Roses in containers
Evening all!
I attended a pruning workshop earlier today at David Austin Roses and I got to ask lots of questions but annoying I forgot to about about fertilizing roses in pots!
I have read that fertilising container rose s is completely different from ones in the ground and that you shouldn't use the pelleted stuff as it washes out quick due to the amount of watering they need in pots. So apparently liquid feeding is better.
Can anyone tell which type is best and how often should I be feeding them throughout the growing season? Is organic better than the synthetic stuff?
thanks guys 
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I just stick to tomato feed for mine but don't feed after June otherwise you'll promote soft growth which won't withstand the winter. I do also try the granular rose feed/FB&B and try to dig it further down, it depends how much compost/mulch you have on top of the root ball. I wouldn't go mad, roses don't like it. Also deeper the pot the better. Is yours a 'patio' variety?
Last edited: 14 January 2017 21:32:15
No I have a few of the David Austin repeat flowering shrub roses in pots.
Will the tomato feed contain all the micronutrients they need?
I use Miracle Gro all purpose with the NPK of, I think, 6-3-6, I haven't got any left at the moment. I don't stick to a regime, so as and when I think they need it during the growing season. I feed well after June, into September. The time to worry about damaging soft growth on roses is in Spring, March-May, when winter can so often return with a vengeance, not November. Who cares at that time? it'll be pruned off in any case...
I have found that tomato fert. on its own does not contain enough nitrogen, and as this leeches from the pots rather quickly, roses can get chlorosis, so I only use that one as an occasional top up.
I do also use some of the usual rose fertilizer in Spring, as you do with those in the ground. It depends on the size of the pot as to how much, but I use large pots.
^that should be ''leaches'' not leeches... sorry.. we don't want any of those..
I also attended a David Austin workshop some years ago Craig & I agree that it was very well worth it, if my memory serves correct they also gave the advice to avoiding feed after June/July.. In addition, any rose in a pot is going to be happier in the ground, unless of course you haven't got the ideal condition to plant it in. A (rose granular in my case) feed late March/Early April and June is all that is really required, on top of replacing compost and mulching. Often people 'over fertilise' which promotes weakness and is very much counter intuitive, potentially making the rose more susceptible to fungus and disease. They are hardy and should do just fine ensuring that they don't dry out just like any potted plant.
Last edited: 15 January 2017 13:15:51