How to grow roses well on the balcony?
About these, do you know? The topic of growing roses and other plants on the balcony is about to be introduced comprehensively.
Many rose lovers inevitably face a problem, which is how to grow roses well on the balcony?
The space on the balcony is relatively small, and the conditions of light and ventilation are relatively limited, so if you want to grow roses on the balcony, it is recommended that you start from the following 9 aspects (this article is a bit long).
1. Choose the variety
For potted roses on the balcony, the first thing to consider is the selection of rose varieties. If the variety is not chosen well, you may find in the end that you have grown a pot of green plants or a pot of huge plants that have nowhere to put.
The first consideration when growing roses on the balcony is the size of the balcony space. If it is an open balcony, it is relatively spacious, and if you like climbing roses, you can also try to grow them to hang down. However, if it is a closed balcony with limited space, it is not recommended that you grow climbing roses. If you really like climbing roses, you should choose smaller varieties, such as Abraham Darby, Wickwarld, and other shorter varieties, so they don't grow too much and have nowhere to put.
Also, consider the impact of light. South-facing balconies do not need to worry about lighting issues. The light on east-facing balconies is too hard for roses, so it is not recommended to grow roses on east balconies. West-facing balconies can basically meet the lighting needs of roses, of course, it is recommended that you can consider shade-tolerant varieties.
The most suitable rose for potted plants on the balcony is the mini rose. Many people don't want to grow mini roses because they think the flowers are small, but there are also large flowers among mini roses, which we call large-flowered mini roses. For example: Neptune King, Venus King, Juice Balcony, Scarlet Fairy, etc., are large-flowered mini roses.
Mini roses refer to a type of rose variety with relatively short plant height, not small flowers. There are also very small flower varieties in shrub roses and climbing roses, so don't misunderstand that mini roses are small-flowered roses. Mini roses say, "Baby is very wronged."
In addition to mini roses, some flowering shrubs are also good choices, as long as you trim and control the plant shape frequently, they won't take up too much space. For example: Jing, Kui, Silver Anniversary, Monet, etc., are good flowering varieties.
2. Choose a good pot
The choice of pots for potted plants on the balcony is very important. Many flower friends often say when buying seedlings at home: "I don't need a pot, I have many pots at home, and they are big and deep."
Can you use a big and deep pot? First ask yourself where this pot came from and how it was emptied, and the answer will naturally come out.
Roses do not like deep pots. Most common plants cannot adapt to deep pots, especially on balconies, where ventilation is poor, the soil dry-wet cycle is slow, and large and deep pots are very likely to cause waterlogging, which is why you have so many empty pots.
If you have to use it, it is recommended to pad the bottom of the pot with thick ceramsite or foam stone fragments. For growing roses, you can use regular galvanized pots or short galvanized pots. Generally, the diameter of the pot is larger, and the depth is deeper, but the depth of the pot should not exceed 35cm.
As for the material of the pot, it is not particularly particular. Of course, materials with good breathability are better, but they are also more expensive, so choose according to your own situation. The most common is the plastic pot, and you can always make more ventilation holes.
3. Configure the potting soil
The potting soil for potted plants on the balcony is very important, especially for roses bought at the flower market, many of which are grown in soil. When repotting them at home, you need to soak the soil and replace it with loose and breathable soil, and of course, the seedlings also need to be pruned.
The potting soil for potted roses is best to be breathable soil, and it is recommended to use pine bark to mix, which is loose and breathable and does not easily suffocate the roots. You can mix pine bark, peat soil, and decomposed leaf soil in a ratio of 1:1:1 to plant, which is the simplest and most useful formula.
4. Reasonable watering and fertilizing
Experienced gardeners have many methods to judge whether a potted plant needs watering, but for beginners, it seems that even after learning seven or eight methods, they still can't judge. Is there such a thing?
Here's the simplest method for you: Before watering, dig into the surface soil of the pot and see if the soil 2cm deep is dry or obviously dry. If it is, water it. If not, don't water.
Some flower friends say: "Your method is useful, but every time I water, my hands are dirty." Actually, you can use a spoon to dig the soil, chopsticks, wooden sticks, or small shovels can all be used, why do you have to use your hands?
5. Moderate pruning
Pruning is very important for roses. Now it is early spring, and many buyers of seedlings will say, "Why are your seedlings so small? They are really too small! Other people's seedlings are 30cm tall, and yours are not even 10cm tall, I'm so disappointed."
But according to past experience, many people will run over after planting for a month or two and say, "Your seedlings grow really fast. They look small, but I didn't expect them to grow so much."
Yes, height does not mean good. Roses need to be pruned frequently. After flowering, they should be pruned, and after winter dormancy, they should be pruned again. This way, the height of the plant is basically the same every year. If not pruned, roses will grow taller and thinner, bloom less, and the flowers will become significantly smaller, with a large number of withered branches and blind branches. If it is grown on the ground, it doesn't matter, but for potted plants on the balcony, I think your first thought may be to throw them away!
However, pruning should also be moderate. Do not prune heavily during the growing season. Just cut back 1/3-1/2 of the flowering branches after each flowering. Don't cut them all off with a snip, or you'll have to blame me if you cut them to death.
But during the winter dormancy period, you can cut boldly. The more you cut, the stronger the new buds in the spring, and the easier it is to burst out strong suckers. This is why we prune rose seedlings heavily, and we prefer to let our friends say that our seedlings are small. Loving flowers also requires "planning for the long term," otherwise, the flowers may only be a momentary thing.
6. Enhance ventilation
The biggest problem with growing roses on the balcony is ventilation. It is best to keep the windows open all day, but even so, if the roses are placed on the ground, the ventilation is still not enough.
It is recommended to use a flower stand to place the pots higher, with the pot mouth level with the window, which relatively speaking, has better ventilation and can reduce many diseases and insect pests.
7. Prevent diseases and insect pests
Roses are relatively prone to diseases and pests. On the balcony, you cannot use pesticides frequently. You can spray diluted edible vinegar to disinfect and prevent diseases. Alcohol diluted and sprayed can prevent diseases and kill insects.
I must emphasize again that whether using vinegar or alcohol, you must dilute it before using it! Otherwise, if you burn the seedlings to death, don't blame me, I won't take the blame!
The dilution concentration, generally the treatment concentration is recommended to dilute to more than 200 times, and the preventive concentration can be diluted to more than 500 times. If you are worried about the concentration being too high, you can spray with water again after an hour to dilute the concentration.
8. Regularly turn the pot
Plants have phototropism, and due to the uneven direction of light on the balcony, potted plants are prone to grow biased. To make the potted plants grow evenly and fully, you need to turn the pot regularly to allow all sides of the rose potted plants to receive uniform light.
9. Overwintering management
The overwintering management of roses is relatively simple. In places where it is not very cold, with the lowest temperature above -10 degrees, they can be placed outdoors for natural overwintering. On the balcony, they can also be maintained normally. For high floors with strong wind, you can place the pots lower to avoid direct cold wind.
In areas with heating, it is best to place the roses in an unheated separate room or on the balcony during the winter, allowing them to receive light and maintaining an ambient temperature above -10 degrees. If it is too warm, roses may germinate early, but the winter light is weak, which can cause etiolation, so it is still recommended to let roses naturally hibernate in winter and prune heavily before spring germination.
Flower friends in the south should take good care of fertilization and water management and prevent diseases and pests in winter, and wait for the flowers to bloom. Tomorrow, I will continue to introduce rose varieties suitable for planting on the balcony.
The above experience on how to grow roses well on the balcony can bring you some help in life!