Ludwig’s rose corner
Rose guru Ludwig Taschner offers advice on how to grow potted roses.
Q. When is the best time to spray my ‘Vrouefederasie Roos’ roses?
It’s best to spray in the early morning or late afternoon so that the solution has more time to be absorbed by the leaves before drying up. Try to spray regularly to prevent outbreaks of pests or diseases rather than only when problems become visible. Q: For the past 10 years, I have grown all my roses in pots. Two years ago, we erected security floodlights which bathe the roses in full light from dusk till dawn and now they have much less foliage and fewer blooms. What can I do?
Now that the roses “work” non-stop for 24 hours they might need more fertiliser and water. After 10 years, the soil in the pots could also be compacted, which means insufficient air is getting to the roots. In July, take out the plants and repot them with new planting mix. Alternatively, remove about half of the soil and, using a broom handle, push the handle all the way to the bottom of the pot, making several holes; fill the holes with compost and water very well so that the compost soaks up the water.