Organic enigmas to rose cultivation

Points to consider:

The first step to successful rose growing begins with choosing an area in the garden where they are sure to thrive.Sunlight is very important for roses – select a spot that gets six to eight hours of sun a day and has good drainage.Adequate space is imperative. Roses need excellent air circulation to prevent disease and to ensure you have enough room to tend to them. Each rose bush should have a 3 foot diameter space to flourish.

Soil : Soil quality can make or break your rose garden. pH of your soil plays an important role in the quality of the roses you. The optimum pH for rose cultivation should be around 6.5.

Soil adjustments: - To acidify the soil, try adding an organic mulch – which is also quite beneficial for microbial life and improving the general quality of the soil.  Composition made with pine bark, pine needles or sawdust can be used. Recycling kitchen waste such as citrus peels or vegetable peels work wonders at lowering the pH. White vinegar adds acid to the soil. To make an acid boosting solution for roses, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar should be combined with 1 gallon of water. The vinegar solution should replace one regular watering every three months. To raise the pH, making the soil more alkaline, it’s often recommended to use lime to slowly raise levels over a few months. However, natural options like ground crab or oyster shells, crushed eggshells or hardwood ashes are also very effective.

Variety selection : Choose a hardy variety of rose that’s right for the garden condition. As rose bushes can vary greatly in size, it is needed to consider the space available in garden. If roses are to be grown on a trellis, variety selection should be from the climbers, ramblers and old garden rose categories.Variety selection should also be done considering their ability to resist various pests and pathogens.

Irrigation tips : After planting, make sure to water frequently, especially in the first few weeks.Soil type will dictate water volume also – roses growing in sandy soil need more water than those in clay.Wet the entire root zone. If the top two inches of soil are dry, give them extra water. Only wet the soil, not the leaves as this can lead to disease. At the time of picking make sure to wet them infrequently and always in the morning so they can dry out before night falls.

Nutrient application: Gardeners adore roses of all colors for their beauty, fragrance and romantic appeal. Roses thrive even when neglected, but an application of fertilizer helps plants grow healthy roots and colorful blossoms.Homemade fertilizers contain natural or organic ingredients, and they break down more slowly than chemical fertilizers.

Kelp and Molasses Fertilizer: Fertilizer containing molasses, kelp, powdered fish and apple cider vinegar supplies roses with a balanced dose of nutrients that promotes foliage and flower growth. To make the fertilizer, 3 cups of water should be combined with 2 tablespoons of molasses, 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of kelp extract and 2 tablespoons of powdered fish. In the summer, 1/2 gallon of the fertilizer should be applied in the evening after roses have been watered. A repeat application in six to eight weeks, near the end of summer, helps encourage blooming until fall or winter.

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Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds provide roses with small amounts of potassium, nitrogen and magnesium.A handful of dry coffee grounds should be sprinkled on the surface of the soil around the roses.

Egg Shells: Egg shells contain large amounts of calcium carbonate, an ingredient found in agricultural lime. They make an excellent addition to compost, and when crumbled into tiny pieces, they can be applied directly to the soil around roses.

Epsom Salts : Epsom salts consist of sulfate and magnesium, nutrients that roses need to carry out many essential functions. For example, magnesium assists in photosynthesis and sulfate aids nutrient uptake. A mixture of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts should replace a regular watering once per month.

Fish Tank Water: Fish tanks need regular cleaning, but instead of pouring the water down the drain, gardeners can use it to fertilize roses. Fish tank water contains a high amount of nitrogen. The fish tank water can replace a regular watering. Excessively dirty or moldy water should not be used.

Banana Peels : Banana peels contain a high amount of potassium.  To use them as rose fertilizer, gardeners can bury the banana peels 4 to 6 inches deep at the base of the plants.

Fig: Coco peat

Homemade Organic Rose Fertilizer

Recipe :  2 tablespoons Mermaid's fish fertilizer (powdered fish) ,1 teaspoon Maxicrop kelp extract (powdered seaweed) ,1 tablespoon Epsom salts,2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar  ,2 tablespoons molasses and 3 cups water.

Application

•       Combine in a quartsize, liquid measuring cup. Stir with a wire whisk to remove the lumps.

•       Pour into a 2gallon watering can, and fill the can with water. This mixture makes a good foliar feed.

•       It's best to apply it in the evening, since harsh afternoon sunlight might burn the leaves.

•       *Don't apply fertilizer to drought stressed roses. They should be well watered first.

•       Other rose food

•       Ingredients: one cup each of gypsum, alfalfa meal, greensand and half a cup of bone meal.

•       Mix the ingredients inside the bucket and your rose food is ready.

•       Make sure to wear a dust mask, while mixing them.

•       Rose food made as per this recipe will be sufficient for a large bush or three to four small ones.

Pruning tips  :   Roses are best pruned when out of bloom, which naturally improves plant health and keeps them nice and tidy looking. Remove any leaves that remain on the plant and cut off dead or diseased branches. A good way to tell if a branch is dead (aside from it being brown or black) is that the inside of the stem will be brown instead of green. Make sure to rake up any leaves and stems from under the plant to cut down on disease and pests.

Mulching : Mulching prevents moisture from escaping from the ground and keeps the roses hydrated. It also keeps the shrubs’ feet cool during the summer, stops weeds from growing, improves soil fertility over time and gives the rose bed a manicured appearance. Organic mulches  in rose cultivation include grass cuttings, pine needles, wood chips, shredded leaves, peanut hulls, or cocoa bean hulls.

Disease and pest management

Botrytis : This fungal disease attacks rose leaves and canes, and may also prevent blooms from opening. Organic control : Apply provide plenty of air circulation .Also, be sure to keep the area under the plant clean to prevent reoccurrence.

Powdery Mildew : To reduce the chances of powdery mildew, be sure to keep the ground under rose bushes clean and try to increase air circulation. Organic control- Water only in the morning hours to avoid moisture build up. To treat powdery mildew, try this home made remedy: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon oil and one quart of warm water. Mix and then apply by spray bottle.

 Black Spot : One of the most common plant diseases affecting roses, black spot can be difficult to control and may also increase the likelihood of winter injury. Organic Control - Remove and destroy any fallen debris or foliage and mulch often. Make sure your roses have proper air circulation and water from below, if at all possible.

Insects:

Mites: use neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Rose Bud Borers: spray insecticidal soap mixed with pyrethrin.

Rose Chafers: use a botanical insecticide.

Leafcutter Bees: prune out the injured tips several inches below the damaged area and seal the cut with grating compound or some sort of sealing putty.

Conclusion

Roses have always been a favorite among flower lovers. These plants are commonly grown in home gardens. Most of the rose varieties are easy to grow and if properly taken care of, they reward us with fragrant and colorful flowers used for decoration and many other purposes.Growing roses organically is more effective, less complicated, and safer for both us and the environment as it sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one individual and also protect the livelihood and well-being of future generations.