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Roses are the favorite flowers of many gardeners. This is because their delicate beauty and captivating fragrances may make any yard space more splendid. But those beautiful bloomings couldn’t happen by chance. They require adequate care with the right fertilizer. Like any other flower plant, roses also need the nutrients to develop strong as well as produce many stunning blossoms.
There are numerous options for fertilizers on the market. And you may find it a little overwhelming to find the best fertilizer for roses. We are going to recommend the top 7 fertilizers for roses so that you can achieve those lovely blooms in your yard. You will also learn about what nutrients your roses require and many useful tips for caring for your flowers at different stages.
What Nutrients Do Roses Need?
Roses require many nutrients to flourish and produce gorgeous and luxuriant blooms. Then, knowing the type of nutrients roses require will help you select the best fertilizer for roses as well as care for the roses properly. Here’s what roses require:
Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen is important for healthy leaf growth and overall plant vigor. It can be found in dried blood meal, coffee grounds, and seaweed. Too much nitrogen will result in lots of leaves but fewer blooms.
Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus is a key nutrient to promote the root development of roses. Bone meal is a great organic source of Phosphorus you can consider.
Potassium (K): Potassium will help to enhance the overall health and disease tolerance of flower plants. It also plays a vital role in keeping roses hydrated during tough weather conditions. You can add potassium to your roses from Greensand.
Calcium (Ca): Calcium helps to develop cell walls in roses that enable the growth of their stems and structure.
Magnesium (Mg): This kind of nutrient plays an important role in photosynthesis because it is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment present in leaves. You can add magnesium to the garden soil by using Epsom salt.
Micronutrients: Roses will also need small quantities of micronutrients such as iron, manganese, and zinc. They also help maintain overall plant health by preventing deficiencies that could affect growth or discolor leaves.
Differences between Inorganic vs. Organic Rose Fertilizer
Inorganic or organic fertilizer – the choice will depend on your garden’s needs. Each has both advantages and disadvantages and below is a simple breakdown for you. From that, you can know which is the best fertilizer for the roses you require.
Inorganic Fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers are synthetic and quickly acting. They are best suited for roses that require an immediate boost because they have specific NPK ratios. You will need to add synthetic fertilizer frequently since its impact is not long-lasting. However, using these fertilizers over long periods can weaken the soil quality.
Thus, you must follow the label’s guidelines for the correct amount. It is common to use half a cup of complete per plant. Because synthetic fertilizers are concentrated, you shouldn’t pour them on dry soil, as this can burn and harm your plants. Instead, you can spread fertilizer evenly around the rose plant and gently rake it into the damp soil.
Organic fertilizers
They originate from natural sources such as compost or manure. Not like inorganic fertilizers, organic options operate much more slowly. On the other hand, Organic fertilizers are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Composted manure, bone meal, dried blood meal, green sand, Alfalfa meal, seaweed, coffee grounds, Epsom salt, liquid fish fertilizer, and fish emulsion are some popular organic fertilizers that many gardeners love to use.
How To Fertilize Your Roses In The Right Way
You need to fertilize roses properly to guarantee healthy growth and spectacular blooms. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you fertilize your roses effectively and effortlessly:
Test The Soil
The first thing you should do is to evaluate your soil to determine nutrient levels and pH balance. Roses can grow well in soil with a slightly acidic level of around 6.0 to 6.5. A soil test will let you know if the soil lacks nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium or not. You can buy a pH soil testing kit to do the test by yourself or consult a local gardening center for deeper analysis.
How To Fertilize New Roses
After about 6 weeks from planting flower seeds, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer should be used, such as 12-12-12 or 10-10-10 formula. This will ensure that the roots are well-established before applying any nutrients. Organic options such as compost or bone meal are perfect since they enrich the soil gradually without being too harsh for young plants. Then, continue to fertilize your roses every 3 or 4 weeks but with milder fertilizer like fish emulsion.
