How to care for a rose in a pot at home in winter in order to grow a healthy bush: secrets of caring for an indoor flower after purchase and over time Selo.Guru

Life cycle features

After abundant summer flowering, in mid-autumn, the rose will begin to prepare for hibernation:

She will stop forming new buds.
The leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

At this time, the plant begins to prepare for wintering.

How does a houseplant overwinter?

In winter, the rose prefers to be dormant . The plant's vital processes slow down. In this way, it prepares for a new life cycle.

The flower, which is stimulated to bloom all year round, very quickly becomes exhausted and dies.

Basic steps to prepare roses for winter

The main task of flower growers when preparing the “queen of flowers” for the winter is to stop the growth of the vegetative part. First of all, in the middle of the summer season, it is necessary to change the composition of the fertilizers that are applied to the tree trunks of rose bushes.

It will also be necessary to prune the shoots in the fall, and immediately before the onset of cold weather, cover this perennial according to all the rules, so that neither the above-ground part nor the root system of the rose freezes over the winter.

Preparing roses for winter. Pruning, feeding, processing. - video

How to care after purchase?

A homemade rose bought in a store is in the flowering stage . Such a plant is treated with growth stimulants and must be cared for somewhat differently than a plant grown at home:

First of all, the flower is removed from the packaging to provide access to fresh air.
The rose is examined by cutting off all the dried leaves and buds.
Then rinse under a warm shower, washing away possible pests.
It is a good idea to carry out preventive treatment of the bush against fungus.
The pot is placed in the place where it is supposed to be kept and left for adaptation at home.
After 2-3 weeks the bush can be transplanted. This can be done in winter, since the plant will not be in a state of winter dormancy.
The rosette is provided with comfortable living conditions: warm water is sprayed, watered, and additional lighting is provided if necessary.

We talked in detail about what care is needed after purchasing in a store in a separate article.

Time to feed the rose garden

The timely application of fertilizers for roses in the fall determines whether they will have time to assimilate this flowering perennial before the onset of cold weather or not. Therefore, the last feeding of the current season must be carried out while the soil is not yet frozen, the root system has not yet fallen asleep, and the foliage has not fallen, and the photosynthesis process necessary for processing the nutrients coming from the root system continues.

Fertilizers should be applied for the last time after this perennial plant has completely bloomed.

Moreover, in different Russian climatic zones, the timing of such feeding of roses will be different:

on the territory of Siberia - at the end of the second ten days of August;

from the beginning of September - in the middle zone and Moscow region;

from the first ten days of October - in the southern regions.

Secrets of keeping plants at home

In winter, the rose bush needs special maintenance conditions . How to care for a flower to grow a healthy rose?

Preparing for winter

They begin to prepare indoor roses for winter when buds stop appearing on the plant. This happens at the end of November.

They stop feeding the rose.
Stop watering abundantly.
Remove underdeveloped buds.
After the leaves fall, pruning is done (why does an indoor rose shed its leaves and buds and dry out?).

Do I need to move it to another location?

The ideal place for overwintering a domestic rose would be a cool room . A glazed loggia or balcony is a good choice.

If it is not possible to take the rose pot out into the cool, you can leave it in the room in the same place. In this case, you need to decide whether the plant will be given winter rest or not.

To create conditions favorable for the flower to rest, you need:

Place the pot away from heating appliances.
Spray the plant several times a day, thereby increasing air humidity.
On cloudy days, you can provide additional lighting with a fluorescent lamp.

If you plan to grow a rose bush without winter dormancy, then create the same conditions as in the summer:

The plant is illuminated with phytolamps for 20 hours a day.
Create conditions of high humidity using humidifiers.
Create conditions for the flow of fresh, but not cold air.
Watering and fertilizing are carried out in the same quantities as in summer.
The plant is not completely pruned. Only withered buds are removed.

Temperature, humidity and lighting

In the room where the rose overwinters, it is recommended to maintain the temperature from +4 to +10 degrees . For several days, the plant can withstand temperature drops to zero and even temperatures down to -2 degrees.

