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roses wilting - watering question

19 years ago

Ok, so my tournament of roses bush is looking awful wilty today. Yesterday only the blooms were wilty, but since it was just about 100 degrees I figured the heat just freaked it out. Today, the leaves are all hanging. From researching, I believe that I'm not giving it quite enough water, but I'm so afraid to overwater it. Its in a huge pot on the patio, and I know the pot is definitely big enough, its been in there for about a month. I've mulched it, fertilized it, and its been otherwise healthy. There are no signs of insect damage or disease. When I water, I do it about every 3 days or so, and hit the pot with my sprayer until I see it start to drain out the bottom (its on a rack about a foot off the ground). Its on a north facing wall, but it only gets direct sunlight about 8 hours of the day. If I move it, it will be either direct sun all day, or sun only about 4 hours of the day because of how my walls and patio are. This is my first rose bush, I've had hibiscus and misc annuals before but I wanted to try roses. Can someone please help me turn my first rose attempt around?? Thank you!!!

Comments (9)

  • 19 years ago

    It was the water - I doused it down yesterday until I saw water draining out of the bottom of the pot, and within 2 hours it perked right up! I'm so confused about the watering schedule though, I've sheard 14 gallons a week per bush and I've seen 1 deep watering of a gallon or 2 every day - can someone give me more specific watering advice for Phoenix roses? Everywhere I ask or look I get different info, but I think most of my problem is that Phoenix weather calls for special instructions. Is a good deep water every other day enough, or should it be daily considering its in the 90s and climbing towards 100s?

  • 19 years ago

    I grow alot of minature roses here in Tucson and two large roses in pots. I water mine every day till the water drains out the bottom. If you are using clay pots they really dry out fast. I use plastic. Roses are pretty tough. I think a half day sun is best in this hot climate. Try increasing the water and see how they do. Linda

  • 19 years ago

    One thing that is hard to grasp here are the water needs... in pots especially they are going to need more water... you mulched, which is good... but it's in a pot and the pot is going to be prone to warming which is going to keep the roots a whole lot warmer than if it were in the ground... and that's something to think about if it's a color other than white... the thing with terra cotta is also true... you can't keep those pots wet enough... and the soil is different as well... the soil in my front yard drain extremely fast so I need to water more often... just some things to think about... the backyard is on an every 4 day schedule but will probably be increased when the heat really comes...
    Brittany

  • 19 years ago

    I think I'll try watering until the pot drains every other day, and keeping it where it is for now. The pot is a glazed clay pot. Its amazing how fast it started stressing as soon as the heat increased...

  • 19 years ago

    Four hours of sun in the summer for a potted rose in clay pot is plenty. Will need water every day when hot. If left where it gets 8 hours may need an afternoon soak as well

  • 19 years ago

    Roses get really stressed when it gets warm. Want a really big surprise? After you water the plant stick your finger in the dirt.....you will be truly surprised at the temperature inside the pot, sort of like putting your hand in hot water! I no longer used terra cotta or plastic pots.....I used those really light form pots that seem to keep the heat at bay.

  • 19 years ago

    I don't have too much experience with roses in containers, but I have grown other plants in containers on the patio. I think your issue might be soil temperature. The roots might be getting too warm with the clay pots.

    I work part time at a big-box home improvement store (I won't name) and I regularly encourage customers to shield the clay pots from the sun. I know the plants can take the sun and heat, but I don't think many roots can.

    Happy gardening!

  • 19 years ago

    I had two rose bushes in pots while living in San Antonio. They were both in clay pots, and the temps were equal to Arizona. I had to water those bushes 2 times a day. In the morning and then again at night. At least once a week I would water with fertilizer mixed with the water to give it a boost. My roses always looked great! If I forgot to water in the morning, they looked really stressed by afternoon. Good Luck with your roses. They are a great plant..

  • 19 years ago

    Wow this information is great!

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