Planting Roses in Containers

Selection of Pots/Containers:

1-      First of all choose an appropriately sized container. Miniature roses thrive in a 12-inch (30.5-cm) container, while floribundas and hybrid tea roses need 15 inches (38 cm). Larger hybrids and tree roses need to be in containers measuring 18 inches (45.7 cm) or larger.

2-      If you plan on moving your rose around then light weight containers will be the best choice. A container made of plastic will probably be the easiest to re-position.

3-      Choose a light coloured container, since dark colours heat up faster and dry out the soil.

4-      Select a pot that provides good drainage. Plastic and clay pots with holes at the bottom offer better drainage than containers without holes.

Planting the Rose:

1-      Choose between pre-potted roses and bare-root roses. Pre-potted roses are often easier to work with, especially in warm climates that do not permit roses to reach a completely dormant state.

2-      Select a potting soil specifically for roses. Results will be significantly better with a potting mix designed to promote rose growth than with a generic soil.

3-      Fill your container two-thirds full with your chosen soil. Loosely pack the soil into the pot. Do not pack too tightly, as your rose needs room to breathe.

4-      Place the rose into the soil. If working with a bare-root rose, spread the roots out comfortably.

5-      Then fill the pot with soil up to the appropriate level providing space for watering.

6-      Water the plant until well saturated. These plants need plenty of moist soil to survive.

7-      Provide a stake for larger rose trees and bushes. Choose a wooden or metal stake proportional to the predicted size of the plant when it matures.

8-      Water your roses daily, preferably in the early morning. On very hot days, water the container twice a day, once in the morning and once more in the evening.

9-      Fertilize your roses for the first time after a month passes. You may use a balanced liquid fertilizer once every two weeks from that point on.

10-  Transplant your rose after two years. Roses deplete the soil's nutrients faster when grown in containers than they do when grown in the ground.