To keep water off the leaves and roses, pour the water at the base of the plant. Provide 1 to 2 inches (2. 5 to 5. 1 cm) of water each week. If it’s dry outside, water the roses more. Check that the surface of the soil feels moist to the touch. During fall and winter, you can water your roses less often. Water them once a week during fall, but stop watering during the winter. [2] X Research source
You can find mulch at a local gardening store or online. The best mulches for roses include wood chips, straw, and cut grass. However, you can also use shredded hardwood bark or cocoa bean hulls if you want to add a decorative touch to your plot. Add more mulch throughout growing season as needed to maintain your plot.
This will cause the rose bush to produce more blooms. If you don’t deadhead the roses, they produce seeds instead of more blossoms. If you want to harvest rosehips or like how rosehips look on your plant in the winter, don’t deadhead the faded blossoms on your plant. Stop deadheading 3 to 4 weeks before the first frost so you won’t have fresh blossoms. [5] X Research source You can find the expected date of your first frost by checking with your local or national weather service or by using this helpful tool from the Almanac: https://www. almanac. com/gardening/frostdates#.
You can also use a small pair of pruning shears. Check your plant regularly for dead leaves.
It’s best to avoid using an herbicide around your roses.
Follow all of the directions on your fertilizer. You can also find fertilizers formulated specifically for roses. If you want an easy natural fertilizer, you can add used coffee grounds to your soil, which will provide nutrients for your roses. [9] X Research source Banana peels are also a great fertilizer, as they contain calcium, sulfur, magnesium, and phosphates. You can lay the banana peels at the base of the plant or bury a mushy banana at the base.
If your area stays below freezing during winter, wrap mesh around your plant, then fill it with mulch to protect the roses. [10] X Research source
Some varieties may need more pruning, so always check the growing instructions for your breed of roses. Pruned roses may seem very bare, but this is necessary for the roses to grow new foliage and blossoms.
In some cases, your rose bush will die down to about 8 inches (20 cm) tall if the winter has been rough. Keep cutting until you’ve removed all of the dead parts of the roses. You can safely cut your rose bush down to about 6 inches (15 cm) tall if necessary.
If you let these shoots grow, they’ll put too much demand on the root system. It’s best to do this before the new growing season starts. However, you can remove suckers during the growing season if you think they’re weakening your plant.
Always make 45 degree cuts when you’re pruning your rose bushes. Additionally, cut above an outward facing node to encourage your roses to grow outwardly. Prune away dead, diseased, damaged, or crossed branches. You can also trim roses in the fall. Stop deadheading blooms 8 to 10 weeks before the first frost, then wait until after the first frost passes to prune branches, canes, and foliage.
It’s best to keep your roses on a porch or patio. You can also replant it in your garden. It may not live long in your home, as roses need full sun. [17] X Research source If you keep your roses on the patio, it’s safe to bring them inside during the winter to protect them from the harsh cold. You can supplement sunlight with a grow lamp if your plant isn’t getting enough sun.
Don’t get water on the plant’s leaves, as it could cause mold or fungus to develop on the plant. Excess water should drain away from the plant. If your container doesn’t have drainage holes, replant the roses in a new pot with holes or poke holes in the bottom of your pot.
Don’t pull off the buds, which can damage the stem.
You might also add fertilizer in the mid-summer, which is about halfway through the growing season.
Don’t crush or pull the stems, as this can damage the plant and increase its risk of disease. You can also use a pair of small pruning shears, if you have them.
Roses grown indoors may not come back the next growing season because the conditions are not ideal. However, pruning them gives them a better chance for re-growth.
You can loosen the roots of the plant by tapping the sides of the pot or squeezing the pot, if it’s plastic. Signs that you need to repot your plant include soil that dries out too quickly, roots that are very compacted or protruding out of the drainage holes, and foliage that appears too big for the pot. Choose a new pot that allows at least 2 inches (5. 1 cm) of space between the existing root ball and the sides of the pot. When in doubt, choose the bigger pot. [24] X Research source
Water your plant when the soil feels completely dry during the winter. If you’d like, you can move your plant to a garage or basement during the winter months.
If your roses don’t have a wrap, you can skip this step. If your roses are already looking wilted, cut 1 inch (2. 5 cm) off the end of the stem and soak the entire rose in a pan of warm water for about 20 minutes. The rose should revive after soaking.
Use a pair of sharp scissors to trim the stems.
If you change out your water, add more floral preservative. However, you don’t need to add more preservative every time you add water.
If the water is cloudy, pour out the water and replace it with fresh water. When you change your water, cut another 1 inch (2. 5 cm) off the bottom of the stem. Your flowers will last longer if you change the water every other day, adding floral preservative each time. Cut the stems at least . 25 inches (0. 64 cm) each time you change the water. [26] X Research source
Check the water daily to make sure leaves haven’t fallen into it.
Don’t put the roses directly under a draft, as it may cause the flower to wilt faster. If you put your flowers in the refrigerator while you’re not home, they’ll live even longer. However, don’t put them around rotting fruit, especially apples.
