A ROS(E)Y approach

Amarjeet  Batth

The perennial appeal of rose plant as well as the huge variety of colours and sizes make it the most coveted plant for garden lovers. But it is not uncommon to see the “grafted” plants picked up from nurseries not flowering properly. Is it because of some “trick” by the sellers or lack of proper care at home? This is the question that home gardenening enthusiasts jostle with often. This week we take a look at the proper care of rose plants picked up from nurseries. 

• Roses can be planted from September onwards till January. Plant these in a sunny spot with ample sunlight of at least six hours of direct sunlight away from shade of buildings and trees.
•  Roses are prone to water logging hence ensure proper drainage.
•  Planting distance varies with variety but in general while planting in a flower bed, maintain plant-to-plant distance of about two feet. 
•  During rainy season dig a pit two feet wide and two feet deep and fill with FYM (4-6 kg) along with bone meal and superphosphate to ensure strong root growth and let it settle.
•  While planting new plants prepare a hole in proportion to the size of the earth ball keeping the bud union above ground.
•  Deep irrigation once a week in summers and 8-10 days in winters encourages deeper roots and is preferred to light irrigation.
•  Regular hoeing is beneficial as it improves soil aeration and eliminates weeds. Also carefully remove suckers from the point of origin and not at ground level as soon they appear, they are distinguishable from the scion. Later in summers, as the day temperature soars mulching can be done to conserve moisture and lower soil temperature.
• Roses are gross feeder’s therefore basal application of 2 / 4 kg FYM along with 20 grams each of urea and Murate of Potash per bush to be incorporated in the FYM and put around the base of plants after hard pruning.
•  Further for healthy growth and flowering, plants need to be fertilised regularly at one a month with low dose of NPK 20:20:20 @ 2 grams per liter of water.
•  Aphids and Thrips are serious pests damaging both the foliage and flowers which can be controlled by spraying ‘Chlorpyrifos’ 20 ec @ 2 ml per liter. ‘Bavistin’ @ 2 ml per liter of water controls the fungal attack of ‘Black Spot’ and ‘Milddew’.

PROPER PRUNING

Roses, most admired for their intense colour, form and quality, flower during winter months. Therefore, annual hard pruning is done during September-October. During hard pruning, first of all remove dead, diseased canes with bad unions followed by broken or wounded canes. Weak canes which are thinner than pencil, canes growing in the centre and which crisscross should also be cut leaving only 4-5 stems.
Pruning should be done with sharp pruning shear at 45 degree angle at least quarter inch above the bud to avoid any damage to the bud leaving at least two set of leaves to maintain plant vigor. 
Hybrid roses keep on flowering year round even during summer months but with reduced flower size they need continuous light pruning.
In these emerging shoots from any axillary bud on the stem terminate into flowering.
Depending on the prevailing temperature conditions in this region, it would take 45 to 65 days for the new emerging shoot to produce flowers.