Growing roses in containers - all about varieties, planting, care and wintering

A rose garden on the balcony is the dream of many flower lovers who do not have their own area for growing large and lush flower beds. Often this idea remains just a dream, since it can be difficult to implement, especially for inexperienced flower growers. But if you understand the intricacies of creating ideal conditions for these delicate flowers on the balcony, study the varieties suitable for such cultivation and the features of caring for them, there is a high probability that you will succeed! And we’ll talk further about how to understand all these issues.

Choosing a variety

Roses are among the most diverse plants on the planet. There are 14,000 varieties of roses, many of which can withstand both extreme cold and extreme heat. To ensure success, choose a rose variety adapted to your climate .

You must evaluate the space you have and decide whether you want to grow a small rose garden or just have a few rose bushes.

Miniature roses - favorites of balcony culture

Miniature roses are relatively easy to grow compared to other types, they are simply a mini version of large roses and are ideal balcony roses, equally good for rooftops and outdoor terraces. You can also grow them in hanging baskets and railing boxes.

Miniature climbing roses also grow beautifully on the balcony , which will perfectly decorate the vertical space. Miniature roses are characterized by small flowers of about 1-2 inches, in red, yellow, pink, white, peach, orange and many other shades of colors. The bushes typically grow no more than 18 inches tall.

Hybrid tea roses for balconies

If you like large, fragrant buds, choose hybrid tea roses . Single flowers on long, straight, vertical stems add a heady scent. Hybrid tea roses can be either tall or short. This is one of the most popular and beloved types of roses in the world, characterized by a wide palette of colors and shades and a variety of varieties.

Floribunda

These roses are characterized by bouquet blooms at the top of each stem . And although their buds are smaller in size than hybrid teas, this disadvantage is compensated by abundance and lush, continuous flowering.

But having bought a seedling and decided to bring it home, you need to carefully prepare , since the flower is quite finicky, and in order for it to please your eye for a long time, you simply need to know the intricacies of growing roses on the balcony.

Shrub roses

This variety feels better in the garden than on the balcony . But nevertheless, there are many compact varieties that will fit perfectly into the interior of your balcony and will bloom profusely, filling the room with their wonderful aroma.

Flower roses, tea roses and decorative ground cover roses, due to their unpretentiousness and undemanding nature, will delight with their flowering, aroma and abundance of buds, literally covering the balcony and even the walls with a carpet of petals.

The presence of an ADR certificate for a rose variety indicates its resistance to fungal diseases, high winter hardiness, duration and abundance of flowering (Allgemeine Deutschen Rosenneuheitenprüfung (ADR) - the general German test of new varieties of roses).

Note! The main rule: the smaller the leaves and simpler the flowers, the less moisture the plant evaporates, which means the less water it needs.

climbing roses

These are roses with long shoots, reaching 2-15 m in length , so they are not very suitable for growing on the balcony. For all the green mass that these roses grow, a very large tub and solid support are needed. To prevent the plant from being knocked over by the wind, the tub should be quite heavy.

These roses bloom on the shoots of previous years, so you should choose only winter-hardy varieties , but even then the shoots will need to be removed from their support for the winter and covered well. And if you install a support lattice on one of the walls, the stems with inflorescences will begin to stretch upward and to the sides, forming a “flower wall.”

Note! Any “dwarf” varieties of roses that have a quality certificate are perfect for placement on the balcony. It is important to take into account certain features of each variety in order to create suitable lighting, choose a good pot, etc.

How Aunt Rose from Odessa grew roses on her balcony: 8 success factors

Do you love roses as much as I love them? If at the sight of roses your heart begins to beat faster, if you catch even the lightest rose aroma, if you can name at least 5 varieties of this wonderful flower, my article today is for you. So, growing roses on the balcony, arranging a home rose garden and the secrets of experienced flower growers - and this is not all that I will tell you about.

Roses are a great way to decorate a balcony inside and outside

The best varieties for balcony growing

Different varieties of roses differ from each other not only in color, aroma and growth rate, but also in resistance to fungal diseases, heat tolerance and frost resistance. For balconies and terraces unprotected from the midday sun, in any case, varieties that are tolerant to heat should be selected. The more balanced the air temperature at the location of the potted rose, the less important it is which variety you choose.

The following varieties can be recommended for balcony growing::

