack of sunlight as I get sunlight only for an hour or two.
My father felt his garden was not complete without rose bushes and ensured we had roses every winter, with the plants being bought from the circuit house nursery. These hoity toity plants took up most of his time and needed lots and lots of care. I remember him having to dig pretty deep pits, fill them with manure, sprinkle with leftover tea leaves of the day from the kitchen, an occasional whiff of pesticide spray, and then prune in October. All this to wait for them to bloom for 3 months in winter! This was 20 years ago. Over the years the bushes dwindled down to one, due to lack of care. Last year the one surviving white rose bush suddenly burst into bloom and for the first time I truly enjoyed the sheer beauty, symmetry and timeless elegance of a rose. I now grow the desi variety - independent little creatures, hardy survivors with a heavenly smell and which bloom satisfactorily the year round with little care.