Every year, I want to make this a tradition for as long as I still grow roses and have this blog to reflect and share the lessons I've learned from rose gardening.
After almost 5 years into growing roses in this part of Houston, I have a few changes to apply moving forward.
Along the way, some perspectives have shifted after observing and experiencing how my roses grow over these past few years versus my early experience with them in the first 2-3 years.
There are 3 points I want to address based on my own experience. Keep in mind that they are strictly my opinions from what I've personally encountered, other people can certainly have completely different experiences.
In ground versus pots
Planting roses in the ground doesn't guarantee their survival rate to 100%. However, I plan to plant more in the ground because potted roses require so much more frequent watering and fertilizing.
Why? Because pots have holes, water and nutrients leak much faster that way and it requires you to replenish more often in order for them to thrive and bloom prolifically.
I used to be a big advocate when it came to growing roses in pots. After 4 years, it's really brutal in the summer months to hand water your roses if you have more than a handful of them. If you can install drip irrigation, it can be a life saver.
Let me break down the pros and cons of these 2 growing mediums as the permanent solutions.
Planting in pots
Pros:
1. No digging required, can benefit people with age/physical restrictions (I used to dig holes due to clay soil. Once I found an amazing shovel, that's a GAME CHANGER!)
2. You can move your roses around when there's not enough or too much sunlight.
Cons:
1) If you don't drill enough holes, you'll have poor drainage issues
2) Require more frequent watering during hot days
3) Require more frequent fertilizing because nutrients leak through holes
4) Cost more to buy potting soil and pots
5) Root growth is restricted by the size of the pots
Planting in the ground
Pros:
1) Water retention is better during summer, you don't have to water as often.
2) Root system has more room to grow which allows roses to grow to their full potential/size.
3) Nutrients remain longer in the soil.
4) No need to buy a lot of soil to use for amendment.
Cons:
1) If the hole size isn't large enough or you don't amend your soil in the area with heavy clay soil, you can have a poor drainage issue.
2) Digging can be a painful experience for those with back/knee challenges or simply don't like to dig holes.
An option that I find to be a happy medium is planting in the raised bed/big container, this option offers lovely flexibility that pots offer while allowing room for roots to grow/expand and not to be restricted by the bottom of the pots.
However, you'll still have to buy a lot of soil to fill up your raised beds which can be quite costly.
Why roses at the rose nurseries and rose farms look/bloom better
Most roses do need extra TLC in order to bloom/perform beautifully and prolifically. I often hear people compare the roses they grow at home to roses grown at nurseries or rose farms. Keep in mind that roses grown at the nurseries/rose farms get more time and attention.
Commercial rose growers fully dedicate their time and energy to monitor and care for their roses closely and daily, it's their jobs. Most of us have full-time jobs and don’t have the same amount of time to look/care for roses at the same level.
Also, factor in water. What type of water they use can also make a difference. Most home gardeners use tap water which has some harsh chemicals. Rain water is more ideal. Some rose growers have access to well water which can be more beneficial to soil biome and help roses to thrive/flourish better.
I noticed that the year when we had more rain, roses looked much better compared to the years with drought that required more watering.
Time plays a big factor
When I started growing roses during Covid in 2020, like most ppl, I worked from home. I had more time to tend to my roses.
The time for commuting can be used for watering, fertilizing, smelling, caring, removing die backs, etc. My roses looked absolutely amazing, prolific as I continuously gave them plenty of food and love. I fertilized almost every other week even during summer months in 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, things became more tiring when it came to watering during summer months. I didn't fertilize as often.
In 2024, life happens with multiple challenging and unexpected circumstances that lead to very little to zero time to care for them this year. I notice significant changes. While they still bloom, they certainly bloom more and better when they get enough food and care.
With all that said, does that mean I discourage people from growing roses if you don't have a lot of time?
Absolutely NOT.
Roses (and other plants) are such a huge joy to grow and admire in your garden. It's more about aligning and setting up realistic expectations about certain things in order to enjoy them fully and not be disappointed.
Be realistic about how many roses you can comfortably keep and care for with the time and lifestyle/family/job that you have.
It's soooooo easy to get carried away buying so many roses because they are ALL BEAUTIFUL.
Seeing photos and videos of gorgeous blooming roses really got me wanting more in my first 2 years, I kept buying and ended up with about 50 roses. Keep in mind that in order to get prolific and great looking blooms, roses need extra TLC, time, attention, fertilizer, water, and more maintenance.
It's a lot more doable to have 1-5 roses than having 40 or 50 to care for at one time. Although I know it's hard to just stop at 1 or 5 roses, adjust your expectations as you go along adding more roses, knowing that some will not be as prolific as others.
At some points, life will demand more of your time to be away from your garden.
You will not have as much time to care for them which leaves them blooming less and not looking as healthy or they may die.
When things get so challenging in life, it may feel sad to not be able to go into your garden as much or don't feel like going there. Please don't feel guilty or bad.
I want to let you know that it's absolutely okay, be kind to yourself during the time you have to go through tough times. Do what's necessary for yourself and your loved ones first, your garden can wait or start over when you're ready again.
Let me share with you the roses that I lost in 2024 and the ones I recently added, plus what I may add in 2025. Since ppl always ask about the ages of the dead ones and where they were planted (in the pots or ground), l list the info as well.
Dead or ready to remove:
Pink Peace in ground - 3 yrs dead
Cathedral Bells in ground - 2 yrs dead
Desdemona × 2 - 3 yrs in a raised bed + pot - dead
Eustacia Vye in a pot 2 yrs - dead+ Life of the Party in a pot 3 yrs - dead+ In the Mood in ground - dead+ Koko Loko in a pot - almost 4 yrs dead
William Morris (newly arrived but got eaten by a dog)
Hot Cocoa - bottomless pot 3 yrs (don't bloom well for me)
Polka - bottomless pot 3 yrs (don't bloom well for me)
New to me this fall 2024:
William Morris (my 2nd one as the 1st one and got eaten by the dog)
St. Cecilia
Abraham Darby (finally decided to try it after contemplating for 4 years due to its bad rep on blackspots)
Over the Moon
May add in 2025
Lady of Shallot (have to figure out where to plant)
Poseidon
Cinderella Fairy Tale OR Collette (both are climbers, not sure which one yet)
Possibly something from Antique Rose Emporium
True Inspiration
Koko Loko (replacement)