1. The romantic tea rose “Nostalgie” delights thanks to its amazing color, shape and scent. Double flowers are two-color with a transition from creamy white to cherry red with a pleasant aroma, spherical in shape, 10 cm in diameter. The bush grows quickly and reaches up to 1.20 cm, and is resistant to heat, rain and frost.
2. Sonnenroeschen - the snow-white flowers of this miniature rose (up to 30 cm tall) resemble flowering branches of an apple tree. The first wave of flowering is extremely abundant and the second wave is weaker.
3. The legendary tea rose "Annapurna" with double flowers of bright white color with its rich aroma of honey, citrus and cloves will turn your balcony into a real paradise. Its straight, dense bush reaches 80 cm in height, blooms profusely and continuously.
4. The climbing rose "Rotfassade" blooms continuously from July to October with semi-double scarlet flowers about 6 cm in diameter. It has very high resistance to diseases. The bush is wide and branched. Can also be grown as a bush rose.
5. Apricot Meilove - patio rose 40-50 cm high, amber flowers with a delicate aroma. The compact growth form has become the main reason for its popularity in pot culture.
6. Floribunda rose "Innocencia" is very disease resistant. It blooms continuously since June with pure white, double flowers, collected in large clusters of 10-15 pieces, with a light aroma of jasmine. The foliage is dense and very shiny. The bush is branched, compact, up to 60 cm in diameter and 70-80 cm in height. ADR 2003.
7. The floribunda rose variety "Leona" blooms almost continuously from June to October with semi-double, soft pink flowers with magnificent golden stamens. The bush is straight, branched, maximum 70-80 cm high.
8. Rouge Meilove is a patio rose with nostalgic burgundy-red, heavily double flowers and erect shoots. This variety of roses has a compact growth form, 40-60 cm in height.
9. The hardy floribunda rose "Gateway" grows very quickly and blooms with clusters of medium-sized pink flowers with a wavy edge, almost odorless, 10 cm in diameter. In the sun, the flowers are pale pink and fade very quickly, so it is better to place it in partial shade. The foliage is shiny, dark green. Bush height: up to 1.20 cm. ADR.
10. Bambino is a miniature rose with a height of only 20-30 cm, ideal for very small balconies. Tolerates light frosts, while maintaining the fresh green color of the leaves.
11. The repeat-blooming bush rose "Rosika" has light pink flowers 10 cm in diameter and a wonderful aroma. The structure and shape of the flowers are similar to those of a hybrid tea rose. Bush height: up to 1.20 cm.
12. The magnificent bush rose “Heidetraum” is very resistant to disease and blooms profusely until late autumn. Double, cup-shaped flowers are deep pink, fade to pink or lilac-pink, collected in brushes of 10-20 pieces. Over time, it forms a beautiful bush with arched hanging shoots.
13. The very hardy shrub rose "Gartnerfreude" does not require a large pot; it is enough to plant it in a 32 cm high tub, but for no longer than one season. It blooms all season with red, small, heavily double flowers, collected in large clusters.
14. Loredo with dazzling yellow, semi-double flowers, 60-70 cm high, ground cover. Its slightly fragrant flowers retain their color even in very hot weather.

Interesting things on the site:

How to arrange a winter garden in an apartment

Flowers on the balcony: selection and planting

What can you grow on your balcony?

Popular balcony varieties

1. Orange Jewel (30-40 cm). A bush with orange flowers, which are characterized by a very delicate aroma.
2. Loredo (45-50 cm). The bright yellow semi-double flowers of these roses retain their color even at very high temperatures.
3. Mini Yellow (up to 50 cm). Cup-shaped bush with double golden flowers.
4. Bambino (20-30 cm). A mini rose with constantly fresh leaf color is perfect for a very small balcony.
5. Rouge Mailave (40-60 cm). Roses with dark burgundy double flowers.
6. Watertag (30-40 cm). A ball-shaped bush with red-orange flowers, characterized by continuous flowering.
7. Apricot Mylove (40-50 cm). Semi-double apricot-colored flowers with a faint delicate aroma.
8. Princess Schnees (up to 40 cm). A spherical bush with white flowers.
9. Maidy (up to 40 cm). Bush with beige and dark cherry flowers.
10. Perla de Mocedo (up to 40 cm). Purple flowers with continuous abundant bloom.
11. Nostalgia (up to 60 cm). A bush with cream and cherry double flowers, characterized by a pleasant aroma, as well as good tolerance of heat and cold.
12. Leona (up to 75 cm). Light pink semi-double flowers with almost continuous bloom.

READ MORE: How to remove wasps from the balcony

Choosing the right tub

A correctly selected container for growing roses on the balcony is half the success of this venture. The size, material and even color of the pot can affect certain features of flower development.

Basic rules for choosing containers for roses:

• the pot or cache-pot must be at least half a meter deep for tea and bush varieties;
• it is better to choose light shades of containers for balconies on the sunny side - the roots cannot overheat;
• Hinged boxes, wide flowerpots, tubs, flowerpots with legs are perfect for roses;
• it is better to give preference to those materials that will prevent pests and bacteria from infesting the plant’s root system (for example, this is a common problem with ordinary wooden tubs);
• heavy flowerpots will look beautiful, but can be dangerous in terms of the load on the balcony floors.

Note! Before planting a flower, even the best pot must be treated (at a minimum, scalded with boiling water) and filled with drainage (expanded clay is perfect).

Roses have a deep root system. Their long tap roots go deep into the soil and branch. Therefore, the rose tub should be taller rather than wider . The main thing is that the size of the container matches the size of the rose roots, because the plant should not suffer from cramping. In this regard, it is recommended to use tubs with a height of approximately 40 cm. You will say that a tall pot and the small plant you just bought in it look completely disproportionate. Don't worry - roses grow very quickly.

Within eight weeks after planting, everything will look harmonious. A rose planted in a large tub in the spring first needs a lot of effort to form roots , because the green mass does not grow as quickly as in small pots. But in the summer, when flowering begins, all disproportions disappear.

So, the larger the tub, the less often watering is required and the more comfortable the conditions for overwintering the plant will be . In addition, the size of the tub or pot must correspond to the maximum volume of the root ball of a particular rose variety. In this regard, for hybrid tea roses that reach a maximum of 1.20 cm in height, it is advisable to select containers with a depth of at least 40 cm. Shrub roses, which are usually taller than 1.20 cm, should be safely planted in 5 cm tubs deeper. And fast-growing climbing roses, after just six months, rest their powerful roots on the bottom of a tub 53 cm high and 45 cm in diameter.

