How to care for roses

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How to care for roses throughout the year

The flower is so beautiful and diverse that it deserves all our efforts. And it's not difficult to avoid wasting the charm of roses : just take care of them consistently , and with interventions throughout the year, season by season. In the early months of the year, for example, there is pruning, which can continue until March. From April, if it doesn't rain, regular watering begins, while in May the flowering arrives and we must watch out for wilted roses and possible diseases . These operations, including checks, continue throughout the summer, and in September some varieties bloom again. From October onwards, we prepare for winter, first of all by protecting the roots, and between November and December the roses finally rest.

Choosing the right plant and the right place

As Aureli, an expert florist at FloraQueen , says, when you go to buy a rose plant, you need to pay close attention to the type of plant you choose: there are various types, each suited to a different environment. We might find:

balcony and terrace roses
garden roses
roses for the interior

All roses, in general, love the sun and need at least six hours of direct light a day . As for the soil, it must be well-drained, rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic pH (6-6,5).

Balcony and terrace roses

roses on the balcony — Photo by anna-mw via Pexels

The right pot for a rose plant on a balcony or terrace is crucial. The size of the pot helps the plant live much longer: ideally, the pot should be at least 50 cm tall and wide . Furthermore, the plant should also have a saucer, slightly away from the pot itself, to prevent water from clogging. Obviously, only a few of the 2 varieties of roses (generally the less bushy and prickly ones) are suitable for pots, and in any case, you can choose the most suitable container based on the ratio between the length of the flowers and the pot's capacity. In practice, a five-liter pot will suffice if your roses are no taller than 50 centimeters; a 12-liter pot will suffice if your roses are taller than 50 centimeters.

Roses in the garden

Here, beyond choosing the right soil and a location where the plant receives sunlight, it's very important to pay attention to a few factors. First, the spacing between plants: no less than 70 centimeters apart , and even a meter to be on the safe side. Roses don't like crowding. Second, avoid planting roses where you've just uprooted others because they're diseased or withered. You run the risk of ending up with a plant forced to grow and flower in poor soil, which won't be ideal for producing beautiful roses in the spring.

Roses for the interior

The most suitable roses for growing indoors are miniature ones, with beautiful blooms 1 to 4 centimeters in diameter. They are highly fragrant, with a wide range of colors , from bright red to pale yellow, and a variety of forms that include bushes, climbers , and small trees. 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 becomes too dry.

Two little tricks.

The first: the plant should be brought indoors in the middle of winter, cutting off half of the stem tips. Then it should be moved to an unheated environment for two weeks, and then to a heated room.
Second trick: if the room is warm, place the vase on a tray of pebbles.

Among the miniature rose species to plant in your home, we suggest the Rosa chinensis minima , the Starina (with double, vermilion flowers, which can reach up to 25 centimetres in height) and the Angela Rippon , with double, chimney-pink flowers, very fragrant.

How to care for roses in winter

In winter, there are some things to do that will prove very useful for the results you'll harvest in spring. First, mulch the soil with dry leaves and bark pieces. This is the best, and most natural, way to create a sort of covering that keeps the plant's roots warm. Second, remove wilted leaves and flowers; they can only cause harm. Third, shorten any overly long branches. Winter is the perfect time for this, and it shouldn't be postponed until spring. Fourth, apply a light treatment with an antifungal to protect the plants from this risk. Fifth, pay close attention to the temperature; if it's too low (around minus 5-10 degrees Celsius), it's best to cover the plants, otherwise they'll burn.

How to care for roses in spring and summer

Pink — Photo by Suzy Hazelwood via Pexels

There's no respite from the pleasure of growing roses, both during spring (blooming begins in May) and summer. In spring, you need to thoroughly clean around the plants, remove invasive weeds, and check for pests. And fertilize properly with natural products . This is also the time for mulching with dry leaves, peat, and straw, and for a light weeding. Finally, in summer, while you enjoy the splendor of your roses, remember to prune them if necessary, remove wilted roses, and ensure the plants are well watered . But the seasons that include summer and spring are also those during which you need to pay particular attention to potential diseases that can destroy roses, especially powdery mildew, scab, downy mildew, aphids, and rust.

Watering

We often have the bad habit of watering rose plants when we think it's best, rather than at specific times. However, for rose plants (and for any type of plant in general), it's best to water them after sunset.

Watering plants when the sun is shining damages the leaves : water droplets collect on the leaves and turn into lenses, burning them. The plant's soil must be dry enough to water, although you shouldn't wait until it's completely dry. The best method for watering is the so-called "sprinkler" method: using a watering can, you pour water onto the soil from a distance, almost imitating falling rain.