What is best fertilizer for roses

When it comes to consuming roses, the first thing people think of is flower cakes. That’s right, flower cakes are a specialty of Yunnan and also a local delicacy. Due to the fact that the main ingredient of flower cakes is edible roses, edible roses are widely planted by our elderly farmers in Yunnan.
Old farmers who have grown edible roses know that edible roses are a more fertilizer loving crop with high requirements for fertilizers. If the nutrient supply in the soil is insufficient, it will lead to low yield and poor quality of edible roses. In severe cases, long-term harvesting can lead to the withering and death of rose plants. So, fertilizer is the guarantee for the yield and quality of edible roses.
Generally speaking, the frequency and time of fertilization for edible roses should be determined based on their growth status and harvest frequency. Under normal circumstances, we need to apply six types of fertilizers to edible roses, which are:
1. Basal fertilizer
2. Seed fertilizer
3. Sprout promoting fertilizer
4. Promoting growth and fertilization
5. Promoting bud fertilizer
6. Postharvest fertilizer

Basal fertilizer

Edible roses have the characteristic of being able to be harvested for many years with just one planting, which is why we need to apply sufficient basal fertilizer to meet the nutritional needs of edible roses during their growth process and prevent fertilizer deficiency. In addition, applying base fertilizer can ensure the fertility of the soil, prevent soil compaction and salinization, and is more conducive to the growth and development of the root system of edible roses.
Due to the fact that edible roses do not sprout or bloom in winter, the planting and pruning time for edible roses (pruned every year) is the cold winter season of each year. Because of this, the time for applying base fertilizer to edible roses is usually before winter planting or after pruning. That is to say, it is necessary to ensure that the base fertilizer can be applied to the edible roses at least once a year. For the selection of base fertilizer, decomposed cow and horse manure should be the best choice, for the following reasons:
① The nutrient content of cow and horse manure is rich, containing both a large amount of organic matter and a high content of three essential nutrients. Eating roses already requires high levels of organic matter and three essential elements. Applying cow and horse manure can effectively prevent the occurrence of fertilizer and nutrient deficiencies in roses.
② Cow manure decomposes slowly and has low heat, making it a cold fertilizer with slower fertilizer efficiency but a longer duration; And horse manure belongs to thermal fertilizers, which have faster fertilizer efficiency, neutralize the two, moderate fertilizer efficiency, and better effect.
③ Cow and horse manure contains a large amount of lignin, which has a relatively loose texture and can enhance soil permeability, making the soil loose, preventing soil compaction, and also promoting the growth and development of edible rose roots.
Additional note: Before applying base fertilizer to edible roses, a layer of crushed straw can be laid on the bottom layer of the soil, commonly known as straw plowing and returning to the field. The purpose of this is as follows:
① Crushed straw has strong water absorption ability, which can absorb a large amount of water in the soil and prevent the occurrence of root rot and root rot in edible roses.
② Crushed straw is a complete fiber that enhances soil permeability and is more conducive to consuming roses to absorb nutrients from the soil.
③ Broken straw will slowly rot after being buried in the soil, and after rotting, it becomes natural organic fertilizer, which can also supplement nutrients for edible roses.

Seed fertilizer

The purpose of applying seed fertilizer to edible roses is twofold: firstly, to promote the rapid rooting of edible roses, ensure their survival rate, and prevent them from withering and dying due to insufficient nutrients after planting and pruning; The second is to enhance the stress resistance of edible roses and prevent frozen damage, diseases, and other phenomena from newly planted or pruned edible roses.
For the fertilization method of planting fertilizer, newly planted roses should use the method of dipping roots, and newly pruned roses should use the method of spreading fertilizer. For the selection of fertilizer for planting, grass and wood ash should be the best choice, for the following reasons:
① The main components of plant ash are potassium carbonate and calcium carbonate. Adequate potassium fertilizer not only helps the growth of new roots in edible roses, but also enhances their cold and disease resistance.
② Grass and wood ash has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and wound healing effects. It can not only prevent wound infections in the pruning area of roses, but also quickly heal wounds.
③ Grass and wood ash contains weak alkalinity and has the function of preventing bacteria and pests. It can not only prevent the invasion of diseases and pests, but also prevent the occurrence of diseases in edible roses.

Sprout promoting fertilizer

The purpose of applying sprout promoting fertilizer to edible roses is twofold: firstly, to promote the differentiation of flower buds in edible roses, so that they can have longer flower buds and more new branches; The second is to accumulate nutrients for the root system of edible roses, ensure that the root system of edible roses grows thick and strong, and achieve the purpose of root cultivation and protection; The third is to allow the root system of edible roses to absorb enough nutrients, so that they can “accumulate momentum and grow” in the following spring.
Generally speaking, the sprout promoting fertilizer for edible roses needs to be applied about twice. The first fertilization time is about a month after the survival of the edible roses, and the second fertilization time is before the arrival of spring and the differentiation of flower buds. For the selection of fertilizers, superphosphate (commonly known as superphosphate) should be the best choice, for the following reasons:
① The price of superphosphate is cheap, and its cost is relatively low.
② Calcium superphosphate is easily absorbed by the soil and does not cause fertilizer waste.
③ Calcium superphosphate contains a large amount of phosphorus, and high phosphorus fertilizer can play a role in root cultivation, root protection, and promoting flower bud differentiation.
④ Calcium superphosphate contains calcium and sulfur elements, which are trace elements required for the growth of edible roses. They can improve the quality of edible roses.
Additional note: Due to the solubility of superphosphate in water, when using superphosphate to fertilize edible roses, it can be mixed with water for better fertilization effect.

