Rose Care: Special first blooms and addressing watering needs

Over time I’ve noticed my roses sometimes bloom on short stems, especially during the first bloom. According to nationally-recognized rose expert, Bob Martin of Escondido, it is common for first blooms to be short-stemmed.

Local rose expert Tommy Cairns said, “With the up and down trends in the temperatures from January through March, we have experienced several cycles of warmer temperatures followed by much cooler nights – in some areas in the lower 30 degrees. Certain varieties are highly reactive to this fluctuation and react by rapidly growing and then not growing at all. We tend to feed (weekly) with Jump Start (or SuperThrive) to counteract this effect. Some cultivars remain unaffected by this temperature change (e.g. ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ is a prime example).”

Summer is coming up and it may be wise to assess the efficiency of one’s irrigation system. Although some people in-the-know have stated an end to the drought, we need to continue to be water-wise and conserve our supply for, as we know, Mother Nature is fickle and we still import much of our water.

Since many regional water districts implemented tiered pricing, it’s time for those of us who love roses to adjust our practices so we can continue to enjoy (and afford) our beloved roses.

The question is, how much water do roses actually need? According to Bob Martin, a writer on http://www.LARoseSociety.com, water is the most important factor for growing exhibition roses.

The amount of water needed depends on weather, size of the plant, its variety, cycle of growth, and composition of the soil, explained Martin. He cited studies that show a rose bush will transpire (or evaporate) from 40 to 100 gallons of water over the course of a summer. When temperatures are between 70-80 degrees, a mature, full-sized hybrid tea bush requires five to ten gallons (approximately two to three inches) of water a week. As the temperature goes up, the rose’s water needs increase.

Using a drip system is encouraged and figuring how much water is delivered per hour is the first step.

Typically, drip emitters are color-coded, and in a rose garden, you’re likely to have pressure-compensating emitters that deliver a consistent amount, usually two, four, or eight liters per hour.

• Tally how many emitters there are of each capacity. Calculate the number of gallons delivered per hour.

• Check the irrigation controller and find hours you are running it per week.

• Use both those figures to calculate the number of gallons being delivered each week.

• Adjust the length of irrigation to the approximate amounts the experts recommend.

Applying a four to five inch layer of organic mulch helps conserve the water, distribute the moisture more evenly in the soil, and keep the root zone cool. This stimulates the growth of feeder roots and helps plants gather water more efficiently and consistently. Mulch encourages the production of earth worms and other soil organisms that make nutrients available to your plants and inhibits the growth of weeds.

Using an organic fertilizer also helps roses use water more efficiently. Two applications should be done each month; alternate between an organic granular product and a water soluble form.

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