GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - newbie with roses: how long do blossoms last?

25-06-2006, 05:19 PM posted to rec.gardens

wrote:
Hello,

I have never been a gifted gardener. This is the first year we've
tried roses. It's a 'CL Golden Showers', in a 16-inch pot. We planted
a bareroot a couple of months ago.

A couple of days ago, it blossomed for the first time! But the blossom
died in about two days. Is that normal? If so, will we get a lot of
blooms each year? If it's not normal, how can we fix it?

Thank you!

Ted Shoemaker, certified Gray Thumb

Madison, Wisconsin, US

USDA zone 4/5
AHS heat zone 4/5
Sunset zone 43

Roses often do not bloom well their first year after planting. Blooms
should not be encouraged until after the roots have recovered for an
entire growing season.

Some roses have flowers that seem to last forever. I have seen flowers
on my 'Honor' last two weeks; this one is a great rose for cutting
bouquets. I generally see flowers on my 'Iceberg' last only 2-3 days;
as cut flowers, they last only a day. The difference is that 'Honor'
has bloom cycles through the year while 'Iceberg' always has flowers.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/