Good Growing! How to Grow Beautiful Roses in Pots

Nothing captures the heart like a beautiful rose. Its dazzling color and heady perfume can transform even the darkest mood, and send your senses reeling with delight. If you're one of those people who think that you can't grow roses for lack of space or because of their reputation for being finicky and temperamental, well.... think again!

Many roses are perfectly suited to growing in pots, which extends your outdoor living area and provides the added benefit of easily moving them around.

With a few simple supplies and a minimal investment of time, you can create a beautiful addition to your deck, walkway or anywhere else you'd like to add a daring splash of color and a wonderful fragrance that can't be beat.

Select Your Pot

Roses need plenty of room for their roots, so you'll need a pot that's at least 18" deep for container growing. Also make sure the pot you choose has drainage holes in the bottom .

Add a Layer for Drainage

Roses don't like wet feet, so you'll want to add a couple inches of pebbles or a few broken shards of a terra cotta pot to the bottom of your planting container. This will ensure that excess water has a place to go instead of standing around the roots of you rose.

Select The Proper Planting Mix

I've had the best luck with my roses using a peat-based potting mix like Pro-mix. It's light and airy which helps the roots of the roses to establish themselves nicely, and it makes moving your pots around a pretty simple task.

Once you've prepared your container by adding your drainage layer, you're ready to plant you rose. The method you'll use depends on whether your rose came from the nursery in a pot or if it's a bare root rose.

For a Container Grown Rose

Fill your pot about halfway with your pre-moistened potting mix, make sure your mix is just barely damp, not soaking wet. (Tip: Squeeze a handful of moistened mix in your hand, if it forms a ball and retains its shape without dripping, you've got it right!) Now slip you rose out of its nursery container trying not to disturb the root ball (Tip: you can slice through the side of the plastic nursery container with a carpenter's knife to simplify this task). Lower it into your pot and add additional potting mix to bring the soil level to about 3 inches from the top of the pot. Lightly pack down your soil to remove any air pockets and you're done!

For a Bare Root Rose

Take a substantial amount of your pre-moistened potting mix and add to your pot forming a mound as you go. Remove your bare root rose from it's package and gently untangle its roots and spread them out gently over the mound of mix. Continue adding additional mix until your soil level is about 3 inches from the top of your pot and you're done!

The Care & Feeding of Your New Rose - Water & Fertilizer

Water

Roses grown in pots have some special needs. Pots tend to dry out more quickly so you'll want to be sure to water your plants when they need it. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger into the pot to a depth of about 4 inches , if its dry, it needs a drink. During the hottest parts of the summer, or in areas with high wind, your rose may need water as much as 1-2 times per day.

Fertilizer

Roses grown in containers need nutrients on a regular basis to perform their best. A good all-purpose fertilizer like Miracle Grow works well. I've gotten good results by mixing my fertilizer half strength according to the package directions, and using every time I water.

Deadheading

To encourage additional flowering from your rose, you'll want to remove the spent blooms. This will encourage your rose to produce more blooms constantly throughout the season.

Pests

Occasionally you may find that your roses are being assaulted by pests like thrips or Japanese Beetles, so it's a good idea to inspect the leaves on a regular basis to stay a step ahead of the critters. One of the simplest ways to combat this problem is by using a powdered form of insecticide which is sprinkled directly on the leaves. Your local garden center should have several varieties to choose from. Ortho makes a good one.

Powdery Mildew and Blackspot

Another thing you'll want to keep an eye out for is fungal problems like powdery mildew and blackspot. I've had pretty good results by following a preventative maintenance schedule. Simply apply a good all-purpose fungicide once a week to stop the problems before they start. Again, your local garden center staff should be able to help you find the product that's right for your needs. Or if you prefer, you can make a simple organic formula at home by mixing the following: 1 Tbs. baking soda, 1 Tbs. Vegetable Oil, 1 Tbs. dish washing detergent and 1 gallon of water. Mix all ingredients together and apply with a spray bottle to roses in the early morning.

Overwintering

If you live in a cooler climate, your container grown rose will need some additional protection in the winter. Roses are easily overwintered in an unheated garage. Just be sure to give them a little water occasionally.

Roses are one of my favorite plants and I hope they'll become one of your favorites too. With these few simple tips and a little T.L.C. your rose will surely reward you with a season of beautiful blooms.

Happy Growing!