When choosing a container, pay special attention to drainage holes ; good drainage is important for roses. If there are not enough of them, you need to make a few additional ones yourself. For drainage, you can use expanded clay, small crushed stone or pebbles, then lay out non-woven material and only then add loose soil for growing roses and tub plants. It would be good to add a little expanded clay or sand to the soil.

On a note! Don’t forget about the appearance of the containers; plants look more beautiful in decorated pots, even if they are not blooming yet.

A tall terracotta tub filled with earth is very heavy . There is a large selection of plastic tubs of the same sizes on sale. If the container will be exposed to sunlight all the time during the day, then you need to choose light or shiny tubs.

It is better to choose plastic tubs with double or thick walls . Without a doubt, it is better to opt for wooden or terracotta glazed pots. Do not use metal tubs under any circumstances, because they conduct heat and cold very well, so they must be thoroughly insulated from the inside.

Landing.

• Seedlings grafted onto rootstock and ordinary ones are suitable. although the former are distinguished by greater endurance and more luxuriant flowering.
• Planting boxes are wooden or plastic, ceramic, only in overall dimensions, especially for grafted plants.
• Holes are made at the bottom to allow water to escape. It should be noted that the roots become wet from moisture and the holes narrow. Therefore, in wooden containers, the diameter of the holes should be at least 3 cm. Expanded clay and broken bricks are good for drainage. The substrate is poured on top (turf soil - 1 part, sand - 4 parts).

Red roses in a pot.

Basic rules for growing roses on the balcony

If you have chosen a rose variety that suits your taste, were able to purchase a healthy seedling and brought it to your apartment, do not rush to plant it immediately in a large container.

First thing to do:

• leave the plant in the shade for a while, sprinkling it a little with water - this will allow the rose to “recover” from the stress of moving to a new place;
• a seedling with an open root system needs to be immersed in water for a couple of hours so that the roots are thoroughly saturated with moisture and better take root in the new soil;
• An excellent solution for quickly growing roses would be to use a root formation stimulator (for example, “Kornevin” or “Zircon”). It needs to be sprayed onto the still wet roots of the sprout.

After the preparatory manipulations, you can begin to transplant the rose to its permanent habitat. This must be done extremely carefully, trying not to damage the delicate roots and stems of the plant.

Important! The most suitable time of year for planting roses is spring (before early summer).

Procedure for planting roses on the balcony:

1. Prepare drainage. For containers with holes, 2-3 cm of expanded clay or pebbles is enough, without holes - up to 5 cm.
2. Prepare the soil. A universal option is a composition with an acidity of 5.6 to 6.5 points, consisting of a fertile substrate and sand for looseness.
3. Carefully place the “rested” and treated bush in a pot, covering it with soil. Tapping the pot, compact the soil a little, then pour it with settled water and leave it for a while in a room without direct sunlight or drafts. In this case, the plant should receive morning sunlight for at least a couple of hours a day.
4. As the plant grows and strengthens, you can begin feeding it (about a month after transplantation).

A rose can also be grown from a seed . But this process will require more time, patience and energy consumption. First, the seeds are soaked for two weeks at room temperature, then in winter they are sown in loose, oxygenated soil to another indoor plant or to a greenhouse.

It's also important to remember:

• correct location of the pot, it should only be on the south or southeast side of the house;
• the soil should be loose, fresh and nutritious;
• plenty of fresh air;
• abundant watering;
• transplant into a sufficiently spacious container or pot;
• feeding once a week;
• This plant does not like dry climates and direct sunlight;
• Do not water your home rose with cold water;
• faded buds, stems and leaves need to be trimmed in a timely manner;
• Make sure that the plant does not get sick or that small pests do not appear on it.

Important! After purchasing roses, they need to be delivered as soon as possible to be replanted in new, larger pots, as they are usually sold in very small containers.

If you purchased bare-root seedlings , submerge the roots in water for an hour or two, which will encourage them to absorb moisture and make them easier to establish. Then powder the wet roots with a root formation stimulator and place them in the prepared pot so as to go a little deeper than the bush grew before, but so that there is enough room for the roots. Fill the soil in small portions, lightly tapping the pot on the table.

Water the planted rose with settled water and place it for several days in a place protected from the sun and drafts, so that the plant receives only a few hours of morning sun. In the future, the plant should receive sufficiently bright light for at least 7 hours.

Roses in containers should be watered moderately deeply throughout the season because they do not tolerate drying out or overheating.

3 weeks after planting, roses need regular feeding . As mentioned earlier, the soil in which the rose will grow must be very nutritious. Remember that although the new pot should be spacious, it should not be too large, approximately a few centimeters wider and higher than the previous container.

Make sure that the plant does not dry out - feed the root system in time. Experts do not recommend fertilizing in cold weather.

Winter storage of bushes on the balcony

In order for roses to bloom for a long time, they need not only proper care, but also careful storage during the cold period. Many varieties of roses tolerate cold well, but preparing the plant for wintering on the balcony is a mandatory procedure.

Before wintering, the bushes are pruned, removing unripe shoots. Then they are well shed and insulated with felt or bubble wrap. The soil in the container should be moderately moist, since frost can dry out the soil. In winter, it is best to place a rose on the balcony in the shade against the wall. If the balcony is not glazed, during severe cold weather you should move the plant home.