If there is a possibility of light frosts, the following protective measures must be taken:

Wrap the pot with the plant in a warm blanket or place it in a box with sawdust.
Mulch the ground with pine needles or leaves.

Do not cover the plant with a jar or film . Accumulated condensation and lack of fresh air can lead to rotting of the rose.

Humidity should be at least 50%. In a cool room during winter dormancy, the flower does not need spraying.

On cloudy days, roses require additional lighting . This can be achieved using fluorescent lamps.

Watering

Watering during the dormant period should not be abundant. The main thing is to prevent the earth clod from drying out completely. The water should be warm and, preferably, soft.

Depending on air humidity, the frequency of watering can vary from 1 to 3 times a week.

Top dressing

Feeding during the winter dormant period is completely stopped.

Trimming

The plant is pruned after the last leaves have fallen . This usually happens at the end of November. The branches are cut with a disinfected knife, leaving 3-4 buds. The topmost bud left should be directed to the side and not towards the stem of the rose.

Transfer

The rose is replanted in the first half of spring. An exception is made for roses purchased in a store in winter. Such a plant, being in the growing season, will not suffer from winter transplantation.

Caring for roses in winter at home

Roses overwintering in a cool room are practically not watered. The soil should not dry out completely, so it is moistened as needed once or twice a month.

If the air temperature during the cold season drops below +2 degrees, the pots should be insulated, otherwise the roots will freeze. For insulation, the pots are wrapped in rags or special insulation. The soil in the pot is covered with straw, sawdust or other mulch (you can simply tear up papers).

It is not recommended to cover the top of the bushes with bags or jars. Condensation will accumulate under them, which can lead to damping off and rotting of the plant.

Mistakes and dealing with consequences

When caring for roses in winter, you can make mistakes that will later be difficult to deal with:

The plant may freeze if exposed to very low temperatures. In this case, frozen shoots should be removed from it and then replanted in nutrient soil.
A rose can dry out if exposed to sudden temperature changes. To combat the consequences, it is necessary to restore the microclimate and cut off dried branches.
Overwatering can cause the rose bush to rot. Only replanting with preliminary removal of rotten roots can revive the plant.
Due to insufficient moisture, the plant may dry out. In this case, its dead shoots are cut off so that 2-3 cm remain from the trunk. After which the soil is abundantly moistened and the plant is covered with film, creating conditions of high humidity. In this case, the rose must be ventilated periodically.

The rose remains dormant until mid-February. With the arrival of spring, it will begin to delight the owner with intensive growth and abundant flowering.

Fertilizing roses in the fall

Most varieties of roses are distinguished by abundant re-blooming throughout the summer, so after flowering these perennials require fertilization to restore the strength lost during flowering.

Photo of fertilizing roses

In the autumn, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium need to be applied to the “queen of flowers” bushes.

These elements help strengthen the roots and prevent the growth of shoots and foliage.

How to fertilize a rose correctly and with what - video

Phosphorus fertilizers applied to roses in the fall have a positive effect on the size and number of buds formed, are responsible for the splendor and duration of flowering, and also contribute to the growth and strengthening of the root system of these flowering perennials. And strong roots are the key to a good wintering of plants.

The abundant flowering of rose bushes also depends on the amount of potassium fertilizers,

This fertilizer is especially valuable in the autumn, as it promotes the active formation of flower buds for the next season, improves the resistance of rose bushes to frost, and accelerates the ripening of stems.

However, some flower growers claim that they never feed their flower beds with rose bushes, but they still grow well and delight them with abundant flowering. This is rather an exception to the rule, or the soils of these gardeners are very fertile.

Covering rose bushes for the winter

The main thing when preparing these perennial shrubs for winter is shelter. But you should remember: when the air temperature drops below 0, the sap flow in the shoots of roses stops. But as soon as warming begins, the roses “wake up” and sap flow begins in them again. But as soon as the temperature drops again, the juice in the shoots freezes and tears them apart. Pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate into damaged areas, which become a source of disease in the future.

