How to Grow Container Roses

People with limited space for gardening can grow beautiful roses in containers with ease.

Many gardeners dream of having a thriving and beautiful rose garden. Unfortunately, they may live in a location that does not offer them the opportunity to have any kind of garden, such as in condominiums, duplexes or apartment buildings. Gardeners can productively grow many types of roses in containers. An important step to remember when planting roses in containers is to give the plant plenty of room for the roots to grow. As long as the rose plant is provided with well-draining and fertile soil, plenty of sunlight and water, anyone can grow a thriving rose garden in containers.

Things You'll Need

• Light-colored container
• Perlite
• Bagged compost
• Potting soil
• Large bucket
• Superphosphate
• Watering can
• Fish emulsion fertilizer
• Sharp pruning shears

Instructions

1. Select a light-colored container at least two times bigger than the width and height of the rose plant you wish to grow. The size of the container will greatly vary depending upon the predicted size of the rose plant when it is mature. Ensure the container has drainage holes located in the bottom, and place the container in an area that receives full sun.

2. Pour 1/3 perlite, 1/3 bagged compost and 1/2 potting soil into a large bucket. Mix these substances together with your hands. Add 1 tbsp. to 1/4 cup superphosphate to the mix, depending upon the size of the container used. Large containers will need more than smaller containers.

3. Fill the container 2/3 full with the mixed potting soil. Use your hands to create a mound, or hill of soil in the center of the container.

4. Remove the rose plant from its nursery container and sit the plant on top of the mound. Spread the roots out gently over the mound. Fill the container up with soil until it is level with the rose plant's bud union. The bud union on a rose plant is the area on the main stem where a bud or shoot attaches.

5. Water the soil lightly to settle the soil. Add more soil if the original soil level decreased below the bud union. Water the soil around the rose plant again until water is flowing out from under the container. Continue to water the soil around the rose plant every day or two, until water flows out the bottom.

6. Feed the container roses a diluted mixture of fish emulsion fertilizer at least once per week, according to the package directions.

7. Shelter the container roses indoors or in an area that does not have freezing temperatures during the winter.

8. Prune the rose plant when it is dormant, or according to the pruning directions for the plant, depending upon the type and variety of rose plant you have. Use sharp pruning shears when pruning rose plants.

Tips & Warnings

• For extra large containers, you may need to double or triple the soil mixture.

References

• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Growing Roses in Containers
• Rose Gardening Made Easy: Growing Roses in Containers