Roses in Containers

Author: Denise Abruzzese, President & Consulting Rosarian

Have you ever seen those photos of huge roses with hundreds of flowers in tiny little pots from India? I always wondered if they were real or photoshopped. I have confirmed that they are REAL.

Growing roses in containers is nothing new to me; I have almost 75 containerized roses that are mostly European, Florist and Japanese. Many of these are in 15 gallon containers, but I have two in fairly small pots. For example, I have both a ‘Pretty Polly Pink’ and ‘Red Cascade’ in decorative hanging pails that are a mere 7″ wide and 15″ deep. Both of these roses get huge in the ground. In the pots, they stay small and still flourish. Once a year, I remove the rose, trim the roots, add soil and repot. So I know it is possible.

So I couldn’t help but wonder: How do these Indian rosarians consistently get such fantastic results, growing these enormous, healthy, heavy-blooming roses, in noticeably small containers — and in such a hot and humid climate to boot? Well, lets explore one of their methods.

MONTHLY FERTILIZATION METHOD:

Once per month the following ingredients are added to the soil. The method to do this is to dig around the edge of the pot as deeply as you can go and remove the soil. Add the ingredients to the trench you have dug and cover with new fresh soil/compost mix. Water in well with the mix below.

This once-a-month process involves three parts:

1) Dry ingredients that are added directly into the rose’s pot.
2) Liquid ingredients that are used to water-in the dry ingredients.
3) A foliar spray after the first two steps are complete.

Many of these ingredients are available on Amazon, or check your local garden center. In instances where a certain ingredient may not be available, I have equivalent substitutes listed.

Dry Ingredients:

2 tbsp Mustard Cake Powder (alternate: Bloodmeal or Fish Emulsion). Mustard Cake Powder contains nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, manganese, zinc and other organic matter. You can get this on Amazon.

3 tbsp Bone Meal (alternate: Rock Phosphate): Contains Phosphorous, Calcium and Organic matter in a slow release form.

2 tbsp Neem Cake Powder: This improves soil structure, reduces alkalinity, develops roots, repels pests, fungi and controls nematodes. It is also known to increase crop yields. It contains organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and calcium. It also promotes nitrification which prolongs the availability of nitrogen. You can get this on Amazon.

2 tsp Epsom Salt: This will improve nutrient absorption. It contains magnesium and sulfate, which are essential nutrients for plants: Magnesium allows plants to absorb phosphorus and nitrogen, strengthens cell walls, and increases chlorophyll production for nice dark green leaves. The sulfate helps produce chlorophyll and makes nutrients more effective for plants. Epsom salt can help roses grow bushier, produce more flowers, and have more vibrant colors. Epsom salt can help prevent root shock, which can cause plants to wilt or have yellowing leaves.

1 tsp Trichoz-P (Trichoderma Viride): This is an organic method to prevent blackspot and dieback and to strengthen roots. I am guessing you can use Alfalfa pellets, Kelp Meal or Cornmeal in its place. Alfalfa pellets and kelp meal contain Triacontanol which is a growth regulator/stimulant.

Watered In Ingredients:

In 1 Gallon of Water, mix:

4 tsp SuperSonata (alternate is Superthrive, however use 1/4 teaspoon per gallon): SuperSonata is a plant growth regulator that can help improve the overall health. It can increase vigor, enhance tolerance to adverse factors, and improve the quality the rose. It also prevents transplant shock. SuperSonata contains: Seaweed extract rich in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals Amino acids and vitamins, live microbes and Humic acid. You probably can’t get this in the USA so using Superthrive as the replacement is fine, it won’t have the live microbes though.

1 tsp Takat or Naval Takat (alternative Great Big Roses, however use 4 tablespoons per gallon): This contains amino acids, fulvic acid, humic acids and are seaweed based liquid composts. They improve the uptake of nutrients. You probably cannot get this in the USA so using Great Big Roses is perfectly fine.

2 tsp Biovita Seaweed Extract: Biovita is a natural bio stimulant that comes from a concentrated extract of the seaweed Ascophyllum Nodosum. It contains over 60 organic nutrients, including enzymes, proteins, cytokinins, amino acids, vitamins, gibberellins, auxins, and betaines. Biovita can help plants grow and develop better by providing essential nutrients and growth hormones. Biovita can help plants become more resistant to environmental stresses. It improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and can increase the soil’s aeration and water holding capacity, and make metallic fungicides more effective. Microbial activity in soil in increased, which can make nutrients more available. It can be applied as a foliar spray or soil drench.

Spraying Routine: Per 1 litre of water:

2 tsp SAAF (12% carbendazim/63% Moncozeb): This is for blackspot and other fungal diseases

1/4 tsp Theeta Bio Organic Pest (1% Azadirachtin): In the USA these products contain Azadiractin: TreeAzin, AzaMax, BioNEEM, AzaGuard, and AzaSol, Terramera Proof and Terramera Cirkil.

Water: These small pots are watered daily in cool weather and multiple times a day in hot weather. I am including some pictures of roses in India in these little pots.

So the takeaway is that they basically keep the soil healthy with organic matter and refresh monthly. It is basically “living soil.” So I have started just the mustard cake powder and neem cake powder with some of my pots and have already noticed an explosion of leaves after only a few days. I already use Epsom salt, Superthrive, cornmeal, bonemeal and Great Big Roses on my roses. Let’s see how the experiment goes! I’m interested to hear if any of you implement some of their methods as well.