Further care for the rose on the balcony

The main thing after transplanting a rose is to properly care for it, otherwise the flower may never acquire lush buds.

Caring for balcony roses includes the following steps::

• regular watering;
• ventilate the room every day
• providing good lighting;
• removal of faded buds and dried leaves, as well as dying shoots.

Moderate watering and fertilizing of plants

For abundant flowering, it is recommended to water roses once a week , and in hot and dry periods - two or even three times a week. The easiest way to determine whether it is time to water a plant is to plunge your finger into the soil to a depth of 4-6 cm. If your finger is dry, then it is time to water.

You need to water so that the soil is moistened not only on the surface, but also so that the water reaches the bottom of the tub. Do not water your home rose with cold water. When watering, make sure that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise it may cause fungal damage to the plant.

During the dormant period, the plant needs to be watered as the soil dries out . In this state, healthy roses can withstand cold temperatures down to -10°C. With the onset of spring, the soil is renewed, the bush is freed from winter “clothes”, and pest control is also carried out.

Rules for feeding roses:

• You need to start feeding about a month after planting the rose in a permanent pot, then repeat the procedure every 14 days until new shoots appear;
• an already mature plant is fertilized only during the period of growth and flowering, but during “wintering” it is better to let the flower rest;
• to improve the result, you can alternate mineral and organic fertilizers;
• Feeding roses in damp and cool areas is a bad idea.

Advice. For fertilizer, you can choose natural cow or horse manure, from ready-made mixtures - “Effect”, “Pokon” or “Kemira”, but be sure to check the properties of different fertilizers and the method of their use.

Choose a well-ventilated place

Roses need a sunny and well-ventilated place . Place plant pots close to the balcony railings. A permanently sunny and windless place is detrimental to roses. Spider mites and other flower pests instantly sense plants that are under stress and happily settle on them.

Illumination

Roses need plenty of sun, at least four hours a day , best placed on the south or southeast side of the house. On the balcony, the walls reflect the sun's rays, the floor heats up, and so do the tubs. This creates a hot climate, which causes the roses to weaken. Particular attention should be paid to roses blooming on a glazed southern balcony, where they are especially susceptible to overheating, so it is good to deepen the tubs into boxes with soil or place them in a tray with water.

Trim faded buds in a timely manner

This not only prevents the plant from wasting energy on producing seeds, but also promotes better re-blooming. Fading roses must be cut back to the first leaf. Moreover, it is better to cut before the flowers bloom completely, before the stamens appear, and begin to shed their petals. Dried stems and leaves should also be removed.

On a note! In winter, the rose sheds its buds and leaves and can look quite painful. There is no need to be afraid of this; on the contrary, this state helps the flower accumulate strength for spring flowering.

When cold weather sets in, you need to provide a warm “cocoon” for the tub of roses (made of plastic film, insulation, an old jacket, jute fabric or spruce branches).

Further care

When growing a purchased rose, you need to provide it with proper care, as this will ensure long-lasting flowering. This plant loves light at any time of the year, so it grows most comfortably on the south or east side. However, it is worth remembering that direct sunlight should not fall on the plant, so as not to burn the leaves.

In summer, when the sun is especially active, it is best to place the flower on a stand and lightly close the blinds or curtain. In autumn and winter, additional lighting will be required, so you need to use a table lamp or a special lamp for seedlings. The distance between it and the plant should not be less than 40 cm.

The rose will grow well only in the right conditions. This flower loves moisture, but does not tolerate heat at all. The humidity in the room should be 50-60%. Higher rates can provoke the formation of fungus, which can result in the death of the flower.

Note! In summer, it is recommended to spray the flower daily with water at room temperature, and if possible, you can plant the plant in open ground.

The optimal temperature for rose growth should be 16-22 °C, in winter - 8-15 °C, which is why you can take the plant to a glazed balcony. Growing a rose is not that difficult, but if the plant is not properly cared for, it can get sick and die.

This flower loves moisture

During the hot season, watering should be done daily. By autumn, the amount of watering is reduced. In winter, it is enough to water the rose 1-2 times every 10 days. By spring, the frequency of watering is gradually increased. Approximately 0.5 liters of water should be poured into the soil, and after 30 minutes the residue should be removed from the pan so that the liquid does not stagnate and infection and fungi do not multiply in it.

Pest and disease control

If you notice strange changes in the flowering of your balcony rose, an atypical bloom or even insects on the leaves, urgently look for the cause and eliminate it! And although there is practically nowhere for harmful insects to appear in the rose garden on balconies, you need to be vigilant in order to get rid of the problem in time.

Diseases and pests of roses:

1. Powdery mildew is the name given to spots on a plant that appear as small yellow dots and then become larger and darker. A solution of soda of about 40 g (2 tablespoons) per 1 liter will help against them. water. Treat every two weeks, making sure that the solution does not get into the soil.
2. Gray rot forms a grayish coating and brown rotten spots on the flower rosette. Fundazol or Bordeaux mixture will help against this disease.
3. Spider mites form a barely noticeable layer of web on the underside of rose leaves. To get rid of it, you need to prepare an onion solution (about 20 g of onion peel per 1 liter of water), treat all the leaves, and rinse them with clean water after a day.
4. Aphids - their manifestation can be easily identified by the white coating on the plant. An ordinary soap solution or karbofos will help get rid of aphids.

