What is the ideal soil for planting roses?
Today, we will introduce the ideal soil for planting roses and share some experience on rose cultivation and planting methods in green plant maintenance. Next, let me tell you more about it.
Roses have a long blooming period, rich and bright colors, and strong adaptability to the environment, making them deeply loved by people. In addition to garden planting, roses are now mainly cultivated in pots in urban families. Some friends have difficulty growing roses because they do not understand how to prepare the soil. Learning to prepare the soil is half the battle won in rose cultivation. My hometown is known for roses, and there are many experts in rose cultivation around me. I consulted a 70-year-old experienced gardener about the soil preparation for potted roses.
The experienced gardener first introduced several types of soil and substrates for rose cultivation.
First type: Loam. Depending on the soil texture, it can be divided into sandy soil, loam, and clay. Loam is between sandy soil and clay, combining the advantages of both, with enough sand particles for ventilation and water permeability, and enough clay content to retain water and nutrients. Generally speaking, the surface layer of cultivated farmland and vegetable gardens, which we have farmed for many years, is mostly loam, with relatively high fertility and good granular structure, making it the main ingredient for preparing rose soil, and it is also easy to obtain. Of course, soil conditions vary from place to place. In some areas, the surface layer may have more sand, and some compost can be added before use. In other areas, the surface layer may be stickier, and some river sand can be added to improve it.
Second type: Pond mud. Pond mud is made by drying the silt in ponds, with high nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content, a relatively hard texture, and good drought and flood resistance, making it a traditional potting substrate for roses. Pond mud is also relatively easy to obtain, as it can be collected when reservoirs or ponds are dredged. Although pond mud can be used directly for potting, it should be prevented from burning the roots. In practice, it is often mixed with other substrates for better results.
Third type: Decomposed leaf soil. This is made by stacking various tree leaves to a thickness of 30-40 cm, then treading them down, watering, and evenly spreading human waste, farmyard manure, cake fertilizer, or chemical fertilizers on top, followed by a layer of soil. Several layers are stacked in this way, and after about a year of microbial decomposition and fermentation, it naturally turns into powdery decomposed leaf soil when exposed to light. Decomposed leaf soil is light and loose, rich in nutrients, has good ventilation, and strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, making it the most practical and ideal substrate for rose cultivation. Those who grow many roses can gather materials locally to make decomposed leaf soil, while those who grow fewer roses do not need to make it themselves and can directly dig for decomposed leaf soil that has been weathered for many years in the mountains and forests.
Fourth type: Sawdust. Sawdust is easily obtained from woodworking factories and is inexpensive. It can be stacked and fermented like decomposed leaf soil to form a nutrient-rich substrate. Because sawdust is lightweight, it is best mixed with other substrates.
Fifth type: Peat soil. Peat soil is a product of the formation of swamps, formed by the carbonization and deposition of腐烂 aquatic plants such as reeds and algae. This type of soil is soft, permeable, well-ventilated, and has good water and nutrient retention properties. The first four substrates can be obtained for free, but peat soil cannot. Peat soil is mainly distributed in the Northeast and Northwest regions of China and the Siberian region of Russia, and can be purchased online if needed.
What is the ideal soil for planting roses?
Sixth type: Perlite. Perlite is an acidic igneous rock formed by the rapid cooling of volcanic eruptions. Perlite is lightweight, filled with air, has a pH of 7.5, and is used as potting soil mainly to increase permeability, improve soil structure, and reduce the possibility of compaction. This material also needs to be purchased.
The experienced gardener listed 8 mixing methods for reference:
Loam: Decomposed leaf soil = 6:4
Loam: Sawdust = 7:3
Loam: Sawdust: Perlite = 5:2.5:2.5
Loam: Peat soil = 7:3
Pond mud: Peat soil = 7:3
Pond mud: Sawdust = 7:3
Pond mud: Decomposed leaf soil = 6:4
Pond mud: Sawdust: Perlite = 5:2.5:2.5
The last point to note is:
For the substrate of potted roses, it is best to sterilize and disinfect before use. The most common and simplest method is to spread it thinly in the sun for a few days to kill most germs and eggs. Additionally, chemical disinfection methods can be used, such as using formaldehyde or potassium permanganate for sterilization.
The above is the complete introduction of the ideal soil for rose cultivation and the understanding of rose cultivation and planting methods by Green Plant Enthusiast website, for everyone to learn and understand!