Jim,

First some disclaimers.

Roses do not like to be in containers.
Growing them in containers is a painstaking
careful process. As you have seen decline
can come quickly and recovery impossible.

That said I grow many roses in pots both indoors
and out doors. Here's my advice.

1. Replace soil immediately. While you got conflicting info
the soil is not good for your rose.
2. Roses don't seem to like the miracle grow mixes. They like
some actual soil they can sink their teeth into. A 1/2 peat
1/2 Hummus mix is perfect.
3. Never ever use chemical fertilizer in pots. If you absolutely must,
use the the time release pellet ortho stuff.
4. Get a bottle of fish emulsion and use @ half strength.
5. Keep the roots cool w/ insulation or shading. Rose
roots do not like to be warm. Their ideal tempreture
is 40-50F so keep that in mind. Keep as cool as possible.

--
Theo

in Kansas City Z5/Z6?



"Jim Lindholm" wrote in message
...
I have two new bare root rose bushes in large containers that are
pathetic looking... the leaves are small, the canes are small and
flowering on one (Sunbright) is about half its normal size. The other
bush (Mr Lincoln) has not even flowered and quite frankly, I don't think
it will. I'm at a loss...

let me give a little background. Last year in late February I planted
exactly the same rose bushes... a Mr Lincoln and a Sunbright. Since I
had taken a break from growing roses due to the drought in the late
1980's, I removed all soil from the containers and started afresh, using
Miracle-Gro Enhanced Planting Mix. After setting the bushes, I watered
with Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food. Man did I have great looking roses.
The flowering was huge. New canes grew large and tall. I was really
pleased.

At the beginning of each month I would feed each plant with the
recommended amount of Ortho Rose Pride, then in August I noticed that
the rose bushes were not doing well. At the same time... about June I
was hit hard with powdery mildew. Because of birds just inside my patio,
I treated with neem oil and thought the decline of my roses was an
effect of the powdery mildew. Bottom line is that even tho I was
following directions on the label, I over-fertilized and was killing the
roses.

I talked to Ortho and right away they said I should not use Rose Pride
in containers. I asked them why that was not identified on the label.
They had no response, but did offer to replace my roses.

So... this year I started over with identical rose bushes. Before
planting the bare roots, I asked a couple of rose folks at the nurseries
whether I needed to replace the soil because of over-fertilizing last
year. They each said "no" because it would have dissipated with
watering... and rains during the winter season, so in February I planted
the new rose bushes.

The Sunbright seemed to take well, but the Mr Lincoln soon lost one of
the four canes present when planting. Each of the other canes have
turned dark above the top shoot... I have to call them shoots because
some of them are barely an eighth of an inch in diameter... about the
size that appears near the end of the year. No new canes from the bud
union have appeared whereas last year both plants had a number of new
canes by this time... and plenty of flowers.

As stated above, I'm at a loss.

Thank you, in advance for any comments/suggestions you may have... Jim