How to feed roses for lush flowering

Gardeners who grow roses outdoors in their gardens know that the flower isn't easy to care for. Fertilizers play a significant role in rose care; they vary in composition and are applied at specific times.

If you follow proper growing techniques, your rose will bloom profusely year-round. Fertilizers should be used sparingly and never overdo it, as over-fertilizing the soil can have irreversible consequences, leading to the death of the entire flowerbed.

Types of fertilizers and time of use

When growing rose gardens, organic and mineral fertilizers containing potassium, manganese, boron, and zinc are often used, as well as nitrogen-containing supplements such as ammonium nitrate and nitrophoska. Roses respond well to watering with fresh or rotted chicken manure and cow dung. Folk remedies such as onion infusions and yeast are also often used.

Roses are typically fertilized once in the spring and two or three times in the summer. In the fall, additional fertilizing is done at the gardener's discretion. Fall fertilizing helps the plant survive the winter more easily and also strengthens its immune system.

There's an unspoken rule when using additives. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied only during the rose's greening period, that is, in the spring. Nitrogen ensures healthy stem development, green shoots, and stimulates leaf growth. During the summer, phosphorus and potassium-based additives are used. They promote bud formation, color intensity, and the plant's overall immune system. Complex fertilizers and folk remedies are applied to the soil 2-3 times during the summer season. This fertilization schedule is often sufficient to ensure lush and long-lasting blooms. The rose fertilizing schedule is presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Rose fertilizing schedule

How to apply fertilizer

There are several ways to apply fertilizer:

Dry application

Make a furrow near the rose so that it encircles the plant on all sides. The distance from the stem should be at least 5 centimeters. Add a thin layer of fertilizer to the groove, then cover it with soil. Rain or the next watering will dissolve the fertilizer and nourish the rose's root system.

Spraying with fertilizers

Foliar application of fertilizers allows nutrients to be absorbed through the plant's leaves and stems. This method is safe, as the root system is not directly exposed to the chemicals, which can be harsh.

Standard method

Fertilizers are diluted with water and applied periodically to the plant's roots. This easy-to-use method delivers essential micronutrients directly to the roots. However, this method can sometimes be risky due to the high concentration of nutrients. Fertilizers must be diluted in water strictly according to the stated proportions.

Top dressing with saltpeter and mineral fertilizers

In spring, when the soil temperature warms to 10 degrees Celsius or higher, begin fertilizing. The first application is made with ammonium nitrate. It is distributed into the soil at a rate of 20-30 grams of dry powder per square meter of soil. Nitrate is especially beneficial for mature roses that have bloomed repeatedly in previous years.

Urea (carbamide) is applied in the spring because it contains a lot of nitrogen. Phosphorus-containing additives work well with urea. Powders can be simply spread into the soil at a rate of 20 grams per square meter.

In addition to saltpeter, at the end of May, before the budding phase begins, apply a further fertilizer using potassium and phosphorus. Mix 10-15 grams of superphosphate with the same amount of potassium sulfate or any potassium salt. Dissolve the powder mixture in 10 liters of water and apply the fertilizer to the rose. Repeat the fertilizer application in June.

Calcium nitrate combined with superphosphate provides a powerful nutritional boost to rose bushes. Add 10 grams of superphosphate to boiling water and let it cool. Dissolve the mixture in 10 liters of water and add 10 grams of calcium nitrate powder. Apply the fertilizer to the rose leaves and stems.

In summer, during the hottest time of year, when rose buds begin to form, you can use a stove ash-based fertilizer. Its rich organic composition promotes blooming and ensures a long lifespan. Dissolve half a cup of ash in a bucket of cool water and water the rose at the roots. Ash can also be used for foliar feeding: dissolve a cup of ash in a bucket of water and spray the rose.

Use of complex additives

Balanced fertilizer formulations have recently become more common. They are very convenient to use, requiring no weighing or precise proportions of elements. Almost all additives are available in liquid form and dissolve easily in water, creating a uniform nutrient composition.

The supplement must be diluted strictly according to the instructions provided, which are usually found on the back of the bottle or container. The most popular rose fertilizers include Agricola, Bud Plus, Zircon, Pokon, and Leika. These fertilizers already contain beneficial and important elements such as magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, nitrogen, and boron. When using complex fertilizers, avoid using other fertilizers to avoid oversaturating the soil.

Use of organic fertilizers

Fertilizers containing mullein and chicken manure can be applied annually, regardless of the time of year. Roses respond well to organic fertilizers, thriving and blooming. It's important to use well-rotted mullein. Manure is applied as mulch, placed next to the rose stems, and then mixed into the top layer of soil. Manure can be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10 and then watered. Allow the manure to sit for 1-2 weeks before watering.

Chicken manure should be used more carefully than mullein, as it can burn the root system. If the manure is fresh, dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:20. Well-rotted manure can be diluted twice as much: add one part manure to 10 parts water. Fertilize in the morning until lunchtime.

Use of folk remedies

In addition to chemically active additives, folk remedies remain popular. They have been used for decades. Gardeners often water their rose gardens with herbal infusions before blooming. Freshly cut grass and tops are poured into a barrel halfway up the barrel and filled with water to the very top. Add 20-30 grams of crushed eggshells to the barrel and let the mixture steep for two weeks. Water the roses with the strained solution once a week in the morning.

Some gardeners who have been successfully growing roses for decades believe that yeast helps flowers grow especially well. Dissolve 1 gram of dry yeast in a liter of water and add a teaspoon of sugar. Place the mixture in a warm place and let it steep for an hour. Then, pour the liquid mixture under the roots of the flowers before noon, but not in the morning. Use yeast fertilizer no more than twice per season, as it depletes the mineral content of the soil over time.

Surprisingly, vodka is effective for flowers, helping them survive frosts and boosting their immune system. Besides protecting against frost, vodka has an antibacterial effect and prevents fungal diseases on plants. To prepare the solution, you'll need a glass of vodka. Dissolve it in 10 liters of water and water the plant. Vodka also keeps the buds blooming for several days longer than usual.

Fertilizing will ensure a beautiful garden, but use it judiciously. If your garden soil is rich in nutrients, the need for fertilizer is eliminated or significantly reduced. It's important to remember that during the first year of a rose's life, it's best to avoid fertilizing it or only use summer fertilizers that stimulate flowering. Mature flowers should be fertilized annually, but no more than 3-4 times per season. Following these simple guidelines will help you grow regal flowers that will attract everyone's attention.