How To Fertilize Established Roses
For established roses, follow this fertilizing schedule to keep them thriving:
Early to Mid-Spring: You should start feeding when new leaves appear. Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer or apply alfalfa meal (5-1-2) to boost leaf growth. For added benefits, you can mix in Epsom salts to encourage robust cane growth and fuller foliage. Apply a slow-release fertilizer for sustained nourishment when the shoots reach about 4 to 5 inches in length.
Throughout the Growing Season: Depending on the fertilizer type you choose, feed your roses every 2 to 4 weeks for consistent growth and abundant blooms.
Late Summer to Early Fall: When reaching this stage, you should consider transforming to a slow-release fertilizer with low nitrogen content, such as bone meal. This will support root development and prepare the plant for next year’s flowers. Stop fertilizing 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost date comes to avoid frost could damage the tender new growth.
How To Fertilize Potted Roses
Potted roses require more frequent feeding since nutrients wash out of the soil faster during watering. Use a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks or a slow-release fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Ensure the flower pots have good drainage, and avoid over-fertilizing. The confined roots of container roses are more sensitive to nutrient buildup.
Tips To Fertilize Roses Effectively
To master your skills of rose caring, you can’t ignore the pro tips listed below:
Avoid Over-Fertilizing: Too much fertilizer can cause weak growth and fewer flowers. The best policy is to stick to the recommended doses on the product label.
Timing Is Key: Fertilize your roses in the early morning or late evening to avoid burning the roots.
Stop Fertilizing in Fall: You should avoid feeding roses after late summer to allow them to enter dormancy naturally.
Apply Mulch: Mulching around roses will help retain moisture as well as add organic matter to the soil.
Observe Your Roses: Yellow leaves or stunted growth may reflect nutrient deficiency and need corrective measures on time.
Early Season: A fertilizer with higher nitrogen content can promote leafy growth.
Blooming Season: At the blooming stage, you need to change to high-phosphorus fertilizers to encourage flowers.
Watering Tips: Water roses deeply before and after fertilizing to avoid root burn or shock. The expandable garden hose is highly recommended if you need to water the garden.
7 Best Fertilizers For Roses To Achieve Stunning Bloomings
When growing roses, the best fertilizer for roses can make a big difference. Roses can’t bloom if they don’t have enough nutrients. Below, we recommend 7 top best fertilizers for roses that can help you to get those envy-worthy and stunning blooming.
Best Fertilizer For Roses Overall
EarthPods Organic Flower Fertilizer Capsules
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: EarthPods
- Form: Capsule
- Type: Organic
- Feature: For Blooming
- Volume: 100 counts
- Item Weight: 3.9 ounces
$44.95
- Organic & eco-friendly fertilizer formula
- Simple & mess-free application
- Effective for a wide range of flowers, including roses
- Compact design & easy to use
- No unpleasant smell
- Price can be costly for larger plants
Why We Love It
EarthPods Organic Flower Fertilizer is highly recommended to enhance the blooming of flowers. It’s extremely easy to use this kind of fertilizer. You need to push the capsules into the soil without getting your hands dirty or taking measures. EarthPods fertilizer is designed for use on many flower plants, such as roses, tulips, petunias, and houseplants. The organic formula replicates nutrient-rich forest soil, making it natural and eco-friendly. Because this fertilizer is organic and easy to use, then even children or elderly gardeners can use it.
The product includes 100 capsules and can help to improve plant health, including stronger growth, vibrant blooms, and healthier leaves. It also doesn’t have unpleasant odors, which further get more points from users. However, the price tag may be high for some customers, especially when using these capsules for big plants which require many pods per application.
