I like Gertrude as well, definitely a monster. I have mine on a fence to save space a bit. Have another (own root) on a large obelisk, that one’s looking a bit chlorotic though.
Hi everyone, I’ve been quietly enjoying everyone’s photos of gorgeous young shoots. I have a Ferdinand Pichard and I must say it’s foliage isn’t exactly attractive. I think @Omori has one and I wonder how it’s doing? I had only one puny flower last year and am hoping for more this year.
My Ena Harkess would usually have been blooming before this, but I cut it off at the ankles in Feb. Joyfully, it is resprouting and doing well, so I might even get some blooms this year. I am hoping to get more than one cane from the plant. @kimaotung has an Ena that been blooming for ages.
I read that over-pruned climbers can revert to become a shrub rose. My Ena seems to be somewhere in between - not shrubby and not climbing either. It has a good early first flush but doesn't do very much after May. These days I would follow the advice to not prune a climber at all for the first few years (unless for damage).
Hi @Sammymummy, have you been watering your FP well and have you given it it’s first rose feed yet? If not, I would do that, it has been very cold, dry and windy of late, which can induce drought conditions. Combine that with weeks of overcast weather and plants can generally look a bit pale and wan. If it’s dry at the roots they struggle to extract goodness from the ground and they photosynthesise less efficiently when it’s dull.
If weather-related you would likely see pale leaves and languishing roses in general, although some do seem rather more sensitive than others, plus young roses and those in pots are more vulnerable.
However, if it’s only FP looking a bit chlorotic (yellowing of the leaves) a common cause of this is an iron and/or magnesium deficiency - iron deficiency is is usually seen first in young growth, whereas magnesium deficiency is often seen in older leaves first and has a more pronounced two-tone effect. Sometimes when it’s all over the plant it’s difficult to say which or if it’s both. A small dose of powdered sequestered iron may help and certainly won’t do any harm - for one rose, maybe a quarter teaspoon in a 5L can, but do check the packet. Available in most GCs.
If feeding any supplements or indeed just a general rose food, make sure you give the rose a good drink of plain water first so the soil is receptive. Especially roses in pots as the food can just run straight though otherwise, and if it’s iron, stain your patio badly. @peteS I forgot to warn you of that re your potted Scarborough Fair - I have a couple of decidedly pink patio slabs!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Hi @Nollie, thank you for your advice. My other roses’ new growths are rush and beautiful, so I thought Ferdinand Pichard is a particular ugly duckling. I will give it a good drink of diluted sequestered iron and hope for the best.
@Sammymummy It might be an ugly duckling now but it should emerge into a 🦢 in it’s own sweet time. I can see bud breaks further down it’s leggy stems, so finger’s crossed it picks up for you, bushes out and blooms more this summer.
@cooldoc I’ve had a few buds and shoots broken off but due to high winds. The birds here seem to ignore my roses, which is good, but the aphids on them too, unfortunately!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
I think @Omori has one and I wonder how it’s doing? I had only one puny flower last year and am hoping for more this year.
🙄
If weather-related you would likely see pale leaves and languishing roses in general, although some do seem rather more sensitive than others, plus young roses and those in pots are more vulnerable.
However, if it’s only FP looking a bit chlorotic (yellowing of the leaves) a common cause of this is an iron and/or magnesium deficiency - iron deficiency is is usually seen first in young growth, whereas magnesium deficiency is often seen in older leaves first and has a more pronounced two-tone effect. Sometimes when it’s all over the plant it’s difficult to say which or if it’s both. A small dose of powdered sequestered iron may help and certainly won’t do any harm - for one rose, maybe a quarter teaspoon in a 5L can, but do check the packet. Available in most GCs.
@cooldoc I’ve had a few buds and shoots broken off but due to high winds. The birds here seem to ignore my roses, which is good, but the aphids on them too, unfortunately!