How To Grow Roses in Containers

'How To' Articles

You don’t have to have a large yard, ideal soil, or perfect drainage to grow roses. Some of the most beautiful garden spaces are compact yet make a huge impact. If you have a sunny location and enough room for a large container, you can be a successful rose gardener.

So let’s transform a deck, terrace, patio, or balcony into a fragrant retreat brimming with color and foliage. Container-grown roses live happily for years when given what they need. Ready to plant? Just follow these steps:

Choose the right rose. Fragrant, compact, disease-resistant varieties with continual bloom perform best. Avoid Climbers or large Shrub Roses. These are our top recommendations for growing roses in containers.
Pick the right pot. Anything with a drainage hole will work. Opt for a tall container to accommodate your rose’s deep roots. The larger the pot, the less you will have to water also. Be sure your pot has a drainage hole as good drainage is key to a healthy plant. You can also drill a hole in your pot with a masonry bit if necessary.

Consider the material of the pot and what would best suit your needs. Wooden pots, such as half barrels, are versatile, but may deteriorate over time. Terra cotta pots are porous, offering good air circulation, but dry out fast, especially in wind. Plastic pots are lightweight, easy to relocate, but can tip over in high wind. Fiberglass pots are decorative and heavier than plastic, but lighter than clay. Lastly, glazed ceramic or concrete pots are heavy, long-lasting, and great for permanent plantings.
We like placing our potted roses on wheeled platforms for convenience and changing the display opportunities. This also makes winter protection easier, as you can move the plant into a garage, shed, or against the side of a building during cold snaps.
Use quality potting mix and enrich with compost to increase water holding capacity. Use a general organic soil that does NOT include any type of granular or time-release fertilizer. Use of this type of potting soil may burn the roots and void our warranty. Using soil with granular fertilizer can cause problems also for container-grown roses.
Water regularly so that soil is moist, but not wet.
Feed often for more blooms. Feed first in spring, once new growth unfurls, and then after each flush of blooms – about every 2 to 3 weeks. In colder zones, stop fertilizing 6-8 weeks prior to the first frost. Always use a fertilizer that begins as a liquid in the bottle, such as our Founder's Fish Fertilizer for the first year. Use of granular products in the first year may burn the roots and void our warranty. (OmniMeal is a new granular fertilizer from Heirloom Roses that is safe for use on first year roses. The use of OmniMeal during the first growing season will not void our One Year Guarantee warranty.)