Best Fertilizer For Established Roses
FertiLome Rooting & Blooming Soluble Plant Food
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Ferti-Lome
- Form: Granules
- Type: Inorganic
- Feature: For Blooming & Rooting
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
$12.99
- Promote extended blooming & vibrant flowers
- High nutrient concentration for robust plant growth & bloomings
- Versatile & effective application for soil, foliage, or rooting
- Easy to mix for feeding flowers
- Small package size for large gardens
- Results can vary by soil conditions
Why We Love It
FertiLome Rooting & Blooming Soluble Plant Food is a multi-use plant growth supplement. It’s highly concentrated with 9% Nitrogen, 58% Phosphate, and 8% Soluble Potash. This 9-58-8 formula supports robust root development, abundant blooms, lush green foliage, and fruits. Besides roses, you also can use Ferti-Lome plant food for orchids, flowering shrubs, tomatoes, and other blooming plants. The use is quite flexible, from soil additive to foliar feed to rooting solution for new plants. To keep your plants or bushes tidy, a flower clipper will help.
The powder form makes it easy to mix with water, allowing effective feeding with routine watering. Many have reported good improvements in gardens, flowers healthier, lengthened flowering periods, and overall improvement in plant vigor. In general, the Ferti-Lome is very effective, but performance may vary based on different soil conditions. Thus, you may need to make some adjustments to get the best results.
Best Fertilizer For Container Roses
Miracle-Gro Instant Pour & Feed Plant Food
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Miracle-Gro
- Form: Liquid
- Type: Inorganic
- Feature: For Blooming
- Volume: 32 ounces
- Item Weight: 2 pounds
$7.59
- Ready-to-use formula
- No mix required
- Instant nutrient supplement
- Suitable for indoor & outdoor container plants
- Easy-to-measure cap included
- Not suitable for in-ground plants
Why We Love It
Miracle-Gro Instant Pour & Feed Plant Food is a hassle-free solution for nourishing your potted roses. It doesn’t require any mixing. You just need to pour it directly on the soil, hence it’s ideal for beginning or busy gardeners. This liquid fertiliser works instantly for indoor and outdoor container plants and helps to promote healthier growth and vibrant blooms. Feeding every 1-2 weeks provides plants with the nutrients they need to thrive.
Moreover, the easy-to-use cap serves as a measuring tool for application, while the ready-to-use formula eliminates any guessing. The only drawback is that this Miracle-Gro plant food is for container plants, thus it will limit your use.
Best Seaweed Fertilizer
Organic Neptune Harvest Seaweed Plant Food
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Neptune’s Harvest
- Form: Liquid
- Type: Organic
- Feature: Boost Growth
- Volume: 18 ounces
- Item Weight: 1 pound
$15.77
- Rich in micronutrients
- Boost root development & growth
- Organic plant food
- Versatile for all flowers & plants
- Unpleasant smell for some users
- Pricey tag
Why We Love It
Organic Neptune Harvest Seaweed Plant Food is a high-quality organic supplement produced from Ascophyllum nodosum, a nutrient-rich seaweed found in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is designed to complement any fertilizing program by providing micronutrients that enhance plant health, vigor, and growth.
Organic gardeners love this best fertilizer for roses since it enhances root development, offers healthy foliage, and increases the hardiness of the plant. All you need to do is mix with water for root or foliar feeding. One thing you should focus on is this product is micronutrient form. Thus, it’s better paired with a balanced fertilizer to meet all of a rose’s nutritional needs. The smell may be unpleasant for some users. Plus, it’s slightly more expensive compared to other supplements.
Best Fish Emulsion Fertilizer
FertiLome Fish Emulsion Fertilizer
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Ferti-Lome
- Form: Liquid
- Type: Organic
- Feature: For Root Development
- Volume: 16 ounces
- Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
$14
- Boost vigorous root development
- Organic fertilizer
- Safe for seedlings & plants of all stages
- Suitable for roses, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and trees
- Easy to mix & apply
- Strong fishy smell, unsuitable for indoor use
Why We Love It
This 5-1-1 FertiLome Fish Emulsion Fertilizer contains fish solubles for boosting healthy plant growth, especially for strong root systems and a solid plant structure. It’s versatile for use both indoors and outdoors on roses and flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables, and berries.
