As we watch roses dawdle and sprout these days, many gardeners start to feel anxious: I haven’t buried the fertilizer yet? The fish guts aren’t ready yet? What should I do? Is it too late to bury it?
The best time to bury fish guts
In areas with frost, roses lose their leaves and go dormant during the winter, which is a good time to apply winter fertilizer. Both in-ground and potted roses should be given plenty of fertilizer at this time of year.
In-ground roses
For in-ground roses, we usually bury a raw fertilizer, such as chicken manure or fish guts, directly. This type of operation is usually done during the coldest part of the year, when temperatures are consistently below 0 degrees is the best time to bury fertilizer. Due to the slow fermentation rate at low temperatures, the heat generated during the fermentation process after burying the raw fertilizer also raises the soil temperature, helping to protect the rose root system. By the time the roses germinate in the spring, these fertilizers have also basically completed the fermentation process and are able to provide nutrients directly to the roses.
Potted Roses
Potted roses also need winter fertilizer, but it is recommended that raw fertilizer not be used. You can incorporate a sufficient amount of fermented organic fertilizer into the pot change, which will not only maintain the temperature of the soil, but also provide essential nutrients for the spring growth of the roses. For those who want to take the risk of trying to add raw fertilizer to potted roses, it can be tried in small quantities for outdoor farming situations, but it is not recommended for indoor farming as it may attract pests or cause other problems due to improper mulching.
Why bury fish guts?
Many gardeners are puzzled by the practice of burying fish guts. In fact, among organic fertilizers, vegetarian fertilizers tend to be rich in nitrogen, while non-vegetarian ones are rich in phosphorus and potassium. Fish guts, as a type of non-vegetarian fertilizer, are rich in phosphorus and potassium, which are absorbed and utilized by roses after fermentation to promote blooming, resulting in more, larger and more colorful rose flowers.
Is it currently still possible to bury fish guts?
According to the current temperature, it is still feasible to bury fish guts even though the best time to do so has been missed. It is important to keep them at least 30 centimeters away from the roots to avoid damaging them.
What if I don’t have fish guts?
For in-ground or potted roses where fish guts are unavailable, consider using fermented chicken manure plus calcium-magnesium-phosphate fertilizer or calcium superphosphate as an alternative. This method is not only safe and clean, but it is also inexpensive and long-lasting fertilizer, making it ideal for strengthening rose seedling plants and promoting their bloom.