I am not a fertilization expert but I am thinking that anything with higher nitrogen would be great for the bare roots ones so they can take off wit the leaf growth.

Totally agree with you, Moses. Keep it simple--I'll leave off the stupid. Using all that stuff not only is time consuming, I would think it would be easy to over fertilize the poor plants. I have a simple regiment for my in the ground roses, too. And they like it. Diane

I wouldn't fertilize your newly planted roses with anything yet. Hopefully you have the newly planted bare roots either in shade or have covered the bud union with a good mound of soil. I keep my newly planted bare roots in the shade at first, and then gradually move them to more sun as they leaf out. The general rule of thumb for newly planted bare roots is not to fertilize them at all until they bloom for the first time. Even for your "young plants that are leafed out", I'd be really cautious about fertilizing yet. Were these potted bare roots or own root roses? A lot of folks fertilize their new roses too much too soon :-D

I agree with all the above advice. When I do fertilize pots I use Osmocote Plus. Potted roses are not very forgiving of complicated messes.

Hi Miss Mary,

I grow all my roses in pots. I agree keep it simple is the easiest way. But if you want to, you can add those things. Personally I am not a fan of the alfalfa or the epsom salts, they're too heavy in one thing and can lead to problems.

Fish fertilizer though, that's a different story. My roses LOVE that stuff. I rotate alternating that and basic miracle gro (weakly weekly), and occasionally some silic or calmag+iron, and that's what's given me the best results so far.

But if in doubt just do what the other posters suggested, they have way more experience than me.

Thank you for these suggestions.

A lot of my reading here (and other places) about growing container roses pointed me towards these b/c of the drainage and soil differences between potted roses and in ground roses. Saying that granular fertilizers build up salts in the soil over time. Hence using fish fertilizer. , some alfalfa and epsom salt to feed and nourish.

I have anticipated repotting every few years as needed; so this "build up" is taken care of in just doing that...... ?

Anyway... this certainly is a growing learning experience.

My roses are all own root.

I have not started adding anything yet; am waiting for them to get settled and established.

I am always impatient and I want fast growth and never wait for anything . I just fertilize weekly with half strength any liquid fertilizer for roses .

Could be fish emulsion or liquid seaweed or Alfalfa tea or even Miracle Grow or anything else . My container roses are always healthy & grow fast . I plant them in the ground later .

I've used just about everything on containerized plants and roses. The key is to make sure the containers are well watered,well draining, and the fertilizers are properly diluted. I haven't had any problems. I also throw a bunch of compost on my containers in the spring to kinda freshen the soil.

I dont use too many granulated fertilzers unless they melt quickly. I may initially use a little osmocote in the bottom of pots. This is because our brainless chickens love to eat the osmocote and granular type fertilizers and will scratch up dirt to no end if they think they are in the pots. They also lovr to eat perlite so it also goes towards the bottom for drainage. Perlite looks like styrofoam which they adore eating. Most of them are too dumb to realize those pots are also full of worms..but I digress..

I get massive growth on most containerized roses here in FL. I had a Maman Cochet Cl in a 3 gal nursery pot that fully covered and smothered a gazebo before finally tearing it down. Ditto on Teasing GA & Madam Alfred Carriere on a different gazebo. Many of my roses will eventually grow through the containers and into the ground. I will eventually have to drill a few low side holes plus water the ground around the containers when I water. My last property had a very high water table so it was necessary to keep some roses in containers in certain areas of the "yard." Some were kept in containers 15 years total! Maybe more lol.

What do people mean when they say "all the other mess?"

Early in the season, I refreshed the soil with Soil3 (a mixture of compost and some sand), used a bit of alfalfa pellets (but not too much), some rose granular fertilizer from Costco, and later I settled into a regimen of liquid feeding about every two weeks, midmonth and first of the month to keep track. I used what I have - some Dyna Grow, then Big Roses, some Miracle Grow etc.

It was my best year yet although at first, early on they were giving sign of a bit of burning (probably from the Costco granules), but soon they turned around with excellent, lush foliage. It's the first time when I can actually cut enough to make convincing bouquets and still have enough flower left on the bush.

For those who use just Osmocote Plus, how often do you use it? How much and when do reapply?

Artist

For roses in the ground , I use Osmocote plus every 3 months , around 1/4 to 1/2 cup in the drip line . For containers , I use 1 or 2 Tablespoons maximum .

@pink

1/4 cup sound quite conservative. I remember reading somewhere that most people use less Osmocote than necessary; but it's nice to know results can be achieved with less.

Actually 1/4 cup is for smaller newly planted roses . more for bigger roses . Actually the recommendation is to apply every 4 to 6 months but in our heat , fertilizers are spent up quickly .