Hi all,
This is my first post, although I’ve been growing roses for several years. This year had been off to a great start, with pruning and fertilizing right on schedule. After a first great bloom flush in early April, I have noticed that many inner leaves had yellowed and, more concerning, that many new buds and stems had stopped developing, turning pale yellow and hollow feeling.
I am only watering intermittently at this point with soaker hoses as the ground is still quite moist. There is no evidence of any pest or fungus and I spray with contact and systemic every 10-14 days.
I sent for a soil analysis, which I have attached here, as well as some pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Adam
I don’t see any big problem here. Surprised to see the relatively low Phosphorus in area 1 but it’s still “Medium”. Your pH is excellent in both areas. You might up your potassium - I do that with Liquid Kelp and sometimes I use Schultz Tomato soluble fertilizer which I believe is 17-17-28. Are you using Epsom Salts to achieve the very high magnesium level? If so, you might retire that for a spell.
Am I missing something here? I don’t see any yellow leaves like you said you had.
Thanks so much! I had removed the yellow leaves in the pics, but wanted you all to see the yellow, underdeveloped buds. I will up the potassium, and how would you recommend gently upping the phosphorus? No epsom salts, so I’m not quite sure how the Mg got so high.
Sulfate of potash, will help, look for the last number to be highest. What type of fertilizer did you apply and when? From ARS Consulting Rosarian Manual: page 6-4 “Potassium promotes root growth, vigor and bloom color. It also counteracts the harmful effects of excessive Nitrogen, and exerts a balancing effect on both nitrogen and phosphorus. It supports photosynthesis, which is essential for starch formation and the development of chlorophyll. Potassium leaches out of the soil and the level should not be allowed to drop too low”. (Your soil needs potassium.)
Deficiency signs spotting and streaking, curling leaves and dead parts falling out. Page 6-11 “Margins of leaf are effected first. Margins become yellow then turn brown, leaves sometimes become purple. Young shoots become hardened and stunted. Flower buds may be distorted.”
I last fertilized about 5 weeks ago with Fertilome plus Systemic (14-12-11). Would the soluble tomato fertilizer that Mark recommended (17-17-28)work to address the potassium and the marginal phosphorus at the same time?
What were the soil test recommendations? The water soluble fertilizer is a quick feed and will not help long term. Area 1 could use some more phosphorus, however, be cautious, it binds up quickly in the soil. Something like Osmocote Plus, would work for several months.
For the low potassium, you can use Potassium Nitrate, 1 tablespoon/ per bush, lasts 2 weeks, you would apply every few weeks, the nitrogen is almost 14%.
Thanks, Rosejoy. Here are the soil analysis recs. “Rose beds” are area 1 and “rose terrace” are area 2.
For the area that has the super high phosphorus, I would encourage you to apply any of the following products to your soil: Seaumic, or Root Ruckus, or Nature’s Magic. All of these products contain different humic and fulvic acids. Over time they will make the phosphorus slowly available. For your potassium problem, where the phosphorus is high, you might want to try some 15-0-15. Are there any feed and seed stores need you? They might stock what you need.
Would you add both the osmocote plus and the potassium nitrate together to the area that needs both (area 1), and the Potassium nitrate to area 2 along with Root Ruckus or Nature’s Magic?
Yes, that should help your roses in each bed. Were there any other more specific recommendations on your soil tests?
No, there were no more specific recommendations given. Also, so I am clear is the 15-0-15 mixture you referred to the same as potassium nitrate? Thanks!
No, 15-0-15 is different. potassium nitrate is 13-0-44, you need to read the labels and it will tell you exacting which type of nitrogen and potassium you are getting.
Ok, thanks! Do you have a preference or recommendation for which I should use in the different areas? In area 1 I need more K and a little more phosphorus, and in area two I need only K and the phosphorus is very high. If this constellation were in your rose beds, how would you treat it?
What fertilizers do you have access to? Is there a feed and seed near you? I need to know what you were thinking of buying. From Amazon, or another vendor?
Yes, there is a complete feed and seed store nearby, and if they don’t have what you recommend, I can easily order online or from Amazon, etc.