Promoting growth and fertilization

The purpose of applying growth promoting fertilizer to edible roses is twofold: firstly, to promote the growth of the stems and leaves of edible roses, ensuring that the branches and leaves of edible roses are lush, and preparing for the growth of flower buds; The second is to promote the photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration of edible roses through fertilization, and thereby increase the yield and quality of edible roses, preventing them from burning plant organs in the hot summer.
Generally speaking, the time for promoting growth and fertilization of edible roses needs to be determined based on their growth status, when the plant growth of edible roses is slow; When the leaves of edible roses turn yellow and dry; When the plants that consume roses begin to decline and wither; When the number of flower buds in roses decreases, we need to apply growth promoting fertilizer. For the selection of fertilizer to promote growth, urea should be the best choice, for the following reasons:
① The nitrogen content in urea is high, and edible roses require the highest nitrogen element during plant growth. Applying urea can precisely meet the nitrogen fertilizer requirements of edible roses.
② Urea has a fast fertilizer effect and a significant topdressing effect. After being applied to the soil, it can be quickly absorbed by edible roses. Generally, its fertilizer effect can be seen within half a month after fertilization.
③ Urea has weak hygroscopicity, is not only easy to store, but also has a long shelf life, and will not spoil even if stored for a long time.

Promoting bud fertilizer

The purpose of applying bud promoting fertilizer to edible roses is twofold: firstly, to promote the growth of flower buds in edible roses, and to achieve “multiple heads per plant” as much as possible, in preparation for high yields; The second is to promote the growth of edible rose buds and prepare for early harvesting; The third is to promote the enlargement of edible rose buds, in order to improve the weight and quality of edible roses; The fourth is to enhance the ability of edible roses to resist diseases and pests, reduce pesticide costs, and increase the economic value of roses.
Generally speaking, the time for fertilizing the bud promoting fertilizer for consuming roses needs to be determined based on the growth of the flower buds, when the number of flower buds is small; When the bud grows slowly; When the flower buds grow weak; When there is an increase in flower bud diseases and pests, bud promoting fertilizer can be applied. For the fertilization method of promoting bud fertilizer, it is recommended to use foliar spraying. Therefore, for the selection of fertilizer for promoting bud fertilizer, potassium dihydrogen phosphate should be the best choice, for the following reasons:
① Potassium dihydrogen phosphate contains a large amount of phosphorus and potassium elements, and edible roses have the highest requirements for phosphorus and potassium fertilizer during pregnancy. Applying potassium dihydrogen phosphate can meet the needs of edible roses for phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
② The phosphorus element in potassium dihydrogen phosphate can promote flower bud differentiation and root growth, ensuring that edible roses can continuously harvest and differentiate into new flower buds.
③ The potassium element in potassium dihydrogen phosphate helps to form, grow, expand, mature, and improve the quality and yield of edible roses.
④ Potassium dihydrogen phosphate can improve the stress resistance of edible roses and prevent lodging, diseases, pests, and other phenomena.
Additional note: Due to the high cost of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and the fact that long-term use can inhibit the absorption of other mineral elements by edible roses, it is not recommended to use potassium dihydrogen phosphate for a long time. Using it 3-5 times a year is sufficient.

Postharvest fertilizer

The purpose of applying postharvest fertilizer to edible roses is twofold: firstly, to improve the stress resistance of the rose plants and prevent the invasion of pests and diseases; The second is to promote the regeneration of edible rose buds, in order to ensure the yield of edible roses; The third is to extend the growth period of edible roses to prevent them from entering a premature aging state.
In the midsummer season, due to high temperatures, strong sunlight, and abundant rainfall, edible roses grow rapidly and are harvested almost every day. Generally speaking, we need to apply post harvest fertilizer to edible roses after about twenty harvests. For the selection of fertilizers, the optimal ternary compound fertilizer should be 17-17-17, for the following reasons:
① The three elements in ternary compound fertilizer are sufficient and nutrient balanced, with good topdressing effect and strong recovery ability, which can better meet the needs of roses for the three elements.
② The nitrogen element in the ternary compound fertilizer can promote the growth of edible rose plants and increase their effective branches.
③ The phosphorus element in ternary compound fertilizer can promote the accumulation of nutrients in the root system of edible roses, preparing for the next flower bud differentiation.
④ The potassium element in the ternary compound fertilizer can prepare for the next long bud and improve the quality of the flower bud.
Perhaps someone may ask, “With so much fertilizer applied, wouldn’t consuming roses cause fertilizer damage?”. In fact, if you want to eat roses with high yield and quality, you need to fertilize more. Only by allowing the root system of edible roses to absorb enough nutrients can we continuously harvest and maximize our profits.