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Tiny gift rosebush now looks dead

Sue PartridgeSue Partridge Posts: 79
in Problem solving
I received a miniature rosebush in the post. I followed the instructions-leave in the plastic bag, 'knead' the ball of soil into a rounded shape then plant into the fabric 'pot', leaving the plastic bag in situ. I watered it and placed the moss supplied on top. It looked great for a week then this morning all it's branches are drooped over and lots of the leaves have simply dropped off. I watered it again but it still looks the same. Please help!

Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    edited June 2022
    I can't imagine that the plastic bag helped, it would have had no drainage so probably drowned - sorry!
    Those kind of miniature rosebushes are not known for their longevity and are best thought of as temporary pleasures.

    That said, I rescued one last year which was going to be thrown away. Upin inspection discovered it was actually four separate tiny roses so potted them up. One died over the winter but the other three survived and looked healthy so I planted them in the garden last month. They've now got flowers.

    Maybe worth a go with yours? Bur whatever you do, don't repot it in peat free compost, it's awfully difficult to keep it moist I've found and seedlings really suffer.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I find the mini gift roses hard to keep going. Non horti companies nearly always seem to give the wrong growing instructions.
  • gondorgondor Posts: 135
    Of course the Ancient Ones will disparage me, but I have managed to keep 3 mini roses alive for years. Roses, even mini ones, are tough. I've never had the instructions you refer to, so I'd get them out to look at the roots, cut them all back to 2 buds, plant them in free soil and they should recover in time. I've even moved my mini roses a couple of times and they still flower every year, even healthier than your usual hydrid tea or floribunda roses. Marlorena is "the god" though. Listen to her.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's encouraging to hear it's possible. I can't say I tried that hard.
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