Weak Rose Bush? Try These 3 Rescue Tips

Yesterday a florist asked, “What disease do I have on this rose? The growth is so weak, what should I do?”

From the photo, the seedling is very thin and the leaf tips are obviously scorched, a phenomenon usually caused by over-fertilizing with fertilizer. The florist said that he would add Flower Duo (water-soluble fertilizer) every time he watered, but strangely enough, the other two in the same batch of maintenance grew well, but only this one has been slow-growing, with fewer blooms, and only one bloom at a time.

Why do roses behave differently with the same management?

Many florists have similar confusion: obviously the same watering, fertilizer, medication, why there are always a few roses grow particularly poor? In fact, the answer lies in the individual differences of plants.

1. Management problems caused by varieties

There are many varieties of roses, and the growth potential of different varieties varies greatly. For example:

• Stronger varieties (such as ‘Lonza Gem’) are resistant to fertilizer and water, and grow rapidly.
• Weak growing varieties (e.g. some miniature roses) are sensitive to fertilizer and are easily damaged by over-fertilization.

If they are put together and managed in a uniform manner, the weak-growing varieties will easily develop problems due to excessive fertilization. Therefore, it is recommended to manage strong and weak varieties separately to avoid “one-size-fits-all” maintenance.

2. Impact of individual plant differences

Even for the same variety, the growth status of different plants may be different:

• Stronger plants have a developed root system, strong ability to absorb fertilizer and water, and grow vigorously.
• Weaker plants have weaker root systems, the potting soil dries slowly, and if fertilized and watered together with stronger plants, it will easily lead to fertilizer damage or waterlogged roots, and ultimately stagnant seedlings or even withered.

An analogy: just like a pair of sisters, the same family environment, the same school, but the character and learning ability may be completely different – this is individual differences.

3. Why do all the roses in the nursery look so good?

Some may ask, “Aren’t nurseries managed together? Why do all their seedlings grow well?”
In fact, the roses in the nursery have gone through many rounds of screening and elimination – the poor seedlings have long been eliminated, and what we see are only the “surviving” robust plants.

Solution: How to avoid weak roses growing worse?

Sorting

• Separate strong and weak varieties.
• Reduce the frequency of fertilization of weaker plants and use milder fertilizers (e.g. diluted organic fertilizers).

Adjust watering strategy

• Potting soil of weak plants dries slowly, check soil moisture before watering to avoid waterlogging.

Prune appropriately

• Cut off diseased and weak branches, cross branches to reduce nutrient consumption and promote new sprouting.

Change pots to check the root system

• If the plant has been growing poorly for a long time, it may have a root problem, so change the pot to check and prune the rotten roots.