What to Feed Roses in Winter: Recipes of Fertilizers for Strong Flower Health

Royal beds are covered for overwintering in late fall, but they should be generously fertilized before then. Fertilizing roses enriches the flower with useful substances, helping to survive the winter more easily. In the spring, roses can bloom more quickly and more abundantly. Fertilizing roses in the fall can be either organic or natural remedies.

What to fertilize roses for the winter – organic means

Roses need phosphorus and potassium in the fall. They will help to accumulate substances in the stem, with which the flowers will successfully survive the winter. Organic fertilizer will increase the winter hardiness of the plant, and its immunity to pests and diseases. Ingredients for fertilizer can be bought at any agro-store.

For a large area of roses, the following solutions can be prepared:

  • 10 L of water + 15 g of superphosphate + 17 g of potassium monophosphate;
  • 10 liters of cold water + 1 liter of hot water + 50 g of superphosphate;
  • 10 liters of water + 10 g potassium sulfate + 25 g superphosphate + 3 g boric acid.

Water roses with these solutions in late autumn – 1 liter per bush. Do not exceed these doses, otherwise, the plant can die.

Folk fertilizer for roses

Natural fertilizers are used in late autumn before covering the bushes. In warm and dry weather, you can water roses with the solution, but in rainy weather, you should only use dry fertilizer, otherwise, the bush can rot.

The best homemade rose fertilizer is ash. It contains the potassium and phosphorus the flower needs, and the alkali in the ash reduces the acidity of the soil and strengthens the roots of the plant. Such a solution is suitable not only for roses but also for other flowers on the site.

There are three ways to prepare a rose fertilizer from ash.

  • Use one method: Mix 1kg of ash in 10 liters of water. Bring it to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. Then dilute with 10l cold water. Water each bush with 1 liter of water.
  • Dilute 100 g of ashes in 10 liters of water. Sprinkle the solution right under the root.
    In wet weather, simply sprinkle the ash around the bush. You will need around 3kg of ash per square meter.
  • Compost not only feeds the rose and fertilizes the soil while it slowly decomposes, but it also warms the flower in winter. The compost is used to mulch the rose for the winter by spreading the fertilizer in a mound around the stem. A handful of ashes can be added to each pile of compost for more benefit.

Rose yeast provides good nutrition and helps the rose survive the frost. For the fertilizer, dilute 10g of dried yeast and 2 tbsp of sugar in 20l of water and leave to soak for 2 hours. Then water the soil at the roots of the roses.

Onion hulls contain phytoncides, carotene, and vitamins that are good for roses and make them ready for winter. Pour 500g of onion peels into 2l of hot water and leave to infuse for 24 hours. The decoction can be used to water roses or to spray the bushes.

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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