Potting Soil for Roses

Roses are very well-suited for container culture.

Roses are not just beautiful, they are also versatile and can be easily grown in containers. One of the keys to successful container rose gardening is a good potting soil.

Benefits

Potted roses can be placed in any sunny spot in the home landscape, beautifying patios, porches and bare spots throughout the garden at a moment's notice. It is also easy to monitor soil quality, making modification convenient.

Potting Mix

The potting mix should be rich, but still light and well-draining. An ideal rose mix is one-third light potting soil, one-third garden compost and one-third well-rotted cow manure.

Additives

One cup of bonemeal can be added at planting to boost root growth. Once the rose is established in its pot, it will need fertilization with a commercial rose fertilizer.

Tips

Water and nutrients drain out of potting mixes quickly, so potted roses will need more watering and fertilizing than garden-grown roses. Watering at soil level and keeping the leaves dry helps discourage soil and airborne diseases.

References

• Rose Magazine: Growing Roses in Containers