Question: I planted my first rose flower this month and it went quite well, with all the banana peels and coffee grounds. But after they bloomed, they only lasted for 2-3 days at most then the petals started to drop. I don't want to lose my flowers so soon, they smell so good.
Is there anything I can do to make them last longer ? I plant my roses using pots because of the limited space. So, even just 1 or 2 blooms, they are special to me and I really wanted to enjoy them longer. Btw, what's the name of this kind of rose ?
Hardiness Zone: 11
Susan from Surabaya, Indonesia
Answer: Susan,
Unfortunately, most modern roses don't hold up that well to tropical heat. Hot weather usually makes quick work of the blooms, and they tend to last longer in cooler climates. For every rose variety hybridized, there is a so-called "thorn'. For example, roses that are bred for fragrance sometimes sacrifice size and longevity in blossoms. The same can be said of the varieties bred for big, diseases-resistant blossoms, they usually are not as fragrant. You may be able to keep your rose bush full of blooms longer if you remove the flowers before they go to seed.
You may not be able to keep each blossom longer, but you may be able to coax your bush to remain full of blooms by removing fading flowers before they go to seed. Have you tried cutting the blooms off and bringing them indoors (where it's cooler) to enjoy as cut flowers? They may actually last longer this way. Also, don't forget to fertilize your bush while it's blooming with a rose-specific fertilizer (follow label as directed).
I'm not sure what type of rose you have here. It's beautiful. A variety called 'Pergiwati' (same pink flowers) is produced in Indonesia for the cut flower market in some of the bigger cities such as Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya. Here is a link to a searchable database that may be useful in trying to identify it.
Good luck!
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
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