Florcom: Garden Roses - Growing Roses

The rose flower and leaf (terms)

The flower consists of petals and sepals

A mature leaf consists of 5 pinnae

Soft pinching:

Soft pinching of the first growth following winter pruning will help to create a stagger and to increase the production of flowers.

The stem is pinched (break the stem out with the thumb and forefinger) at the point when the bud is about grain size. Three to 5 mature leaves are left on the stem. The stem must be soft enough to break out with thumb and forefinger. A clean pinch, which leaves no stalk behind, is preferred.

This method will increase yields (two buds may break instead of a single bud response) and the growth will be staggered. The expected flowering period of the pinched stem will be delayed by 2 to 3 weeks. Stem length may however decrease.

By doing selective pinching the timing for flower periods has now been established for the rest of the year. One method is the pinching of about 20% of the shoots from each plant in one week and another 20% the next week, leaving the balance of 60% to go straight into bloom.
Delayed harvesting of the first flush:

Harvest only two thirds of the flowers on the first flush. Remove one third of the flowers (break out just below the flower), wait three weeks and cut above the lowest 3-pinnae leaf.

Use the following procedures step by step:

Broadcast 5cm good quality compost on the soil surface.
Broadcast granular fertilizers. Click here for more information regarding feeding of roses.
Incorporate the compost and fertilisers with the 30 cm topsoil.
Wet the soil.
Dig a hole of 40cm x 40 cm.
Plant with the least possible disturbance of the roots.
Fill the hole with the dug out mix of moist top soil, compost and fertilizers.
Water.
Cover the soil surface with a mulch.

When to prune: Prune during the end of winter when you do not expect severe cold conditions. Do not prune when the soil is wet. Prune while eyes are dormant and before they start to develop.
Dead wood: Remove all the old dead wood.
Where to prune: Cut all the stems back to the lowest green, healthy wood. Prune above an eye and leave 3 to 4 eyes on the stem.
Allow light to enter the plant: Remove some of the stems growing to the inside of the bush in order to allow sunlight to enter the bush.
Compost: Spread compost over the beds (100 to 200 grams of good quality compost per square meter).
Lime: Broadcast dolomitic lime on the surface of the soil if the soil is too acid.
Lime sulphur: Spray the plants and soil with lime sulphur. Do not spray lime sulphur on plants with active growing eyes or foliage - it will burn the eyes and leaves. Lime sulphur will control fungi spores on the plants and in the ground. Remember that lime sulphur should be fresh – old stock is not effective.
Watering: Give a small amount of water immediately after pruning. Remove the water stress but be careful not to give too much water – too much water during this dormant growth phase will cause root rot. Irrigate at least weekly from now on and increase the amount of water with rising temperatures.

Sterilize vase by washing with a disinfectant such as bleech.
Fill the clean vase with lukewarm water and add flower food.
Cut approximately 3cm from the base of each stem at an angle using a sharp instrument.
Clean and sterilize your equipment (scissors etc) on a regular base.
Remove all leaves that come into contact with the water in the vase.
Do not place the flowers in draughts, or near any source of heat, and do not place near ripening fruit.

Take 2 litres of clean water and add: