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| Contaimerised Roses |
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Because of their deep root system, few roses will grow well in a constricted situation such as pots & containers, although this situation has been eased in recent years with breeders breeding cultivars to fill this niche in the market.
It is important to select varieties / cultivars that are suited to containers.
Here are a few suggestions;
Consider patio and miniature roses for containers that are 200-400mm (8”-16”) deep.
Compact groundcover or climbing roses are best in larger containers at least 300-600mm (12”-24”) deep.
Half standards need pots of a similar depth but where the base has a large surface area to increase stability, particularly if they are situated in areas exposed to high winds
For the best results grow plants in as large a pot or container as you can.
This not only gives greater compost volume, but also increases the stability of the container.
When choosing a container, firstly decide on a position for the container, as it may be too heavy to move once filled.
Also when positioning the container remember that roses love sunshine and should receive sun for at least half the day.
Ideally position the container so that the roots are shaded for part of the day, but the plant is left in full sun.
Keep pots off the ground to ensure good drainage.
This can be done by sitting on bricks or purpose made feet. As an alternative rest it on a bed of gravel.
When filling the container, loam based compost is preferred, but in recent years good loam is becoming more difficult to get hold of. As a substitute use a mixture of home made compost and or farmyard manure mixed with a good quality potting compost.
Pot up bare root plants from Week 42 onwards as conditions allow.
Do not allow the compost to dry out or the plants will become prone to mildew.
Top dress circa Week 16-18 with a proprietary rose fertiliser, and every four weeks thereafter during the growing season but do not feed after Week 35.
To do so will encourage soft growth that may be damaged in winter.
Annually in spring, replace the top few inches of compost with a fresh layer.
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