To prevent rose diseases , add onion infusion to the water before fertilizing. There is no need to use anti-pest products “just in case”, since this may weaken the flower to the manifestation of real parasites.

Storage in the refrigerator and on the balcony

If for some reason you cannot organize storage in the basement, do not give up growing roses. After all, in order to store them in winter, you can use a refrigerator or an ordinary balcony in a city apartment.

If your balcony or loggia is not insulated and the average temperature there is 0-5°C, you can store roses in the same way as in the basement. On an insulated balcony, the temperature in winter reaches 10-12°C. To prevent overheating, moisten roses once every 2 weeks with cool water and open windows more often. In this case, there is no need to fertilize.

Storing seedlings in the refrigerator.

Before you start storing roses in the refrigerator, make sure that it is set to the appropriate temperature. In addition, the humidity in the refrigerator compartment should be 90-95%. After making sure that your indicators correspond to the recommended ones, pack the prepared bushes in plastic bags. Do not tie them too tightly; allow the plant to breathe freely.

Place plants closely together on shelves. Once a month, open the bags and check the roses for moisture and mold. If necessary, spray the roots with a spray bottle and remove mold with a soft brush or cloth. If the roses begin to rot or show signs of infection, remove the bad plants immediately. In the future, monitor the storage conditions and condition of the flowers more carefully.

Wintering balcony roses

The main advantage of growing plants on a balcony is that it receives comparatively more heat than roses in a regular garden. However, you should do a few things to insulate your pots and plants and protect them from cold air.

Wintering on the balcony

Balcony wintering is possible if the temperature does not drop below -10○C . In winter, frost affects potted roses from all sides. Therefore, pots with plants must be placed on a wooden stand and insulated by wrapping them in bubble wrap, jute or coconut matting.

In principle, many varieties of roses tolerate frost well . Frosts without snow that last for several days in a row are dangerous for roses. The leaves evaporate water, which cannot penetrate to the roots. Therefore, it is recommended to cover rose shoots with non-woven fabric or spruce branches, and to water the plant thoroughly on non-frosty days. For the winter, you should move the rose to a shaded place near the wall.

In spring, do not rush to take off her warm winter outfit . Large temperature changes can destroy young shoots.

Wintering at home

During very cold winter temperatures, keep potted roses indoors.

In winter, the home rose does not bloom or grow, it keeps dropping its leaves and looks sickly . In early spring, it begins to come to life, like all plants, and produces new leaves and shoots. To prevent your home plant from getting sick and from infesting small pests, you need to treat it with special products that can be easily purchased at any flower shop.

In the spring or at the beginning of the growing season, replace the soil in the container, or at least its top layer, and fertilize the plant with compost or manure.

Knowing these subtleties and observing them, your decorative home rose will delight not only your eyes, but also the eyes of everyone around you, with its beautiful appearance and very bright and beautiful flowering.

Features of caring for container roses

Further care for the rose in the container is simple.
The main thing is regular watering, especially in dry and hot weather, because in a limited volume water evaporates much faster. For roses in a container, drying out the top layer by more than 5 cm can be disastrous. To reduce watering, you can add hydrogel to the soil when planting roses. When growing roses in containers, not only moisture, but also nutrients are consumed faster. Therefore, feeding should be regular and in sufficient quantities. In the spring, a complete complex fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen is applied (according to the instructions), before flowering the fertilizing is repeated, in the summer it is advisable to apply potassium humate every 2 weeks, and in the early autumn - phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

You can also use herbal infusion to feed container roses.

Pruning of container roses is carried out in the same way as ground roses.

How to properly prune roses in the garden? We reveal the secrets of proper pruning of different types of roses.

Preventive treatment against diseases and pests is also standard. But if a rose in a container gets sick, it should be isolated from its neighbors and treated with an appropriate preparation without disturbing the other plants - another plus of a container garden.

Photo identification of diseases and pests of roses with descriptions, treatment and control measures The Queen of Flowers is demanding and capricious, as befits a plant of her rank. How to determine what is saddening your rose and help it?

Every 2-3 years, container roses should be replanted into a new container of larger capacity, and annually the top layer of soil should be replaced with fresh one. When replanting, you need to carefully examine the roots and, if necessary, trim them.

General recommendations

Despite the fact that the balcony is a room adjacent to the apartment, the conditions on it are more similar to those on the street. This means that it is difficult for plant varieties that are sensitive to temperature changes and various weather conditions to survive in such conditions.

For a balcony or loggia, it is better to choose hardy varieties of roses , which have been tested by many flower growers and breeders. The main criterion in this case is ADR certification (all-German certification of rose varieties), which only the best specimens of this magnificent flower pass.

Advice! If you do not want to waste money and time, it is better to pay attention to specialized fairs and flower farms, rather than to budget stores and mass markets.

There are several general recommendations for choosing a rose variety for a balcony.:

1. Since a balcony or loggia is usually a small space, you should choose miniature varieties of roses. Neat little bushes will fit perfectly into any interior, and flowerpots and flowerpots for them will not clutter up the space.
2. Climbing varieties of roses with small inflorescences look great in flowerpots and hanging baskets, on shelves, which is perfect for balconies.
3. It is worth considering the fact that for the full development of the root system, shrub plants need open ground. In pots, rose stems may grow shorter than expected.
4. If you decide to plant a hybrid tea rose with a single inflorescence, prepare a wide floor flowerpot for it. But keep in mind that such a flowerbed will have significant weight and can create a serious load on the balcony floors.
5. For beginners, it is better to choose more unpretentious varieties of roses, for example, groundcover. Complex hybrids require special care and constant attention, so these flowers should not be planted if you have little free time.

