Selection and Top-dressing Methods of Winter Fertilizer for Chinese Roses and Precautions
The editor today will explain the selection and top-dressing methods of winter fertilizer for Chinese roses and precautions concerning green plants and flowers. Next, the editor of the website will introduce to the netizens.
After experiencing several days of low temperatures, it feels like the cold winter is really here. Although the temperature will rise slightly in the following days, overall, it will not be too high. At this time, the winter pruning is slightly early, and we can first apply winter fertilizer to the Chinese roses, especially the ones planted in the ground. Now is a good time to apply winter fertilizer. The selection of fertilizers and the methods of top-dressing for Chinese roses are quite particular. If the fertilizers are chosen correctly, there will be more flowers in the spring, especially for large vines of Chinese roses.
Selection and Top-dressing Methods of Winter Fertilizer for Chinese Roses and Precautions
In winter, Chinese roses have entered or are about to enter the dormant period. At this time, long-acting fertilizers such as organic fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers, and magic fertilizers can be chosen for winter fertilization, while water-soluble fertilizers are not used. Different fertilizers will have different application scenarios.
1. Unfermented Raw Fertilizer
In winter, the temperature is low, and the fermentation speed of organic fertilizers is slow. Using raw fertilizers in winter is less likely to cause root burning, so for Chinese roses planted in the ground, unfermented raw fertilizers can be used appropriately for winter fertilization. However, different sources of organic fertilizers will have different effects on the growth and flowering of Chinese roses the following year.
For example, fruit peels, vegetable leaves, and soybean cakes are plant-derived organic fertilizers. They contain more nitrogen, and after using them in winter, Chinese roses will grow vigorously in the spring because of the high nitrogen content, resulting in more branches.
Unfermented manure like sheep manure and chicken manure relatively has a balanced content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, not too biased. Using them in winter will also make Chinese roses grow vigorously in the spring.
However, Chinese roses are flowering plants and prefer more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Therefore, if winter fertilizers contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium, they will be very beneficial for flowering in the spring. Organic fertilizers with higher phosphorus and potassium content mostly come from meat. It turns out that Chinese roses also enjoy meaty fertilizers.
Commonly used are fish intestines, which can be asked for from the fish vendor at the market. Some gardeners ask if they can directly bury whole fish. Of course, you can, but personally, it is recommended to chop them into small pieces before burial because the whole fish takes a long time to decompose. By the time spring flowering comes, it may not have fully fermented yet, and once the soil is dug up, the smell can be unforgettable.
Therefore, fish intestines and scales are more recommended because they decompose faster. After burying them in winter, they will be gone by the time you top-dress after the spring bloom.
Unfermented organic fertilizers have a higher fertilizer effect than fermented ones, but they also have their drawbacks that cannot be ignored.
First is the application scenario. Unfermented organic fertilizers, known as raw fertilizers, inevitably have an odor and can pose risks of burning the seedlings if close to the roots. Therefore, they cannot be used for potted plants and are only suitable for ground-planted Chinese roses. Can they be used in planting boxes? If the planting box is large enough and is also outdoors, it can be used.
Selection and Top-dressing Methods of Winter Fertilizer for Chinese Roses and Precautions
Secondly, during the fermentation process of raw fertilizers, it is inevitable to attract some insects. Therefore, it is recommended to mix insecticide granules when burying raw fertilizers and to rebury insecticides again when summer arrives to prevent borers.
Moreover, when using raw fertilizers, it is recommended to bury them at least 20 cm away from the main root and cover them tightly, especially smelly ones like fish intestines. If not covered tightly, you'll have to deal with cats and dogs digging everywhere. Smelly raw fertilizers should be covered with more soil and packed tightly.
2. Fermented Organic Fertilizer
No matter how good raw fertilizers are, they cannot be used for potted Chinese roses. For potted and planting box Chinese roses, Greenery Enthusiast Network suggests using fermented organic fertilizers, which are safer without fertilizer damage or odor and do not attract insects.
Fermented sheep manure and chicken manure have a relatively balanced content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To make Chinese roses bloom more in the spring, it is recommended to mix fermented sheep manure or chicken manure with bone meal fertilizer. Bone meal is a natural phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and burying bone meal in winter can help Chinese roses bloom more in the spring.
3. Slow-release Fertilizer
Greenery Enthusiast Network does not personally recommend using slow-release fertilizers for winter fertilization of Chinese roses unless your pot is very small and cannot hold enough organic fertilizers, in which case slow-release fertilizers can be used to increase fertility.
Organic fertilizers contain a lot of organic matter, which can adjust the soil environment, but their fertilizer strength is relatively weak compared to chemical fertilizers. Therefore, the amount of fermented organic fertilizers used will be larger. In small containers, slow-release fertilizers can be used together to increase fertility.
The methods introduced in this article about the selection and top-dressing methods of winter fertilizer for Chinese roses and precautions, and what fertilizers are good for winter fertilization of Chinese roses, are for reference only.