Software
Houzz Logo Print
cristina_s37

Should I feed LOS in Rose-ICU?

As I mentioned elsewhere on this forum, a couple of my roses (Lady of Shallot and Savannah) fell prey to voles who munched their roots cut close to the nod. They left some on LOS but Savannah was cut right at the nod.

I was able to save LOS, but Savannah is most probably is gone as I first threw her away and let her in the woods for a few weeks (in the background in picture below).


However, LOS is coming back beautifully. She is nice and green with new and small growth, while working hard to regrow roots.


At this point, I just don't know whether I should feed it anything at all to encourage root growth or just leave her alone. If yes, what I should fertilize her with?

I don't want her to put energy into growing leaves and blooms, since the roots are the priority now.


She looks nice and healthy but is young (her first year).

I had just received her from DA and placed her in the ground when the creatures attacked her.


Here she is and thank you for any advice:



Comments (21)

  • last year

    I use Fertilome m root stimulator On my cuttings which really helps stimulate their root growth. It has some other fertilizer in it. I use it quarter strength dilute.

  • last year

    Thank you, Vapor! I ordered it.

  • last year

    For at least a couple of months, keep the nitrogen component of any fertilization to a minimum. Nitrogen encourages top/leaf growth, which will stress the plant until it gets a good root system under it. Once it looks like the production of new growth is slowing down, you should be safe using any common balanced fertilizer. But LOS does look like she's doing well. Congrats.

    Artist-FKA-Novice Zone 7B GA thanked fig_insanity Z7b E TN
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Congratulations!

    I would liquid feed with Miracle Gro at 1 tsp. per gallon of water. That's about 1/3 strength. Do this again in two weeks. Then 1/2 Tbl. per gallon of water two weeks after the last 1 tsp. ...feeding. Repeat in two weeks. Finally, 1 Tbl. per gallon of water two weeks after the lastlas 1/2 Tbl. per gallon of water, and 1 Tbl./gal. water thereafter, fed every two weeks.

    That's 3 months of gradually increasing feedings...feedings always two weeks apart. Don't go too fast increasing feeding. You don't want rampant growth, just nice steady growth.

    Artist-FKA-Novice Zone 7B GA thanked Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
  • last year

    Thank you all, this is very helpful!

  • last year

    I did not fertilize my plants growing roots. If Savannah is still green I would wait longer.

  • last year

    Agree w/Sheila. Do not give up on Savannah unless death pronounced.

    Overfeeding more likely than underfeeding to hasten death in a critical care unit.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    That's right above, Sheila and Rifis, you feed following root growth, never to make new roots appear. Think of it this way, with sick people you don't put a steak dinner before them to eat, and if the sick person does eat the steak, it could very well kill the poor soul. However a recovering person (a plant growing roots so to say), is fed toast and tea at first. Then gradually upgraded to solid food as the recovery progresses. Get it? 🤗

    Moses

  • last year

    So does it mean I should not feed her yet or I could already start her on a very diluted feed of MG or Fertilome, as Moses suggested above?

  • last year

    I would wait. I killed a baby rose with Fertilome. It is a good product but best to wait until the rose is out of the ICU and very stable.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    SOrry to hear that. Sheila, will you diluting your food alone. Fertilizer ? Fertilome. I use use it very diluted on tiny just rooted cuttings withoutwithout issue, but I'd hate for her to harm her chances. Fertilize makes numerous products.... I'm referring to the rootstimulator.1tbsp per 2gallons at most.

  • last year

    That is what I used on a baby Tea and killed it, Vapor. The Fertilome root stimulator. I'm sure very dilute would usually be fine, but I never fertilized the plants growing roots because I thought it would be safer to use plain water.

  • last year

    I will wait then. I wonder when I should consider LOS to be out of ICU. She is doing very well considering it barely had any root left - putting out new growth, etc - but I want her to focus her energy on building roots.

    Would leaving her alone, with water only, do that?

  • last year

    Your LOS looks really pretty (leaf-wise). :) :)

  • last year

    Better safe than sorry, Artist; stick with just water. It's looking good. Perhaps I missed something; how long has this plant been in it's pot (i.e., "rose ICU") ?

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Hi bart bart,

    Probably less than a month.

    She has new growth just like a normal rose, except leaves are smaller than normal and the shoots thin and tender. It's as if she doesn't even lack roots. Granted I discovered this one fast and the voles left a little bit of shoot on one side, so with whatever was left there, she seems to be recovering well.

    I am just not sure when I should consider it ready for a bit of fertilizer. Also, if she starts producing any bloom, I think I will dead-head before it develops, so she can focus on roots.

    Here she is today, in the rain, pretty much Little Miss Perfect.



    Savannah, on the other hand, no sign of life on her, not even a needle of green trying to come out through a nod - unless the remaining green cane at the bottom still counts.

    I wonder if I should prune those canes further down, close to the remaining green at the bottom, so it will be easier for the plant to grow any roots at all, if still possible.

    Or maybe I will just have to replace Savannah and that's that.




  • last year

    I might prune Savannah down to the green and wait. If it all turns black, you really tried. Something can be happening below ground.

    Artist-FKA-Novice Zone 7B GA thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Going now, Sheila. She's just a few feet away.

    If she somehow comes back, it would be a miracle. Don't you wish humans could regenerate like that? :)

  • last year

    That makes sense, susan. In a pot, little do they know there's nowhere to go for food. :)

  • last year

    Less than a month-way too early for fertilizer, IMO. I agree with Sheila about the Savannah.

Sponsored
Cumberland Custom Homes
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars5 Reviews
Northern Virginia's Green Residential Builder & Renovator