If you have a general idea of ​​what kind of roses and how you want to plant them on your balcony, you can look through similar varieties and find out the features of their cultivation. This will help you understand whether it will be possible to bring this idea to life in your conditions.

How to choose rose varieties for growing in a container

Not all varieties of roses are suitable for container growing, especially if these are not large containers that will be placed in the garden or flower garden, but small containers for a balcony or terrace.

We definitely do not consider large, actively growing roses like ramblers as container plants. Shrub roses will also feel more comfortable “in freedom”, and although they have several compact varieties, this is not the best choice for a flowerpot.

So it is best to consider less whimsical and demanding roses - miniature, ground cover, hybrid tea and patio. In any case, remember that the conditions for roses in containers are close to those in open ground, so you need to choose the hardiest varieties from trusted breeders.

Some well-proven flowering rose varieties for containers: Chilie Clemtntine, Biedermier, Goldjuwel, White Babyflor, Sugar Baby, Mandarin, Ninetta, Hobby, The Fairy, Yellow Clemtntine, Lavander Ice, Honeymilk.

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For those who are not indifferent to roses, but do not have their own garden, there is a great opportunity to grow their favorites on the balcony or terrace. When favorable conditions are created, these amazing flowers live as long in containers as in the ground. There is a lot of different information on the Internet on growing roses, including balcony ones. Let's look at some tips that will help you grow beautiful and healthy roses on your balcony.

In fact, here is the simplest of simple instructions:

A balcony is not a room, and not yet quite a street. The conditions here are close to those in open ground, and taking plants out onto the balcony can cause stress for them. Therefore, for your balcony you should choose only hardy varieties of roses from well-known breeders, which have passed numerous tests and proven high quality. The most difficult test for roses is the Allgemeine Deutschen Rosenneuheitenprüfung (ADR) - the general German test of new rose varieties. The presence of an ADR certificate in a variety indicates its resistance to fungal diseases, high winter hardiness, and the duration and abundance of flowering. You can safely buy these varieties.

I would not advise experimenting by planting nameless varieties of roses on the balcony, bought at low prices in the supermarket; they will not have the same qualities as varieties marked with the ADR mark.

Many, but not all, varieties of roses are suitable for growing in containers. Anything that is very large and actively growing is absolutely not suitable for balconies. Take, for example, Rambler roses. These are once-blooming roses with long shoots reaching up to five meters in length. For all the green mass that these roses grow, a very large tub and solid support are needed. To prevent the plant from being knocked over by the wind, the tub should be quite heavy.

Shrub roses also feel better in the garden than on the balcony. But nevertheless, there are many compact varieties that will fit perfectly into the interior of your balcony and will bloom profusely, filling the room with their wonderful aroma. Flower roses, tea roses and decorative ground cover roses, due to their unpretentiousness and undemanding nature, will delight with their flowering, aroma and abundance of buds, literally covering the balcony and even the walls with a carpet of petals. The main rule is: the smaller the leaves and simpler the flowers, the less moisture the plant evaporates, which means the less water it needs.

Roses have a deep root system. Their long tap roots go deep into the soil and branch. Therefore, the rose tub should be taller rather than wider. The main thing is that the size of the container matches the size of the rose roots, because the plant should not suffer from cramping. In this regard, it is recommended to use tubs with a height of approximately 40 cm. You will say that a tall pot and the small plant you just bought in it look completely disproportionate. Don't worry - roses grow very quickly. Within eight weeks after planting, everything will look harmonious. A rose planted in a large tub in the spring first needs a lot of effort to form roots, because the green mass does not grow as quickly as in small pots. But in the summer, when flowering begins, all disproportions disappear.

So, the larger the tub, the less often watering is required and the more comfortable the conditions for overwintering the plant will be. In addition, the size of the tub or pot must correspond to the maximum volume of the root ball of a particular rose variety. In this regard, for hybrid tea roses that reach a maximum of 1.20 cm in height, it is advisable to select containers with a depth of at least 40 cm. Shrub roses, which are usually taller than 1.20 cm, should be safely planted in tubs 5 cm deeper . And fast-growing climbing roses, after just six months, rest their powerful roots on the bottom of a tub 53 cm high and 45 cm in diameter.

The tubs must have good drainage and holes at the bottom to drain excess water. For drainage, you can use expanded clay, small crushed stone or pebbles, then lay out non-woven material and only then add loose soil for growing roses and tub plants. It would be good to add a little expanded clay or sand to the soil.

The tall terracotta tub filled with soil is very heavy. There is a large selection of plastic tubs of the same sizes on sale. If the container will be exposed to sunlight all the time during the day, then you need to choose light or shiny tubs. It is better to choose plastic tubs with double or thick walls, or line the inside of the tub with styrofoam. Without a doubt, it is better to opt for wooden or terracotta glazed pots. Do not use metal tubs under any circumstances, because they conduct heat and cold very well, so they must be thoroughly insulated from the inside.

