However, not every rose does well growing in a pot. Some of the roses that work in pots are: All that Jazz, Bonica, Green Rose, Peace, Perfume Delight,and Valentine. Your local garden store may be able to suggest others that will work well in your area. But you can try any sort that you would like, even climbers, and may be surprised at the results after learning how to plant potted roses.

How Plant Potted Roses

It is pretty simple to plant potted roses, as long as you are careful to do your planting in the Spring, after the threat of frost has been gone for awhile. Holding off until July and August are past is best if you live in a place where it is warm most of the time, since the heat could be too much for the roses to withstand.

• Make sure that when it is time to plant, you have a container that is the correct size, and has holes to allow water to drain out. Be sure to pick a container that will let your rose grow.
• Get you some soil from the garden, that also has a assortment of organic fertilizer or compost with it.
• Prepare a hole that is bigger than the rootball, shake of the excess dirt, then plant the rose.
• Dig a shallow moat or trench around the base of the rose that will hold water well.

There are diseases that both potted and garden roses can get very easily, and all roses have to be fed, watered, pruned and cared for no matter where they are planted. Although some people may think that a potted rose is easier to manage than a regular garden rose, it isn’t. Potted roses save space but still require maintenance. If you decide to treat your roses like any other potted plant, you will probably lose them.

The question about whether potted plants can be grown indoors is asked constantly. They can, but it is rather tricky, since roses need lots of direct sunlight as well as very high humidity. Since most homes are air conditioned, high humidity isn’t as much of a problem. If you do not have air conditioning, and live in an region of high humidity, your roses will still need lots of sunshine.

Miniature roses may be the best choice for indoor pots. All miniature roses have been bred to grow into smaller plants with little flowers. They are extremely pretty and thrive in pots.

If you are up to the challenge of learning how to plant potted roses, give it a go. For all you know, it may be more suitable for you than a typical rose garden.

Updated 9/16/09

Old garden adage: Plan your rose garden in Winter and plant it in Spring.

Check with your local gardening center or florist for the best type of roses to grow in your climate. If you are a novice, you should look for disease resistant types of roses because they require a lot less maintenance.

Tips for planting your roses.

1. Sunny: Pick a spot that is sunny in the morning. The area that is well lit for at least six hours a day. Roses need a lot of light if they are to grow properly.

2. Airy: Plant your roses in an area that has good air circulation. Roses will not flourish in an enclosed or tightly constricted area.
3. Well-drained: Pick an area that has plenty of well drained soil. Great soil has a PH level where the amount of acid in the soil is at about 5.5-7.0. Get a testing kit for your soil at any garden center.
4. Nourish the roots: Organic matter like manure or lime helps to nourish the roots of your roses. Soak the roots in water or puddle clay for many minutes, and cut off any root ends that are broken.
5. Spacing plants: Dig a hole that is twice the amount of space that your roses take up. It makes it easier to plant them and creates a spaced area for them to grow with freedom. Poor circulation can cause fungal diseases.

   

   Using a larger hole also makes it easier to pull them up later if you want to pot them.

After planting, tend your roses carefully.

• The first 3-4 weeks after planting, water them often. Usually this is when the top 2 inches of soil is dry. Roses need a lot of hydration and food to remain healthy.

• Four weeks after planting, start soaking the bed every 2 weeks or so. Do this in the morning for the best results.
• Begin fertilization about 3 months after planting. Use 3-6 inches of mulch to control the moisture, temperature, and to stop weeds from coming up. Mulch also helps to lock in the vital nutrients roses need to remain healthy.

• Plant potted roses in the spring, when you are absolutely sure that there is no chance of  frost. But if you live in a warmer climate like Florida or California, plant in the early autumn, once the weather has cooled off a bit.
• Choose roses that do not have any flowers on them because you are simply trying to establish your roses. You are not trying to make your roses flower just yet. If you have to, trim the flowers off them before you plant them.
• Choose the right environment for your potted roses. Plant them in an area of the garden that enjoys a lot of light in the morning, (at least 6 hours worth) because early morning light helps to dry the dew off the flowers, which helps prevent fungal diseases.
• If you want the transition of your potted roses to your garden to go smoothly, you will need to prepare your soil carefully. The soil should be well drained for the health of your roses.
• Once the soil is prepared, work several spadefuls of compost into the planting hole. The hole should be about two feet deep.
• Tap the rose from its original container and plant it. Position it so that the soil level of the rose matches the soil level of the surrounding soil.
• Lastly, dig a moat-like ring around the rose so that water can pool.

That’s all there is to planting potted roses. See that was not so difficult was it? As you probably noticed, it is a lot like planting your roses that were never potted, but with some slight differences. It can be a very rewarding thing, to plant your very own rose garden.

1. Each bush that you want to plant will need to have a foot of space all around it so that the flowers can get the proper amount of circulation. It also helps to prevent leaf diseases for your organic roses.
2. Purchase organic roses. Buy roses that have a sturdy green stem and no blemishes on them. Bare root roses are best for this.
3. Along with organic roses that have green stems, look for stems that have evenly spaced leaves that are close together.
4. Use well drained soil to promote the healthy growth that will give the organic roses all the water and nutrients that they need from the root to the flower’s head.
5. Fix the soil so that you can build organically. Use a raised bead if drainage is a constant problem. Ask your local garden center rep about how best to fix your soil to be organically correct.
6. Soak your bare root roses in a large container of compost tea for many hours before you plant them.
7. Build a mound of good organic soil that is mixed with an equal amount of compost in the middle so that you can spread the roots out and down from where they meet at the trunk.
8. Plant the organic roses at the point where the stem breaks into the root so that it is at soil level, or about 1 inch below the top level if you live in an area that is prone to hard winters.
9. Check your bare root roses first. If the roots grow out in a tight circle, cut a straight slice down each of its four sides. A knife is good for this. Then dig a hole that is 2 inches deeper than the container and at least twice as wide.
10. Mix organic soil garden soil with an equal amount of compost and use your hands to gently spread the roots into the soil mix.
11. Use mulch to prevent your organic roses from being exposed to weeds, and water stress complications. It will also help your roses continue to be low maintenance.
12. Feed your roses organically also. Fertilize with organic fertilizer and maintain a regular watering schedule.
13. Water your organic roses deep at the planting, and then once every week after that during growing season so that you can promote deep roots. Watering in the early morning is best.
14. Cultivate the top inch of soil around each of your organic roses and fertilize on a monthly basis with a balanced organic fertilizer. Use a good granular type of fertilizer that you can work into the soil , or use a fish emulsion or seaweed based product that you can mix with water. Check the ingredients listed on the labels to make sure that they have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium.
15. Protect against the various types of pests and insects that can plague your organic roses by putting sticky yellow bars every ten feet to catch them.
16. Use an organic pesticide if the problem is bad.
17. If the pest problem is severe enough, use insecticidal soap to spray over your roses.

Now you know what you need to grow your own bed of earth friendly organic roses. Your flowers will be just as beautiful as those that are not grown organically, and will likely have the healthiest life span that a rose can get.

Organic roses have some of the best color and ‘immune systems’ that a rose can have. Their fragrance can’t be equaled. Of course, it still helps to know how to prevent your roses from being taken over by diseases. The next section will help you with that.