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I thought that this month we
would talk about fertilizers. The only thing roses love more than water is
fertilizer. All fertilizers, chemical or organic, are rated with 3 numbers
like 10-10-10; these numbers reflect the content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus
(P). and potassium (K). 10-10-10 is said to be balanced, with equal amounts
of N, P, K. 10-5-5 has twice as much nitrogen as phosphorus, and phosphorus
and potassium are equal.
NITROGEN is needed at the
beginning of the season because it stimulates growth, and it is important
for strong canes, large blooms and rich green foliage.
PHOSPHORUS stimulates root
growth, perhaps you have added Super phosphate, or Bone Meal to your
planting holes when you plant a new rose, this is a great way to get those
roots going.
POTASSIUM promotes root
growth and hardening of the canes and stems. It’s an important nutrient in
chlorophyll development through photosynthesis and starch formation.
While the above three
nutrients are the main ones, roses need secondary nutrients and
micronutrients, although in substantially lesser amounts, including
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts), Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum), Dolomitic Lime,
Borax, Chelated Iron, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper, Zinc, and
Molybdenum.
It is important to find a
fertilizer that contains the top three, plus the secondary and
micronutrients. I use Puyallup Rose Society’s dry fertilizer, but I believe
that any fertilizer is OK There are people who use one fertilizer for grass,
roses, flowers and shrubs with good results.
Roses can and will take up nutrients through their foliage. For every
gallon of fungicide spray I make I add 1 Tablespoon of Peters©
or Miracle Gro©.
This year I am going to try a new foliar feed called Response. Response is
a seaweed-based foliar feed fertilizer. I have not used any seaweed
products before, but I have heard that the roses respond extremely well to
these products. Response can be purchased from Rosemania.com.
Dennis Konsmo gave me a
recipe that he called his 5-meal recipe. I have a bed that is not doing
very well. He advised me to put 1 cup of each of theses meals around each
rose: Blood, Fish, Alfalfa, Bone and Kelp. I also added Epsom Salts. I
bought a small can with a lid and have mixed this up; I put 5 cups of this
mixture around each bush these plants should start perking up soon.
Whatever you decide to
fertilize with, be sure to follow the directions. Over-fertilizing can
damage your plant; under-fertilizing can result in roses bushes that don’t
produce or grow well. With Puyallup Rose Society’s fertilizer, I put 1
cup around the drip line of each bush every 6 to 8 weeks. I also use
the liquid fertilizers every week or so.
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