On Fri, 31 Jan 2003 12:37:58 -0500 (EST), "Shiva"
wrote:


I do the basic stuff for my roses--good rich soil, mulch that breaks down
and adds nutrients, a granular three-month food just at new growth plus
three applications of Mill's Magic Mix per year. (I may switch to Osmocote
instead of the generic granular "Rose Food" this year, Cass convinced me.)

Osmocote has worked for me.

Here is the question: can I have more and/or better blooms? My roses do
well, but when I look at photos of others it seems some of mine are scant
and some are small and some are scant and small. I know I can deadhead (I
do and cut losts for the table) amd pinch out side or central buds of gfs
and fbs, and I know some of bloom production is just "built in" to the
rose, genetically, filed under "vigor."

One thing that I think you should consider is the relative youth of
your plants. When you see other people's photos, you have no way of
knowing how established they are. Also, don't forget that different
environments/soils provide different factors that can affect bloom
size.

Is there a nutrient I can add that has proven for anyone to give more and
or bigger, better blooms?? I know Mill's Mix causes basal breaks--it is
joyously obvious--but what is sure to make MORE BETTER BLOOMS?! G

Maybe you can experiment with "bloom buster"-type fertilizers as an
adjunct. Maybe you could use half of the Osmocote and add some bloom
buster.

I think Bill Hillman said Fish Emulsion, and some of you use the high
phosphorus "bloom boosters," right?

Ooops, great minds think alike g.

I've had decent bloom production for the most part on my young plants
and I haven't had to use bloom busters (and I haven't yet used Mill's,
although I've used epsom salts, alfalfa meal, blood meal, fish
emulsion and Osmocote, as well as a little compost and lots of mulch).
Of course, I have unusually rich and fertile soil to begin with. The
one plant that doesn't bloom as profusely as I've seen in pictures,
Sombrueil, only gets sun for half the day. This makes me suspect that
your sun might be worth evaluating.