Tomato Starters, Tea Tree and Roses GardenChat Live

Sometimes the most memorable surprises are found in the most unusual places. In today’s post, I share growing a My Boutique Container Rose. My Bouquet Rose The solid yellow bloom of this My Boutique Rose is one of those surprises like many of the other barefoot roses I found this summer stuffed in plastic bags and merchandised in crates on shelves sometimes not even in a garden center. I find the best roses in the most unusual places at garden centers locally. In early spring  2013, I found a basket of root roses for sale at the grocery store. Wrapped in a unique patterned plastic bag and the $4 price tag caught my eye.   The package read ‘ Elegant Blooms. Patio to vase’ – how cool is that?! My Bouquet happens to be from Ball Horticulture. This variety is a cross between a miniature rose and a hybrid tea form.  The bloom pedals are a thick velvet to touch – unlike any other, I’ve ever grown in my garden.   I loved having this compact rose shrub growing on my pond deck and being able to cut a bouquet to take indoors.  The roses seemed to last a week or two longer than my other roses. I want to note that most roses labeled ‘container or miniature’ rose will perform the same way as My Bouquet Rose variety. Planting My Bouquet in a Container The most important thing to remember when planting a rose in a container is that you allow good drainage.  Roots of the roses do not like to get too wet nor do they like to be too dry.  Be sure to pick a container with drainage holes.  Keep in mind if you plan on keeping the rose container outdoors for the winter because you will need to use a freezer-safe material.  Check the container description to be sure the material can withstand the cold in your area. Encouraging Blooms The bloom was unlike any other: as a heavy velvet fabric so you will want to encourage new blooms to enjoy. My Bouquet rose bloom last much longer then the roses I would cut and bring indoors to enjoy during the summer months. On the plant, the bloom would turn brown along the edges as it wilted – hardly showing any signs of it fading weeks after opening. This rose is a must in any container or landscape labeled as a winter hardy able to survive 20*- F. The rose loves to be fed an organic fertilizer to keep the blooms coming.  I recommend watering the rose as needed and feeding once a week to encourage new buds to form. Wintering Over The Container Rose My first container rose varieties were left outside for the winter in hardiness zone 5b.  As of 2018, I have 8 different container roses I grow year-round in my geodesic biodome.  Most roses can withstand freezing temperatures of -10 F for a short time during the winter months if they are my geodesic biodome. Let’s Connect Curious about growing roses in containers or maybe just want to say hello?  In conclusion to reading this article you are welcome to contact me on my website to share more.  I am also eager to connect with you on social media so be sure to click the links provided tagging @brenhaas . Happy Rose Growing,