Why is my rose bush not blooming?!?

[FirstFallopians]

Bought a lovely rose bush last year and got some nice blooms from it.

Pruned it back during the spring, fed it, expecting it to look lush again this summer.

Ive got a few buds (see pics) but the buggers will. not. bloom. I’ve been watering it regularly, it’s got access to sun but not too much to dry it out. I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong!!!

Are you watering at the roots or over the whole plant? I'm wondering if you are watering the buds, causing them to ball?

Are you watering enough? It's been a dry year compared to last year so you will probably need to water more than you may have done last year.

Some of your leaves are a very pale green which can suggest lack of water but can also suggest lack of nitrogen. What are you feeding with?

Thank you for replying!!!!

I’m in NI and we haven’t had the hot, dry summer that England has had- it rains at least twice a week with overcast skies. I’ve been watering at the roots when needed and using a specific rose food which comes in pellets which are added directly to the soil.

The pale leaves with darker veins looks like nitrogen deficiency. The fertiliser you are using will probably be slow release. Try a more quickly acting fertiliser.

But I don’t think that explains why the buds aren’t opening. Possibly the rain is causing them to ball

Ah, shouldn't have assumed you were having the same weather as me - sorry. The frequent rain could be causing balling. Nitrogen deficiency also causes small blooms and I suspect these might be more vulnerable to balling as well, due to a lack of size and vigour.

As above, I'd be tempted to move to a food more quick acting for this year (e.g. Westland do a liquid rose food) and then look at something else for next year:

e.g.

• a good manure mulch at the start of the year


• Top Rose 2-3 times through the growing season, e.g. April, June, Sept

Also, iron deficiency also looks like nitreogen definciency (though normally even paler).

Thinking about it, not all rose feeds contain iron so that might be another consideration and another reason to change feeds, if yours doesn't?

Brilliant, thank you all so much! Off to look for a new fertiliser.

I didn’t realise plants could be anaemic, but every day is a learning day 😂

I'm sure I saw Monty on GW peeling a couple of outer petals on a rose to get it to bloom. Maybe try it on one bud.

Not a short term one, but the tip of manure at the start of the year is a good one long term - I can’t believe the difference it’s made to my roses

In Feb/March it’s colder & the smell isn’t so bad …

I used a liquid feed and was surprised at the sudden growth and new buds.

I didn’t realise plants could be anaemic, but every day is a learning day Iron is key to the production on chlorophyll. Without enough green chlorophyll, the plant looks pale, and doesn’t trap enough energy to keep the plant’s chemical processes running.

In an alkaline soil, iron occurs as an insoluble oxide, not readily taken up by roots, and plants differ in their abilities to function with lower levels of iron. In more acid soils, the iron becomes free and more available to plants. So plants which grow in acid soils don’t have to worry about iron uptake, or have any means of dealing with low iron … until they are planted by gardeners in alkaline soil and their leaves goyellow through insufficient chlorophyll. And that’s why we need ericaceous compost for heathers, blueberries etc.

Just wanted to come back and say thank you for all your suggestions!

I bought some feed with iron in it and it’s improved things almost immediately- here is my first bloom of the summer.

Ah! Jolly good show!