“What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell so sweet.”
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act II, sc.ii
The rose evokes more passion and romance than any other flower. Roses are the symbols of love, beauty, war, and politics. According to fossil remains, the rose has been with us more than 35 million years, and 150 species have spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, to Alaska, to Mexico, to northern Africa, to China, and beyond.
Roses are available all year around, and they usually have a vase life of 3-7 days, depending on how they are prepared. As soon as the florist receives her roses, she should recut the stems under water. You don't want the stems to dehydrate. Then remove the lower ½ of foliage and thorns. Condition the roses in a preservative solution at 32-33 degrees F. and around 90-95% humidity for several hours before using. You may store the roses in a cooler under the same conditions for up to 7 days. Conditioning in the dark reduces bent neck, and conditioning in low ph solution aids in solution uptake. Change the solution every 1-2 days-and be sure to keep your containers clean! If roses are shipped dry or suffer from bent neck or wilting, use a citric acid solution.
General planting and growing instructions:
When you are ready to plant your roses, you have several options: bare root, containerized, grafted, and various grades. Select the variety you want according to the size of your garden and the growing conditions. Roses need full sunlight, good air circulation, and well-drained soil. Having lots of organic matter doesn't hurt, either.
Bare-root Roses
If you get the bare root varieties, you should wait to as close to planting time as possible. They can be planted (in the North) as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, or (in the South) in the fall. If your roses arrive early, be sure to keep the roots moist, and keep the plants in a cool, dark place.
Before you plant the bare-root roses, soak them in water for 8 to 12 hours. If the canes are dehydrated, place the entire plant under water. After soaking, trim off the damaged or diseased roots. Botrytis is a gray mold that is commonly found on roots and canes that have been stored for a while. If you see this mold, try soaking the plants in water and the fungicide Daconil.
Be sure to prune your roses back to 3 to 5 canes, and cut each cane back to 3 to 5 buds. The smaller canes should be removed.
Planting holes should be dug wide enough and deep enough to comfortably hold the roots. Place the rose plant on a cone-shaped mound of soil in the center of the hole. Fill the hole with soil and water. Be careful not to tamp the soil or you will damage the root structure.
For maximum buds, pile the soil around the canes up to 8 to 10 inches. This called “sweating.” In 2 or 3 weeks, new growth with appear, and the soil can be gently washed away. Do not disturb the new growth. Sweating is done only with newly-planted bare-root roses, and it is done only the first year.
Potted Roses
Potted roses are the easiest to plant because the roots are in this ball of soil, and the plant is already growing. When you have the planting hole ready, tap the container on its side to loosen the soil, and then ease the root ball out. Place the root ball in the prepared hole and refill it with soil and water. You don't have to sweat potted roses.
No matter which variety you choose, you need to follow a few simple procedures if you want your roses to be healthy and beautiful. Full sun is good; it helps to dry the leaves quicker and reduces diseases. For the best results, prepare your planting beds as soon as possible, and set your plants about 24 inches apart.
Planting Procedures
- The planting hole should be 1 ½ times the depth of the size of the root
- In the planting hole combine peat moss, cow manure, and organic top soil. Add the correct amount of fertilizer-nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in a 3-1-2 mixture.
- The soil around the root structure should be left about two inches above the ground level. The soil will sink as it settles.
- Firm the soil gently around the roots and water thoroughly.
- Mulch the plant with about 2 inches of cypress, pine bark, or eucalyptus. This will protect the roots, control weeds, and retain moisture.
- For the first 2 to 3 months, check the rose to make sure it is getting enough moisture. When the plant settles, it will require routine watering. . Roses need a good soaking once a week and more often during the dry season. They will also require routine fertilization with a 12-4-8 fertilizer.
