Assuming you are growing greedy repeat blooming moderns, and this is just the first feeding of the season, the Miracle-Gro.

Maybe the question is, better for what? Better for immediate results? Probably the Miracle Gro. Better for the long term health of the soil and microbes and earthworms and thus the plants? Probably the fish emulsion and seaweed emulsion. I personally only use Miracle Gro and other synthetic fertilizer in pots. Once my plant is in the ground, I only use organic fertilizer because I’m pretty protective of my soil and the critters that live in it that help me out when I help them. I have worked very hard to improve the organic matter level in my soil as there was virtually nothing here when we came six years ago. I started out with dump truck loads of compost and have been adding more each year as well as horse manure and other humus that I can get my hands on. I now have many earthworms and my soil looks alive finally. I’m pretty jealous about keeping it that way so I focus on feeding my soil and the soil feeds the plants. Miracle Gro will feed the plants but not the soil. At least that’s the way I understand things.

Fish emulsion (5-1-1) is great at the start because it helps with strong leafy growth. After that, you can switch to Miracle-Gro for Roses (18-24-16) for better blooming. If you prefer a mix of fish and seaweed, it works too, but it won’t provide all the nutrients needed for the best flowers.

Thanks all, for your enlightened information. Your successes at growing 'robustissimus,' roses, ones that put me in awe, is proof that what you are providing your roses, liquid feeding wise, is valid, many times over.

My next questions are:

Between fish and seaweed emulsion, which one gives the best overall results for in ground rose bushes? And, which of the two has the best foliar feeding potential or precautions?

Thanks, many times over!

Moses.

Just use Plant Tone or Lilly Miller Organic granular, or both, and don't overthink it. They stink, but at least you don't have to mix all the separate gross, stinky stuff up and store it. Diane

Fish emulsion is off the table for me, because of the beasties, and the only liquid fert here that might be paralell to seaweed emulsion is too expensive and labour-intensive for me to use out in the garden. I use alfalfa hay, cracked corn and manure,but also a universal chemical granular fert (not organic). I really like judi's approach, but have not been able to use it-yet!

I do/have done exactly as Judy has and for the same reasons. My soil is a thin layer of rocky, alkaline heavy clay and it has taken untold quantities of organic matter to achieve something approaching decent soil. I only use synthetic feed for roses in pots, everything else is organic and I don’t spray anything.

For roses in the ground, my regimen changes somewhat according to what I can get hold of, but generally I feed the soil with alfalfa pellets, composted sheep or horse manure and a mulch of compost early on, then feed the roses an organic pelleted Vitax fertiliser (a similar nutrient profile to the one Diane uses and identical to the old DA rose food, but actually aimed at acid loving plants) as they are coming into leaf. Then liquid organics to top up after that as the season progresses.

Of the liquid organics, I have found fish emulsion (Biobizz Fish Mix 5-1-4) to deliver the best improvement to overall health and bloom quality, to me it is magic stuff. It also happens to work out the most cost-effective, which is a nice bonus. Seaweed emulsion is hard to come by and very expensive here. I know many swear by it but I didn’t see any noticeable effect after using it, but then I would class it as a tonic, not a fertiliser. It is also possible the my earlier applications of both alfalfa and the pelleted fertiliser provides a similar benefit to the seaweed in terms of micronutrients/growth stimulants .

In the UK, a high potassium tomato liquid feed is popular to support blooming but that is equally hard to come by in Spain and as expensive as seaweed, so is an occasional splurge purchase rather than a regular thing.

If I had to choose only ONE liquid feed it would be the Fix Mix, no contest!

I rotate the three but only potted roses. I was listening to a very succesful gardner who says to not use anything but compost on roses in the ground. Not sure that I am ready to forgo the fertalizer

I put down compost on roses and other plants in November, and that's why I didn't mention it for spring. Alkaline soil here, and not very good soil, either. Very hot and dry summers. I still believe in the two fertilizers I mentioned above for spring. I do use dilute solutions of Miracle Gro regularly on my many pots of hot peppers, whiskey barrel of basil, nasturtiums in pots, and have wonderful results with Miraacle Gro all summer long. Diane

Ny Habaneros. Grown in pots along with many hot peppers. They receive a weak solution of Miracle Gro every time they are watered in summer.

What fun.

Moses, I use both fish and seaweed emulsions. I would think of the seaweed emulsion as more of a supplement than regular fertilizer due to the low NPK values. However, to answer your question, seaweed stimulates growth fairly rapidly, similar to alfalfa tea, compared to fish emulsion. I sometimes use both together, occasionally using the seaweed product alone as a foliar feed and that works well too.

I got my Mills Magic Mix today! Love this product. Already applied alfalfa tea.

@Diane Brakefield Diane,

Do you use the same soil for your potted peppers year after year or you replace the soil? I am planning to do all tomatos and peppers in 20-25 gal pots this year because my veggie garden keeps getting invaded by the neighbors’ palm trees.

