How to Grow a Rose Bush in a Pot

Growing rose bushes in a plant pot creates a movable landscape piece. This makes moving roses in your garden easy because of the portability of the pots. Rose bushes in pots can highlight walkways, steps or back door areas. Miniature rose varieties are used in window plant pots all summer and then brought inside for a splash of winter color. Other container-grown rose bushes fill in areas that are not suitable for gardening, such as patios, terraces and balconies.

Rose bush

Plant pot

Soil

Wood chips

Water

Fertilizer

Pruning shears

Plastic

Plant your rose bush in a plant pot that is 18 inches across and 14 inches deep, which provides room for good root development. Roses need good drainage, so drill holes in the bottom if there are no holes. Roses can suffer root rot if they stand in water. Change the soil in the plant pot every three years to get rid of fertilizer salt build up and refresh soil nutrients.

Add 2 inches of wood chips around the base of the rose bush. This will help conserve moisture in the soil and keep the roots cool.

Place the rose bush in an area that receives at least six hours of sun each day. The best mixture of sun and shade is morning sun and afternoon shade. This protects the rose bush from midday heat. If the rose bush grows in one direction because of uneven sun exposure, then rotate the pot daily to even out the growth.

Water the plant pot frequently because container-grown roses dry out quickly. Pour water into the top of the container until water runs out of the bottom. Water whenever the soil beneath the mulch begins to dry out. Rose bushes may need watering twice a day during hot, dry spells.

Feed rose bushes in plant pots with water-soluble general fertilizer at the rate of 1/4 strength once a week. This will allow the roses to grow vigorously. Clip fading rose flowers off the bush with sharp pruning shears to promote the production of more blossoms.

Move the rose bush container into an unheated, ice-free area during the winter. Keep the soil moist and cover with plastic. This will keep the rose bush dormant during the cold weather. Move the rose bush plant pot outside in the spring.

Rose bush pots can include tubs, barrels, planters or nearly any other container with good drainage. The plant pots can be any shape. Rose bushes grown in pots are heavy, so add wheels to the bottom to assist in moving the container around.

Shorter varieties of roses work the best for container-grown roses. Full-sized rose bushes become top heavy when grown in containers. Shorter varieties are more compact with a larger amount of flowers. Try growing New Year, Showbiz, Impatien, Intrigue, Sun Flare, Redgold, Angel Face, Europeana, Garden Party or Ivory Fashion.