With these Tips For Growing Roses In Hanging Baskets, you’ll have this most beautiful flower growing vertically in your home garden.
The best way to enjoy roses is up close and personal so you may fully relish their intricate patterns, fragrance, and brilliant hues, especially in smaller spaces or when you want to try something unique. Here are some straightforward tips for growing roses in hanging baskets and ensuring long-lasting blooms.
Tips For Growing Roses In Hanging Baskets
1. Choose the Right Variety
To make the most of the limited space, choose miniature roses for hanging baskets. Varieties like dwarf polyantha are long-lasting and hardy, while sun blaze, baby boomer, and peachy keen produce showy flowers in distinct hues.
Check out this list of the smallest rose varieties to pick one you love.
2. Find a Sunny Spot
Some roses may tolerate shade, but almost all need full sun to produce the prettiest blooms. Place your hanging basket in a spot with at least 4-5 hours of direct sunlight daily, such as a sunny side in your bedroom or balcony. This way, you can also enjoy its soothing fragrance.
While roses love the sun, some afternoon shade can shield blooms from burning, especially in extreme heat.
3. Water Regularly
Since the soil is limited in hanging baskets, roses tend to dry out faster than in garden beds. Too much wind also dehydrates plants in hanging baskets, prompting more than usual watering.
Stick your finger in the soil to check for moisture and water until the surface feels dry. Do this slowly and thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes to hydrate the entire root ball.
4. Choose the Right Pot Size
Choose a hanging planter at least 10 inches in diameter for petite rose varieties. If you’re going with climbing roses or compact ground cover types, go for slightly bigger and deeper containers, around 12-14 inches, to provide sufficient room for their roots.
Lighter materials, such as fiberglass, coco coir, or wire baskets with liners, are best for hanging baskets. Also, make ample drainage holes to prevent root rot from clogging or wet feet.
5. Prune and Deadhead Regularly
Deadheading blooms will coax the plant into producing more flowers and keep it tidy. For aesthetic purposes, pinch off the finished bloom from right below, where the base joins the stem.
Remove the entire flowerhead by cutting the stem above the first leaf to encourage recurring blooms. Do this after each round of blooms throughout the flowering season.
Without regular pruning, the plant will get stressed and overcrowded in hanging baskets and begin wilting. Here’s how to prune roses like expert rosarians.
6. Winter Protection
One of the biggest challenges when growing roses this way is winter. Roots that typically tolerate growing in the ground will freeze in hanging baskets. For moderately cold weather, adding a layer of mulch around the base of the hanging basket can help insulate the roots. You can cover the basket with a burlap or try bubble wrap around the container.
If winters are harsh, move your hanging basket to a garage or shed before the first frost, or simply bring it indoors and nourish it with grow lights. Water sparingly during dormancy!
7. Prepare the Perfect Potting Mix
Go for rich, fertile potting soil for roses in hanging baskets. You can also use a high-quality soilless mix and enrich it with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. Mix some perlite into the soil to ensure proper drainage; tea leaves are also a good addition.
Garden soil usually suits roses, but avoid it in baskets. It is too dense and heavy for potted plants and won’t allow air to circulate or water to flow evenly.