It easily mixes with water and can be applied through any convenient method. The recommended dilution in water is 1-2 tablespoons per gallon for plants and 4 tablespoons per gallon for trees. Its organic nature means it is safe, effective, and even non-burning to seedlings while providing nutrients. One thing you need to know is that this fertilizer is really smelly and not suitable to be used indoors where the plants are placed near the living space.
Best Fertilizer For New Roses
Grow More Hawaiian Bud & Bloom Fertilizer
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Grow More
- Form: Powder
- Type: Inorganic
- Feature: For Starter & Transplant Solution
- Volume: 24 ounces
- Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
$20.39
- Promote vibrant blooms
- Enhance flower size & color
- Chelated nutrients improve plant resilience & immunity.
- Precise application with UV-stable tracers.
- Compact packaging with measuring scoop included
- The seal design could be improved to prevent leakage
Why We Love It
Grow More’s Hawaiian Bud & Bloom Fertilizer is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking vibrant blooms and fresh produce. With its high-phosphorus, potassium-rich formula, it promotes vigorous root and bud development, enhancing the size, color, and health of flowers. This best fertilizer for roses is 100% water-soluble and easy to apply, suitable for soil or foliar feeding. Designed to improve plant immunity and drought resistance, this product works effectively for flowering plants, such as plumerias, citrus trees, and perennials like roses.
Not only does this 5-50-17 fertilizer provide essential micronutrients to ensure healthy growth, but it is also straightforward to use. The powder dissolves in water and includes UV-stable color tracers to aid in precise application. Thus, it’s a convenient option for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Best Organic Fertilizer
Humane Organic Fertilizer For Indoor & Potted Flowers
Photo credit: Amazon
Product Information
- Brand: Humane
- Form: Powder
- Type: Organic
- Feature: For Budding & Blooming
- Volume: 5 ounces
- Item Weight: 5 ounces
$12.99
- Enhance plant growth & bloom speed.
- Organic & safe for indoor use
- Pet & Kids friendly
- Light & pleasant cinnamon scent.
- Reduce gnats in proper watering conditions.
- Need to stir to mix it well in water.
- May create soil mold if plants are overwatered.
Why We Love It
Humane Organic Fertilizer For Indoor & Potted Flowers is the best fertilizer for roses for indoor and potted plants. It is formulated to enhance flowering and budding with an NPK ratio of 2-8-1. This organic fertilizer is all about sustainability, hence it is safe for both people and pets. Its neutralized odor makes it suitable for indoor use without the concern of unpleasant smells.
The fertilizer is very easy to use. You just need to sprinkle it over the soil and water. There is no worry about burning up your plants even when you use generous fertilizer. Customers appreciate the effectiveness of enhancing the health and blooms of their plants, noticing growth and vitality. Besides, this fertilizer has safe ingredients and is very good for a house with pets or children. If you use too much Humane fertilizer, it can attract pests. Moreover, soil mold may occur if you overwater your plants.
You May Not Know
Coffee Grounds Are Natural Fertilizer For Roses
Coffee grounds are an excellent organic fertilizer for roses that you can easily find right in your kitchen. They are high in nitrogen, which improves soil fertility and produces brilliant flowers. You just need to sprinkle the coffee grounds around the base of your plants and that’s it.
Epsom Salt Is A Good Source of Magnesium To Nourish Rose
Roses adore magnesium, and Epsom salt contains lots of it. It increases flower production and darkens the color of the leaves. Mix 1 tablespoon Epsom salt with a gallon of water and water your roses once a month.
Too Much Fertilizer Will Harm Your Plant
Too much fertilizer on roses can result in leaf burn and weak stems, especially if you use inorganic fertilizer. To avoid damage, always follow the suggested quantities and apply plenty of water after fertilizing.
Bottom Line
The best fertilizer for roses will help them grow healthy and blossom with numerous beautiful flowers. Depending on your needs, you can select the appropriate type of fertilizer to provide the nutrients that your roses require. Then they can repay you with an abundance of stunning blooms and foliage.