Kristine,

I bet you could grow some pretty good roses just by spreading compost. But I add plant tone, alfalfa, seaweed and some miracle-gro, not sure if that’s more for ME or actually for the plants to be satisfied.

Ben, I change the potting soil in everything that's potted, every year. That includes the whiskey barrel, too. I use raised bed soil in my raised bed for tomatoes, and it's changed every year. My favorite potting soil is Black Gold brand. If you can find Nu Life organic compost, I recommend that not only applied around the roses' surface soil once a year in late fall, but also combined with the soil when I'm digging holes to plant roses and perennials. This is addition to fertilizers applied in spring. Diane

I agree with Diane on using fresh potting soil for new potted plants. Once a tomato, etc. has spent a season in a pot, the soil is done for.

Kristine I bet your very successful gardener does not have my rubbish soil! If you have good, rich well-balanced loam then a annual application of manure or compost might be all you need. I have to work and spend hard to correct both the thinness and the extreme alkalinity of mine to grow roses well.

Actually, his starting soil was dry and dusty if you can believe that that is what he actually started with. You cant believe mist of what you see anymore.

I keep hearing adds for Down And Dirty soil lol love the name

Dry and dusty doesn't really mean anything. I have a 1930's USDA soils report that discusses this. At the time, the popular perception was that the only thing western soils needed to be successful farmland was water. It was true for a lot of places, but not all.

This year I will be using potassium phosphite as a foliar fertilizer. This is sold in the UK as Uncle Toms Rose Tonic. It is supposed to ward off fungus as well as providing potassium. We'll see! I have alkaline soil that is really pretty decent but still I fertilize with some combination of Hollytone, a bit of ironite, alfalfa, compost, horse manure, miracle grow and then keep them well mulched.

Nollie, I looked on Amazon for Vitax-https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B000TAQWE4?smid=A2W55BRFKLRTB8&psc=1 , called "Vitax Q4". Is this the product that you use?

Bart, no it’s this one, I find acidic plant feeds/composts are better in my alkaline soil. It was Marlorena that brought it to my attention. It has the exact same nutrient profile as DA’s old rose feed. The latter has now replaced by a slow release product with more nitrogen. My OH has to be in the UK for business a few times a year so I get her to (grudgingly!) bring it back for me:

I am sure there are similar ferts in Italy.

Thanks, Nollie. That's on Amazon, too, but a LOT more expensive. Are these Vitax ferts all organic?

MY BEST FERTILIZERS

NPK BALANCE; USE BOTH-

1. Liquid Alaska Fish Fertilizer w/ 5-1-1

&

2. Alaska Morbloom (fish fertilizer 0-10-10.

Use the 2 liquid fish fertilizers above listed mixed together w/ water on all potted plants, on plants needing nurturing back to health weekly, and on all roses once a month.

It is the best fertilizer to jump start growth and nurtures soil to thrive. I have never seen roses grow so fast, darken green leaves, rejuvenate when they are stressed so quickly , and bloom tons as with this combo of organic fertilizers. Fabulous growth & blooms!

Using these 2 liquid fertilizers together gives you a better balance of Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium. Nitrgen for growing tall vigorous, dark green canes & leaves , and “phosphorous and potassium,” for blooming powerpeer. In fish fertilizer these elements are highly effective!

Also, Espoma Rose Tone or Plant Tone both are fortified with similar ingredients: chicken manure, bonemeal, alfalfa & more organics.

Apply Tones every 4-8 weeks.

At start of season I give all rosrs these 2 liquid fish mixed fertilizers and Plant Tone or Rose Tone. Then monthly I apply the fish fertilizer. Every 6 weeks I do Tones throughout the growing season.

Also, I apply cow manure usually at start of season, only mix it in with top level of soil around the beds-it will improve soil . ( No chicken manure or cow manure near roots of roses-will burn roots-high in nitrogen.) Manures is one if the best fertilizers to promote growth and enrich soil.

I may add alphalfa mixed with oats, from Tractor Supply store, it is a horse feed-was fabulous for growth and promotes enriched soil. Apply in mid-season, once.

I only use these organics. After my research, I understand that organics enrich soil, promoting and feeding healthy living soil by emcouaging bacteria, microbes, worms, and other nutrients to improve soil.

I don’t use any chemical fertilizers in potted roses or in ground roses, because they leave chemical deposits in the soil and do not help soil to be healthy and promote it to be living. You can ”see white chemical deposits from chemical fertilizers.” I watched a video and saw the white deposits of chemicals left in the soil.

Each individual finds what is best for them. Some prefer using Miracle Gro which is quick and easy or Osmocote. i used them in the past.

However, I totally love my fertilizers now.

I bought the Alaska brands of Fish Fertilzer & Morbloom; however Lilly Miller has Morbloom, too. The cost effective brands can be found sometimes at Walmart or Amazon online if you shop around.

In addition I add raised bed soil to all my beds every year & new potting soils.

Try adding a few foods from kitchen when possible, too! Real fish put in soil around roses! Bananas are high in potassium! coffee grounds are great in soil!

Thanks for going into the, 'tall grass,' for me, much appreciated!

Moses.