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sissy_boots01

potting soil for roses

10 years ago

I planted a small Belindas dream rose bush in a large cedar 1/2 barrel and the planting mix i used is miracle gro potting mix with ferzilizer. I am not sure if this is all my rose bush will need to grow happy and healthy. The bag says it feeds up to six months but i am not sure about that. This is the first time growing a rose bush, i hope that i did not make a mistake with the soil that i used.

Comments (7)

  • 10 years ago

    A great many gardeners who focus on container gardening have issues with Miracle Gro soil products. While the stuff is widely distributed and heavily advertised, it just does not have the characteristics necessary for a high quality and durable potting mix. It is heavily peat based with a very small (and uniform) particle size and tends to be excessively moisture retentive so the primary required attributes of a good potting soil - fast drainage and god aeration - are already lacking.

    I would pay very close attention to the watering your rose receives in this mix. It is very easy to overwater this soil mix and since it holds moisture for so long, that can lead to root rots.

    You may also want to visit the Container Gardening forum for more insight on growing plants long term in containers. Growing in containers is a very different process than growing the same plant in the ground. And it may be helpful to read this thread on soils and water movement - it is long but extremely informative and will take you a long way towards the success of growing anything in a container.

  • 10 years ago

    It appears that soil works best in hot, dry areas. Not that it can't work in 6a, but what I've read and heard from those who garden in colder, wetter areas is it can stay too wet where rain is heavy. Here in the hotter, drier climates of California, it can help make all the difference. Any fertilizer is going to get used up faster in higher heat with more water. It doesn't matter if it's organic, time released or regular granular inorganic. Heat and increased water uses it up faster. I'd watch the plant and as long as it appears "happy" and performs as you would expect a rose to perform where you are, let it do its thing. You can always add a little fertilizer later if it appears to need it. Good luck!

  • 10 years ago

    Sense I just planted my rose bush yesterday would it be possible to repot in something different? About the only thing that I do not have is compost. I have perlite, peat moss, worm castings, black cow manure, bonemeal, What I have been reading is that you also need compost or can I add any of these to the miracle gro mix

  • 10 years ago

    Peat, vermiculite, compost all slow the drainage further and increase its water holding capacity. Perlite speeds drainage. Cow manure is, in my opinion, too "hot" for pots. Bone meal is an organic fertilizer, good, but not balanced. I don't use cow manure on flowering plants and feel it is better used to prepare soil for planting vegetables. Your mileage may vary. Generally, as long as the root ball of the plant comes out intact, transplanting it is safe.

  • 10 years ago

    Can I just mix in some Peat and vermiculite to the miracle gro mix?

  • 10 years ago

    You've already got too much peat if using a MG soil product. And never add vermiculite to a potting mix - once it becomes fully saturated with water it will collapse and create MORE of a drainage issue!! You want durable texture so instead add bark fines (pine is best) which are ground up composted bark with an average diameter of 1/4" to 1/2" and the perlite (or pumice, granite grit) and Turface, to the proportion of about 50% MG soil mix and 50% added bark, etc. Not ideal but certainly much better than the MG alone.

  • 10 years ago

    Thank you so much, I will try that.

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