For abundant flowering, it is recommended to water roses once a week, and in hot and dry periods - two or even three times a week. The easiest way to determine whether it is time to water the plant is to plunge your finger into the soil to a depth of 2-3 phalanges. If your finger is dry, it’s time to water. You need to water so that the soil is moistened not only on the surface, but also so that the water reaches the bottom of the tub. When watering, make sure that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise it may cause fungal damage to the plant.

Roses need a sunny and well-ventilated place where they do not suffer from stuffiness. Therefore, place the plant pots closer to the balcony railings. A permanently sunny and windless place is detrimental to roses. Spider mites and other flower pests instantly sense plants that are under stress and happily settle on them.

Roses need plenty of sun, at least four hours a day. On the balcony, the walls reflect the sun's rays, the floor heats up, and so do the tubs. Thus, a hot climate is created on the balcony, which leads to weakening of the roses. Particular attention should be paid to roses blooming on a glazed southern balcony, where they are especially susceptible to overheating, so it is good to deepen the tubs into boxes with soil or place them in a tray with water. When choosing a particular variety, it is recommended to find out about its heat tolerance.

Roses need to regularly remove faded flowers. This not only prevents the plant from wasting energy on producing seeds, but also promotes better re-blooming. Fading roses must be cut back to the first leaf. Moreover, it is better to cut before the flowers bloom completely, before the stamens appear, and begin to shed their petals.

In winter, frost affects potted roses from all sides. Therefore, pots with plants must be placed on a wooden stand and insulated by wrapping them in bubble wrap, jute or coconut matting. In principle, many varieties of roses tolerate frost well. Frosts without snow that last for several days in a row are dangerous for roses. The leaves evaporate water, which cannot penetrate to the roots. Therefore, it is recommended to cover rose shoots with non-woven fabric or spruce branches, and to water the plant thoroughly on non-frosty days.

This is how a rose covered with fir branches can be turned into a New Year tree by wrapping its pot in burlap with a beautiful ribbon and decorating it with garlands and Christmas balls.

For the winter, you should move the rose to a shaded place near the wall. In spring, don’t rush to take off her warm winter outfit. Large temperature changes can destroy young shoots.

Different varieties of roses differ from each other not only in color, aroma and growth rate, but also in resistance to fungal diseases, heat tolerance and frost resistance. For balconies and terraces unprotected from the midday sun, in any case, varieties that are tolerant to heat should be selected. This is most varieties with some exceptions. And such exceptions are ramblers, which usually grow in the shade under the canopy of trees, and several varieties of dark red color, the flowers of which dry out on very hot days on unglazed balconies.

The more balanced the air temperature at the location of the potted rose, the less important it is which variety you choose.

1. Choosing healthy varieties
2. Variety selection
3. Choosing the right tub
4. Moderate watering
5. Choose a well-ventilated place
6. Don't underestimate solar radiation
7. Remove faded flowers
8. Winter protection
9. Which roses are suitable for growing on the balcony?

Recommended varieties of roses for balconies

Tea roses

The romantic rose “Nostalgie” delights thanks to its amazing color, shape and scent. Double flowers are two-color with a transition from creamy white to cherry red with a pleasant aroma, spherical in shape, 10 cm in diameter. The bush grows quickly and reaches up to 1.20 cm, and is resistant to heat, rain and frost.

The legendary Annapurna rose with double bright white flowers will turn your balcony into a real paradise with its rich aroma of honey, citrus and cloves. Its straight, dense bush reaches 80 cm in height, blooms profusely and continuously.

climbing roses

The climbing rose "Rotfassade" blooms continuously from July to October with semi-double scarlet flowers about 6 cm in diameter. It has very high resistance to diseases. The bush is wide and branched. Can also be grown as a bush rose.

Floribunda roses with a maximum height of 70 to 90 cm

Rose "Innocencia" is very resistant to diseases. It blooms continuously since June with pure white, double flowers, collected in large clusters of 10-15 pieces, with a light aroma of jasmine. The foliage is dense and very shiny. The bush is branched, compact, up to 60 cm in diameter and 70-80 cm in height. ADR 2003.

The rose variety "Leona" blooms almost continuously from June to October with semi-double, soft pink flowers with magnificent golden stamens. The bush is straight, branched, maximum 70-80 cm high.

Floribunda roses with a maximum height of 90 to 200 cm

The hardy rose "Gateway" grows very quickly and blooms with clusters of medium-sized pink flowers with a wavy edge, almost odorless, 10 cm in diameter. In the sun, the flowers are pale pink and fade very quickly, so it is better to place it in partial shade. The foliage is shiny, dark green. Bush height: up to 1.20 cm. ADR.

The repeat blooming rose "Rosika" has light pink flowers 10 cm in diameter and a wonderful aroma. The structure and shape of the flowers are similar to those of a hybrid tea rose. Bush height: up to 1.20 cm.

Shrub roses with a maximum height of 60 -80 cm

The magnificent rose “Heidetraum” is very resistant to disease and blooms profusely until late autumn. Double, cup-shaped flowers are deep pink, fade to pink or lilac-pink, collected in brushes of 10-20 pieces. Over time, it forms a beautiful bush with arched hanging shoots.

The very hardy rose "Gärtnerfreude" does not require a large pot; it is enough to plant it in a 32 cm high tub, but for no longer than one season. It blooms all season with red, small, heavily double flowers, collected in large clusters.

