Q. I have a rose bush that
did well for years but now it only produces small white roses. What happened?
did well for years but now it only produces small white roses. What happened?
A. The top of your rose
bush died but the rootstock survived. Two different plants are combined into
one plant through a propagation technique called budding. The top of the plant
is desired for its beautiful flowers. The rootstock is selected for a variety
of reasons but performs better in soils than the top of the plant if it had
roots.
bush died but the rootstock survived. Two different plants are combined into
one plant through a propagation technique called budding. The top of the plant
is desired for its beautiful flowers. The rootstock is selected for a variety
of reasons but performs better in soils than the top of the plant if it had
roots.
All rose bushes available commercially are grown on
rootstocks. These rootstocks are also roses but their flowers are a different
color and size than the rose you selected. In your particular case, the
rootstock was perhaps Rosa odorata, a
rose that produces small white flowers.
rootstocks. These rootstocks are also roses but their flowers are a different
color and size than the rose you selected. In your particular case, the
rootstock was perhaps Rosa odorata, a
rose that produces small white flowers.
If you don’t like the plant then remove it and replace it
with a variety that grows well in our hot, desert climate. On the website of
Weeks Roses, they publish a list of roses by flower color and rose type that
perform well in our hot desert. Or talk to some neighbors who love roses and
know what they planted.
Roses for the Desert Southwest
with a variety that grows well in our hot, desert climate. On the website of
Weeks Roses, they publish a list of roses by flower color and rose type that
perform well in our hot desert. Or talk to some neighbors who love roses and
know what they planted.
Roses for the Desert Southwest
Be careful when pruning roses. Prune them in January but
do not cut them back too short. Pruning roses short cause the rootstock to
grow vigorously and send up suckers that could dominate an overly pruned rose
bush. And remove all suckers coming from the rootstock.
do not cut them back too short. Pruning roses short cause the rootstock to
grow vigorously and send up suckers that could dominate an overly pruned rose
bush. And remove all suckers coming from the rootstock.
I noticed in your picture
that your roses were surrounded by rock mulch. No, no, no. Roses do not like
rock mulch. Get rid of the rock and lay down some compost and cover the compost
with three inches of wood chip mulch instead. They will be much happier.