Tricks for growing roses well and having wonderful flowers

Roses require well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It's essential to grow them in a well-ventilated space with sufficient light. However, remember that the plant shouldn't be exposed to strong sunlight, especially all day long. Fertilizing the soil should be done during the growing season and as soon as the first buds begin to appear.

Roses love full sun and need:

• At least 6 hours of direct light a day.
• Avoid areas that are too windy or constantly humid.
• Good air circulation helps prevent diseases.

The right seasons to plant roses are autumn and winter. springThe different plants should be planted at a depth of about 4-5 centimeters and spaced at least 60 centimeters apart. If you want to grow roses from seed, remember that sowing must take place between December and January. Place the seeds of the same variety in a pot, spaced at least 5 centimeters apart, and plant them. To choose the right time, it's important to distinguish between the two most common rose varieties.

And that is:

They are the ones already in a container.

They can be planted almost all year round, but better to avoid:

• periods of possible severe frosts
• periods of intense heat  (July–August)

The best times remain:

• March–May
• September–October.

Watering

A common mistake is watering roses too little or too much. This is the correct dosage:

• Watered in depth 1–2 times a week.
• Better early in the morning.
• Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce fungi and diseases.

Pruning

In the case of roses, pruning is essential to stimulate new blooms.

• • Facanvas in late winter / early spring.
  • Cut out dead branches, crossing branches, and branches that are too weak.

And take advantage of pruning to eliminate faded flowers.

The most suitable roses for growing at home are the miniature ones, with wonderful flowers from 1 to 4 centimetres in diameter. They are very fragrant, with a vast assortment of colours, from bright red to pale yellow, and a variety of shapes that also includes bush ones, the creepers and saplings. Indoors, rose plants should be kept at an average temperature between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius, receive plenty of light (find a spot in front of a bright window), and watered when the soil feels too dry. Two little tricks. First: bring the plant indoors in the dead of winter, cutting off half of the stem tips. Then, move it to an unheated space for two weeks, and then to a heated room. Second trick: if the room is warm, place the pot on a tray of pebbles. Among the miniature rose species to plant indoors, we suggest the Rosa chinensis minima, the Hash (with double, vermilion flowers, which can reach up to 25 centimetres in height) and the Angela Rippon, double-flowered, chimney pink, very fragrant.

Avoid picking the buds while they are still closed, and remember that the best time to pick roses is in the afternoon between 15 and 17 pm. Once picked, immediately place the roses in a vase filled with water, preferably not tap water, as limescale shortens the life of the flowers.

With roses you need to pay particular attention to:

• aphids
• powdery mildew (powdery mildew)
• scab

A natural trick that works well is this:

• spray water with soft soap against aphids
• as preventative treatments instead use the horsetail decoction.

How to care for roses in winter

• Mulch The soil is well-drained with dry leaves and pieces of bark. In practice, the soil is covered with a first layer of material that keeps the plant's roots warmer.
• Remove faded flowers, yellow or rotten leaves.
• Protect the plant from insects and parasites, even with natural products.
• Shorten any branches that are too long. They could break under heavy rain or snow.
• Make sure the outside temperature never drops below 10 degrees below zero: if this happens, the rose plant is doomed to die.