Tips on growing roses?

Question

This is my first time growing roses. I purchased the Veteran's Honor rose hybrid.
It had several blooms yesterday, that have dropped already.

I purchased it in a one gallon container at the Houston Garden Center.

I did plant it in the ground yesterday as soon as I brought it home, in a sunny location.

Also, I am located near Galveston, Texas. We don't have much of a winter here. We usually get only a slight frost, our temperature rarely gets below 40 degrees.

I did loosen the roots before planting.
Oh, I'm in zone 9.

Answer 1

Hi Sarai,
Veteran's Honor is a beautiful hybrid tea, but I have to tell you that hybrid teas are very fussy and disease prone. It would help me to know where you purchased your rose and how long you have had it. Also, if you could tell me if it was in a container or bare root that would be great.
Here are some thing I suspect may be wrong with your rose.
These are just possible reasons you blooms drop early.
Cane Borers: insects that bore into the cane and causing flowers and leaves to wilt quickly. You can check by cutting a cane to see if there is a hole in the center. If there is then keep cutting the cane until the hole is gone and the grub is removed. Then you can use white glue to seal the cut on the cane.
Failure to thrive: Usually caused by weather conditions: High heat, High humidity, or too cool nights or dark humid days can cause the flowers to curl and drop.
Root bound: If you purchased a container plant then it is possible that it was root bound in the pot and if the roots were not loosened and spread out in the planting hole it is in the process of strangeling itself. If you think this may be the case then you can dig it back up and unbind the roots. I've included planting instructions that should help you.
Not enough Sun: All roses require at least 6 hours of direct sun light unless indicated as shade tolerant. Even then they need at least 4 hours to grow and bloom properly.

That is about all that I can think of regarding the problem with your blooms. I hope it has helped some. Here are some more tips for growing healthy roses.

I've been growing roses for 20 years now and I have found that they are among the easiest plants to grow and the most rewarding. There are 4 things you need to keep in mind to have a beautiful and lush rose garden and that is Selection, Water/feeding, Sun exposure and Pruning.

Selection is very important in how successful you are at growing a healthy rose. Like I mentioned Hybrib Teas are difficult, but not impossible. For now I will just give you these site that have very hardy and disease resistant roses for your future purchases, because I'm certain that once you are comfortable growing roses you will want to add more and more to your collection.
http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/
http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/
http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi/browse.cgi?page=item&cat=13&item=248
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/EKroses/EKbrigaderoses.html
Watering/Feeding:
The most important thing to remember here is that roses hate to get wet so remember to water early in the morning and only at the base. Newly planted roses need water every day for the first 2 weeks and then you can cut back to once a week, but make it a nice big drink. Feeding is also important, but stay away from Miricle-Gro for roses and any other perennial. It's only good for annuals. Roses really love manure mixed into the top layers of their soil and they also love fish emulsion. They just explode with that stuff.

Sun Exposure:
All roses love full sun and require at least 6 hours daily to do well. There are some roses that will tolerate partial shade, but very few and a good breeder and dealer will put that in the rose description.

Pruning:
There are two types of pruning and both are necessary to beautiful roses. Here are detailed instructions for pruning:

General Pruning: You do this to remove any dead or dying canes or spent flowers.
It is true that you need to pick a set of five leaves, but not necessarily the first set. Pick a set of five that are pointing outward because that will be the direction of a new cane and flowers. If you choose one pointing inward then your canes can cross and will cause other problems. Cut the cane at an angle like this (/) about 1/4" above the five leaf set. It is okay to do this with each cane and especially if the cane is dying. It is also okay to do this throughout the growing season because it promotes new growth.

Autumn Pruning: Any time between the first freeze of Autumn and the last freeze of winter you can seriously prune your rose down to about 2 feet. This will create a fuller, lusher plant for the new season. Once again you will want to cut at an angle. However, instead of cutting above a five leaf set, this time you will want to cut right above a node which will resemble a small, reddish, slightly pointed bump on the cane. Like the five leaf set, make sure the node is pointing outward.

Good Luck with your rose.

Addition: Okay, I am familiar with Galveston. I've been there and I like it a lot. It's just beautiful. Oh, wait, you said near Galvestone, but that really shouldn't make much difference in that your location is probably pretty toasty and humid too which means that your rose is probably suffering from transplant shock. Watch it carefully and water it daily early in the mornings. After about two weeks then cut back watering to once a week. Your rose just needs a little TLC. Another thing about hybrid teas is that they hate humidity and you will probably be batteling black spot during your most humid months. It might do you some good to purchase some Ortho rose defense and start a weekly spraying regime as a preventitive measure. I hope everything works out for you and your rose. If you ever decide to get another rose then you might consider one of the earth friendly roses from the site I gave you. It is just a list, but you can find those roses on the list just about anywhere.

Oh, if at anytime during your daily waterings for the first two weeks your rose leaves start to turn yellow cut back on the watering. Give the soil a chance to dry out and then resume watering ever 4 or 5 days.

Answer 2

We are assuming that since you purchased the rose already in bloom that it was growing in a pot already. You didn't say if you planted it in your garden, but if you did, that may be the reason the blooms have dropped. The article listed below has information on planting roses.

Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 3

You don't say if it is in a pot,or the ground?The most common mistake with roses, is over watering.I would get a book from your local library, as there is a great deal to know regarding rose culture. Good Luck!

Answer 4

roses need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight everyday. they also like to be fed. alfalfa meal (get it at your feed store) should be worked into the soil at the drip line of the leaves, not up against the plant. also, water well, but make sure the soil drains good. Hybrids are usually tougher to keep blooming than traditional roses. if you planted it outside it most likely will not winter over.