How to properly cover roses for the winter - video

But experienced gardeners try to let the sap dry and help the cracks heal, in which case the plants are not at risk of disease.

It is also necessary to create a shelter for rose bushes in which moisture does not accumulate and temperature changes are not felt.

The main ways to cover roses for the winter are as follows:

hilling (covering with garden soil);

Hilling up as a way to cover rose bushes for the winter

First, these perennials should be prepared for the covering process:

All remaining foliage is removed from the stems of roses, and the trunk circles are cleared of remnants of vegetation;

the base of the bushes and trunk circles should be disinfected with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture (usually a 3% solution of such a drug is prepared);

The tree trunk circle is covered with a layer of coarse river sand. The thickness of such a layer should be at least 15 cm. This layer will protect the roots of rose bushes from frost.

Photo of hilling roses for the winter

The aboveground part of these perennials is not covered until the air temperature remains below -5 degrees Celsius for more than a week. At 0 degrees, nutrients are still deposited in the stems of these flowers, which will protect the bushes from low temperatures in winter.

By the beginning of November, when the air temperature has already dropped significantly, sap flow in the rose stems stops, starch breaks down into sugars, which will protect the bush from frost.

At this time, you should cover the bushes completely. To do this, the remaining leaves on the bushes are torn off, the stems are cut in half, and they are treated with pesticides against possible pathogenic organisms and pests. Lastly, cover the shoots with any organic covering material.

Experienced flower growers recommend using high-moor peat as a covering material for rose bushes.

This material freezes quickly when cold weather sets in, but thaws slowly. As a result, the temperature inside such a shelter remains approximately constant throughout the winter period.

And next year the layer of peat will provide additional nutrition for this shrub. To prevent gusts of cold wind from sweeping away the peat layer during the winter, it is covered with wooden shields or spruce branches on top.

Spruce branches will simultaneously protect the rose garden from rodents during the winter.

Covering roses using an air-dry method for the winter

With this method, a strong frame is built over the perennials, which can be made from metal pipes, wood blocks or fittings. This structure must be very strong, because in winter it must withstand a layer of snow and gusts of strong wind.

Photo of covering roses from a strong frame

All leaves are removed from the rose bushes, the plants and soil are treated with a solution of copper sulfate, and the soil around the rose bushes is dug up. All stems are tied, bent to the ground and secured in this position with special metal staples. If it is not possible to bend the rose shoots to the ground, they are cut off, leaving stumps up to 40 cm high.

Any non-woven material is stretched over the frame, but the ends of such greenhouses are left open for ventilation. After the air temperature is stably below -5-6 degrees below zero, the ends are also closed. Polyethylene should be stretched over the non-woven material, which will protect the rose garden from moisture or snow getting inside. Polyethylene is secured at the edges with bricks or boards.

This method of covering perennial shrubs is not suitable if the soil on the site is too wet - in this case, even in winter, water will accumulate in such a shelter, which will damage the “queen of flowers”.

The set of measures for caring for and preparing a rose for the winter is not too complicated, but it must be carried out completely. In this case, the plants will be ready for the cold, and timely shelter will prevent them from freezing out during the frost period.

Pruning rose bushes in the fall

Autumn pruning of roses is carried out primarily so that later it is easier to cover them for the winter. And this applies primarily to hybrid tea varieties, which can reach a height of 1.9-2.1 m. It is difficult to completely protect such a shrub from the cold; as a result, the shoots can freeze out. Therefore, such tall varieties of roses are pruned at least by half in the fall.

Photo of rose pruning scheme in autumn

Experienced gardeners recommend checking the timing of the autumn pruning of roses with the lunar calendar. The best time for pruning is considered to be during the waning moon.

The stems of the following varieties of roses are cut in half in the autumn:

in hybrid tea roses;

Photo diagram of the degree of pruning of roses

Varieties of climbing and shrub roses are pruned in the fall by 1/3 of the length of the shoots.

And the “queen of roses” with small flowers do not need to be pruned at all; it is enough to pinch their growing point.

