My knock out rose bush isn't blooming. It was beautiful last year. This year so far it has produced 2 little blooms. Its growing like crazy with new leaves and it looks healthy but no roses. :'( I started with the rose fertilizer and I have an unopened bag of bone meal that I haven't tried yet. Am I too anxious and its still early or is there a problem with my soil? It gets plenty of light. Also, I have a yellow rose bush (not knockout) that's not blooming either.
Since I am like the grim reaper of roses... I'll just silently watch and learn from the others who really know their stuff. Good luck with them!
My Knockout roses and other roses have been blooming since March and I am about 5 hours north of you. It sounds like the roses are getting too much Nitrogen and/or Phosphorus. Look at the label on the fertilizer and you will find three numbers. The first is Nitrogen, second is Phosphorous and the third is Potassium N - Nitrogen: promotes the growth of leaves and vegetation P - Phosphorous: promotes root and shoot growth K - Potassium: promotes flowering, fruiting and general hardiness The numbers may all be the same, which is good for general feeding but it sounds like you soil may be deficient in Potassium. Don't add the Bone Meal, as it is primarily a source of Phosphorous which you probably do not need right now. You might try some liquid Seaweed extract mixed according to label instructions and pour it on the ground around the roses and see if that adds the needed Potassium to the soil to promote flowering of the roses.
Yikes... why did I think the middle number in fertilizer was for blooms? Better get that out of my head and make a note of correct info. And... GSD... this wouldn't happen to be my favorite sis-in-law, would it?
Years ago I was told how to remember what the numbers on fertilizer are for. Just remeber "Up Down and all around" First # Up for leaves N-Nitrogen Second # Down for roots P-Phosphorous Third # All around K-Potassium
Thanks Toni, I'll try the Seaweed Extract! I thought the middle number was the one that promoted blooms. I'm a newby so thanks again for the info! :-D
Yes, Cheryl its me! You know I'm new at this gardening stuff and I need all the help I can get! Thanks for the invite to this forum. Great info for a "newby" like me!!
gsd... there's great info here for even the most experienced gardeners! Please don't hesitate to ask any questions... large or small. And it was probably me that told you the "middle number" was for blooms. Glad that has gotten cleared up. See... this is exactly why I told you about these folks.
