Roses in pots
Hi everybody. I have three new healthy potted when bought David Austin roses. Fragrant climber Claire Austin. Short fragrant climber Lady of Shalott. Bush Munstead Wood. I want all three in large pots for at least a year before I can put specifically the two climbers in a position to climb something and will also need to plan space for the Munstead Wood.
It's going to take ages to be able to get a delivery of John Innes 3 compost to put them in the pots with so I'm wondering, having been warned that roses don't like multi-purpose compost, if I can use freshly bought Miracle Gro Peat Free all purpose enriched compost with the supposed smart release feed. Do you think I could get away with using these for all three roses (large pots) for a year? Or would that not be wise?
Look forward to advice. I don't drive and am a full-time carer for two family members, so can't leave the house for long and it's difficult to get supplies other than deliveries - and I'm going to have to wait a long time for deliveries in this area. I'm perhaps too keen to get them into the pots and might be better waiting for better compost - but wonder if I can risk using the Miracle Gro at all.
Thanks in advance for advice.
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I tend to make my own mixes for pots.
But definitely a soil based compost- if you go ready made.
I have to say I'd stick with John Innes and a little bit of well rotted manure in the bottom of the pot. Mine seem to do well with this combo and a feed twice a year.
Sorry to take so long to get back here. Thanks so much for your advice. I mixed 1 third top soil, 1 third John Innes 3 and 1 third multi-p.
However, here's a question. The wind has been brutal for two weeks with occasional hail but settling now to normal wind and a little sunshine during the day. I've had to put both pots together for the time-being to get a little shelter - although the garden is really exposed. Surrounded on all sides by high flats but the wind comes over the roofs and circles around all day from all directions.
The nearest rose in a pot in this photo is 'Lady of Shallot'. A climber, but I saw some photos and read some websites which have it just growing normally in a pot and not climbing. I'm planning to do this now. However, if you look at the photo there is one substantial shoot sticking out horizontally. Presumably (?) that would be a strong leader if placing it horizontally to climb? As I'm not going for 'climb' I'm wondering what should I do with this shoot - should I cut it back? There is no new growth on it - and I can't tell if there ever will be. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to just leave it as it is.
Also, if I just leave it to grow normally - should I remove those insubstantial miniature trellises the roses came attached to, if I want the rose just to round out?
Sorry to ask such naïve questions - I've never potted roses before and I haven't a clue how to support them, or not support them as they are - and I don't want to do something stupid and ruin them!