Climbing roses are pruned only in the spring; they do not carry out a similar procedure in the fall.

In exceptional cases, it is enough to remove dried, broken and diseased stems in the autumn.

Photo of correct pruning of roses

When pruning roses in the fall, you must adhere to the following basic requirements:

all cuts on branches should be made at an angle of 45 degrees;

when pruning, diseased, weak, damaged branches are removed;

unripe rose stems also need to be removed;

pruning tools must be sharp and disinfected;

All cut areas are treated with garden varnish or other antiseptic.

Pruning roses in autumn. How to prune roses for the winter? - video

Step-by-step instructions on how to grow an indoor flower in cold weather at home

Preparing for the rest period

In the fall, after flowering has ended, the rose is prepared for a dormant period . Watering and fertilizing at this time are reduced and provide air humidification after turning on the central heating. Nutrients added to the soil at this time should not contain large amounts of nitrogen.

Do I need to move it to another location?

There should be no heating radiators near the wintering bush , so if the rose spent the summer on the windowsill, you need to move it to another place for the winter. It is not recommended to move the pot from place to place during the dormant period of the rose, as well as to suddenly change the conditions of its home maintenance.

Conditions of detention

In the room where the rose bush overwinters, the temperature should not exceed 15-17 degrees.
In December, you can take the plant out onto a glassed-in balcony, and place the pot in a bucket of sawdust so that the soil and roots do not freeze. If for some reason the temperature in the room where the rose is kept drops below zero degrees, you need to take into account that the crop can only survive in this mode for a few days. To prevent frostbite, the soil in the pot should be covered with a layer of pine needles , and the container itself should be wrapped in warm material.

The rose is a light-loving plant and in winter, when there is a lack of sunlight, it is compensated by illumination with phyto- or fluorescent lamps, which are placed at a height of 30-35 centimeters above the crown of the rose. The backlight is turned on three to four times a day.

Watering

A wintering rose does not need frequent watering ; the plant rests and recovers after flowering. The soil can be moistened only two to three days after drying. About twice every ten days. Water for irrigation is used soft and at a temperature no higher than 18 degrees.

Top dressing

In winter, there is no need to add nutrients to the soil for potted roses. The plant is in a state of dormancy, allowing for the successful initiation of future bud formation. Stimulating the plant during this period will bring it out of hibernation and force it to gain green mass, which will negatively affect the general condition of the rose. Read about how to fertilize roses at other times of the year here.

Trimming

Pruning is best done in December . The procedure is carried out as follows:

Use sharp pruning shears to remove weakened and dry branches, as well as shoots growing inside the bush.
After removing each process, the blade is wiped with an antiseptic.
The main stems are cut by a third so that 5-6 buds remain on each.
The cut areas are sprinkled with charcoal or activated carbon.
After pruning, the rose bush is placed in a cool place.

We offer a visual video of pruning an indoor rose:

Transfer

The best time to replant a healthy plant is the first half of spring , but if for some reason the rose needs to be replanted in winter, it is advisable to do this in December, while the flower has not yet fallen into deep hibernation. You can replant a flower brought from a store in winter without fear, since such a plant, as a rule, is in the growing season and flowering.

The transplant is carried out according to the following scheme:

Water the rose generously, wait until the soil is saturated with moisture.
Turn the flower pot over and shake a little, holding the plant with your hand.
At the bottom of the new container, which must have holes for water drainage, place a layer of expanded clay one centimeter high.
The soil must be nutritious. The optimal composition of the soil mixture is sand, humus and turf soil in a ratio of 1:4:4. You can use ready-made store-bought soil mixtures.
The rose is placed in a new pot and covered with soil so that there is a distance of two to three centimeters between the edge of the pot and the surface of the soil.
The transplanted crop should be placed in a dark place for a day and under no circumstances should it be watered immediately; you can only sprinkle the leaves a little.
After a day, the rose is moved to the east or south side.

We invite you to watch a visual video of the process of transplanting an indoor rose: