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How to Grow Climbing Roses in Pots

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Tip

Protect your hands from thorns by wearing gardening gloves.

During dry periods, container roses can dry out quickly in between regular waterings. If the soil is dry at an inch down, water thoroughly.

Even if you don’t have the space in a garden, you can still grow climbing roses in pots. The large varieties don't work well in pots but miniature climbing roses do. Miniature climbing roses range in size from 14 inches to 7 feet tall. As long as you have the right planting conditions, these climbing roses can make a beautiful container plant.

Select a pot for the rose. Even with miniature roses, choose a container that is at least 10 inches wide. If the container doesn’t have drainage holes, drill several in the bottom. Clean the pot.

  • Even if you don’t have the space in a garden, you can still grow climbing roses in pots.

Make a potting mix of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, mulch and garden soil. Pour this mixture into the cleaned pot, until it is 1/2 full. Set the rose--still in its nursery container--on top of the prepared container to check placement. Once the rose is planted, the bud union--where the rose canes meet the roots--will need to be no more than 2 inches from the top of the prepared pot. Add extra soil if needed to adjust the height.

Invert the miniature climbing rose to slide it from its nursery container. Turn it upright and place it in the center of the soil in the prepared pot. Pour more potting mix around the rose’s roots, up to the bud union. Press the soil down gently around the rose to remove air pockets.

  • Make a potting mix of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, mulch and garden soil.
  • Press the soil down gently around the rose to remove air pockets.

Move the pot to a location where it will receive six hours of sunlight daily. Water the soil thoroughly, until water comes out the drainage holes. If there is not something nearby for the rose to climb, insert a small trellis into the soil behind the rose.

Keep the soil moist for the first several weeks, until new red leaves appear. At that point, if the climbing rose doesn’t receive 1 inch of rainfall a week, water deeply.

Apply plant food formulated for container flowers. Follow the directions on the package for the frequency and amount for feeding the rose.

  • Move the pot to a location where it will receive six hours of sunlight daily.
  • At that point, if the climbing rose doesn’t receive 1 inch of rainfall a week, water deeply.

Care for the growing rose. Deadhead as the flowers fade. Support the canes as they grow. Use lightweight twine to secure the canes of the climbing rose to its trellis. Remove any leaves that have black spot and treat the rest of the plant with fungicide. Miniature roses are affected by the same pests as their larger counterparts; pick by hand or treat with pesticide.

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