TUTORIAL GROWING DA ROSES IN POTS
Growing roses in pots has long been neglected by experts and nurseries. Even if they addressed it they said it was difficult and wouldn't give the wanted results. The truth is they didn't no SHIT about growing roses in pots so they gave their opinion on something they hadn't tried.
Thanks to the rose revolution caused by David Austin and other European breeders the option to plant roses in pots became hot! Why? Because the David Austin roses and other old fashioned roses with strong fragrance are ideal to be used in pots. People want their rose jewels as close as possible to admire their beauty and fragrance and many consumers don't have gardens but only a patio or a terrace. Growing roses in pots are a real outcome for many many rose lovers worldwide.
I have a friend who's growing all kinds of roses in pots and she says that ANY KIND OF ROSE can be grown in pot. Especially climbers won't reach their full potential but you can achieve great results, especially with David Austin roses.
What kind of pot do I need? Well every material has its pros and cons. Terracotta is very sjiek and roses can breath trough it and it's a natural product. On the negative side: They are rather expensive, heavy and can get frost damage.
Plastic or polyester or polyrasin pots are cheaper, lightweight and don't get frost damage and they hold water better than terracotta but sometimes they really look tacky. So the choice is personal and depending on your budget.
SIZE: Roses need space, especially their roots must be able to go deep. So a tall pot is always better than a wide one. If you buy a container rose (that comes in a plastic pot) make sure you plant it in a pot that's three times the size of the pot the rose is bought in. Always keep in mind: Bigger is better and hight is more important than wide. Remember that your rose will grow three years in that pot so choose wisely.
For bare root roses it's the same, the hight of the pot is more important. A 50 cm pot in diameter is a good choice and more is better.
Planting bare root roses in pots: Always use a good, organic potting compost without peat. Don't be a cheapskate, good quality potting compost will give a much better result. If you find potting compost especially for roses you can use this.
So now we have our roses, our potting compost and our pots. Now we soak the roots of our bare root roses in a bucket of rainwater. Best to do is overnight but at least 6 hours. Your roses have been transported and the roots slowly dry out in the process. Soaking them will allow the plant to take up plenty of moisture.
If you are using Mycorhizza spores it's time to grab them. To ensure good drainage we put some terracotta shards on top of the drainage hole so it can't get blocked. Fill your pot for 1/3 with the compost. Take your rose out of the bucket of water and coat the entire roots with the dry mycorrhiza agent. If you have broken roots, prune them with your sharp sécateur.
Now put the Mycorhizza coated rose roots into your pot and spread the roots. Slowly add potting compost till the pot is filled with it. Now gently grab a few big branches and pull the plant a bit up until the graft is covered with 4 cm (1 or 2 inch) of compost. Now press down the surrounding soil with your hands so the rose sits firmly in the pot. Immediately water your rose until the pot is drenched and water is coming out at the bottom. Mulch the pot with dried cow manure or leaf compost or an organic mulch of your own choosing. Immediately give the rose a handful of organic rose fertilizer on top of the mulch. Roses are extremely heavy feeders and the fertilizer that's already added to the potting compost in the factory isn't enough for roses. Now put your pot on the spot of your choosing but bear in mind that more sun means more flowers.
I recommend to feed your roses starting from March till August. Once a month a handful of fertilizer and each week a gift with liquid tomato fertilizer. In summer give your rose plenty of water. In hot weather even daily. Don't let the pot dry out. Also don't put anything underneath your pot to hold water. Roses HATE wet feet so just don't.
If you follow these steps your roses in pot will give you much pleasure for the next three years.
PS: Don't get fooled by many of the DA pictures I posted. Austin gardens put more than one container rose in their display pots. It looks if it's one big plant but often it's two or three roses in one pot. In reality your roses would die quickly because roses hate competition especially when planted that close to each other. It's all about selling and Austin knows the tricks to do it. So people: ONE ROSE IN ONE POT