Planting rose seedlings in pots

Planting seedlings in pots

followed by keeping them on a closed balcony - this is the third option for keeping roses.
I think this method is quite good: the seedlings begin their growing season earlier
and by the time they are planted in the garden they are already almost blooming rose bushes or have gained buds. Of course, you need to understand that you cannot plant roses in pots and send seedlings to an open balcony in early March, but nothing bad will happen to them on a glassed-in balcony. Many rose growers prefer to plant purchased seedlings in 5-liter cut containers containing drinking water, but I do not recommend doing this. Firstly, with such containers it is difficult to get to the dacha, even if you have a car. Secondly, the roots do not have time to entwine such a volume of soil in 2 months, and often when transplanting from 5-liter canisters, the earthen lump falls apart, which will inevitably affect the well-being of the rose.

I always plant seedlings in 2-liter narrow and long containers

from branded seedlings of Tantau, Meyyan or Guillot, that is, I reuse their containers.
The depth of this container is enough to accommodate a long rootstock root, and the volume is enough for the seedling to develop normally for 2 months. True, sometimes it happens that even this depth is not enough to completely fit the root into the pot; in such cases, the root can be trimmed a little, but not twisted. It’s also not scary if the graft rises
a few cm above the level of the pot. Later, when planting it in the garden, you will bury it, as expected, along with a lump of earth.

Such grown seedlings

can be planted in a permanent place no earlier than mid-May, when the threat of severe frosts has passed (weak roses are not afraid). By this time, a strong, healthy seedling has grown young roots that entwine the entire earthen ball in the pot, and the rose can easily be transplanted to a permanent place without damaging the root system. Usually the rose does not even notice such a transshipment and continues to grow as if nothing had happened.

The advantage of keeping roses in pots

Another advantage of keeping them on the balcony is that during the planting season you do not need to rush into planting, but can systematically, during May-June, prepare planting holes and gradually plant these grown plants in them.

Already in May, all the seedlings planted in pots can be transported to the garden and kept in a trench in the garden bed, or you can leave them at home, under your supervision. Disadvantage of balcony overexposure

The problem is that these roses are highly susceptible to the appearance of spider mites, which then, after being transported to the garden, can spread to all roses.
To prevent this from happening, the roses on the balcony must be sprayed with water from a spray bottle
, and when transporting them to the dacha, be sure to preventively treat the seedlings with an anti-mite agent (always acaricides, acrex, isofen, phytoverm); ordinary insecticides do not affect ticks. The development of indoor mites is inhibited by spraying with cold water once or twice a day on the surface and on the back of the leaf.

To all that has been said, I just want to add that balconies on the north side of the house are not suitable for keeping seedlings

, which are not exposed to the sun at all. In addition, to painlessly transplant a rose into the garden, you need to gradually accustom it to the sun's rays, starting in April by briefly opening the windows on the balcony. From mid-April, when night frosts stop, it is generally better to keep the seedling on an open balcony.

I strongly do not recommend planting roses in pots and keeping them on the windowsill in a heated apartment

, this is the worst way to overexpose. To take root, the rose needs a “cold start”; its roots grow well at temperatures from 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. Additionally, rose is an outdoor plant and needs cold nights and high humidity. At high room temperatures and very dry air, the “tops” begin to actively grow, but at this temperature the roots cannot keep up with their growth and the rose eats itself. It is almost impossible to create the necessary conditions in an apartment for the correct cold start of a rose, so planting it on a window usually always ends in failure for the seedling. Even if by some miracle it can be preserved until the summer, then when transplanted into natural conditions it still dies or drags out a stunted existence.

Rose seedlings with open root system (ROS)

A few words about seedlings with an open root system

. They usually arrive in mid-April dormant and only need a few days to keep them there until planting. The best way is to place such seedlings on the balcony in a bucket of water. In this case, the sections need to be updated, the roots must be carefully examined, and also trimmed to a light-colored tissue. According to my observations, seedlings easily tolerate prolonged soaking in a bucket for up to 2 weeks, without any unpleasant consequences.

To conclude the topic, I want to add the main thing, something that any gardener in our country should remember. Do not let yourself be deceived by uneducated or dishonest sellers; in our climate (except for the very south of the Krasnodar Territory and the Black Sea coast) there are no non-covering roses! Anything that you buy that is called a rose and not a rosehip will still have to be covered. In the difficult year of 2010, even the conventionally non-covering varieties of roses - Grootendorst, Hansa, Hansaland - look like double rose hips, and they froze to ground level. Even hybrid tea roses were preserved under properly made shelters. Massively sold Canadian roses, about which they write that their winter hardiness is down to -40 degrees (without mentioning that this is subject to a half-meter layer of snow on top), will freeze in our climate already at -25 degrees in the absence of snow cover. However, a large number of gardeners successfully grow magnificent roses in their gardens; you just need to know some secrets of their agricultural technology, starting with how to choose and preserve roses before planting. Now we know these rules.

Alexey STEPANOV , photo by the author.

About watering

Is it possible to grow roses on the balcony without quality watering? The clear answer is no. Climbing and garden roses like moderate, regular watering. During the hot summer period, watering should be three times a week.

To determine that a plant definitely needs watering, you should stick your finger into the soil. If the soil is dry at a level of 0.5-1 cm, then watering is definitely required.

The plant must be watered in such a way that the moisture not only covers the surface of the soil, but also reaches the horse system. However, the stream should be directed very carefully, without wetting the leaves. A fungus often develops on wet rose leaves, which is detrimental to the plant.