Why Do You Have High Phosphates in Rose Fertilizer?

Rose Culture

• Roses do well in full sun, at least six hours a day, in moist, well-drained soil. The soil should be rich in organic matter balancing moisture with water and nutrient retention. Regular pesticide spraying alleviates insect and disease infestations when they become a problem. Very thirsty plants, roses require watering in the absence of rain. Space the plants far enough for good air circulation, which guards against disease.

Nutrition

• Roses are heavy feeders and require a regular schedule of fertilization. The three macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are the most important for rose growth and blooming. Fertilizing in early spring and every six weeks thereafter ensures nutrition adequate for abundant blooming, especially if your roses are repeat bloomers.

Phosphates

• Phosphates, usable forms of phosphorus, are necessary for new growth. Phosphates facilitate movement of sugars through the plant, for the growth needed for continuous bloom. Phosphorus aids in flowering and seed production, making for abundant flowering. Rose fertilizers are often heavy in phosphorus, with N-P-K ratios similar to 5-10-5. Too much nitrogen results in weak, leafy growth at the expense of flowers, while more potassium is unnecessary.

Tips

• If your planting area is low in phosphorus, add bone meal to the hole when planting to boost phosphorus content. Slow-release, organic rose fertilizers feed plants evenly for a long time, guarding against overfertilization. Maximize repeat blooming by fertilizing bushes and trimming spent flowers at the same time. Water roses deeply after fertilizing to move the nutrients through the soil, while avoiding getting the leaves wet, which facilitate disease.