Roses have captivated people for centuries. With their stunning and fragrant blooms, gardeners have been mesmerized by these subtle beauties planting them each year and bloom season in their home gardens. The lifecycle of rose plants is also a beautiful journey, with each stage demanding care and attention. Today, in this blog we’ll talk about the amazing flowering plant and how to nurture it at each phase of its growth.
GERMINATION
The journey of the rose plant begins with a tiny seed that can be collected from other mature rose plants or can be purchased from an online plant nursery. If you wish to buy rose plants online, then head over to Urvann, for the best quality of healthy plants. Let’s continue our discussion then, the seeds must be planted only 1-2 inches deep in the soil to germinate. Ensure that you place your seed planters or germination trays in an area with moderate sunlight in a well-draining soil mix. You can use a mixture of cocopeat, perlite, and garden soil for your seeds. Water the seeds and make sure the soil is consistently moist till the seedlings begin to emerge.
SEEDLINGS
After germination, when you see the first few leaves rising from the soil up toward the sky, give yourself a pat on the back on completing stage one of the growth cycle!
However, the seedling stage is the trickiest one, as the little plant babies are vulnerable to overwatering and diseases. Make sure that your pot has proper drainage and that no water remains standing in the pot. Gently till the soil every 3-4 days to facilitate aeration and allow healthy root development.
FOLIAGE GROWTH
Now that your rose plants are a few weeks old and starting to develop roots, you will see the plant developing a lot of foliage above the soil while also strengthening its roots. Provide your plant with fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen so that the leaves grow green and healthy. You can also gently prune the plant to encourage branching and a more fuller growth. Water your plants deeply ensuring proper drainage and shift them to a location that receives the full day’s bright sunlight.
HELLO BUDS!
Now that your plants are a few more weeks old, it is time to expect some bud formation. Properly care for your red rose plants or any other rose plant variety to ensure that the flower buds formed are healthy and ready to bloom into big beautiful flowers. You can add cow dung compost this time to your plants to give them more nutrition and help the flower formation. Also, maintain a consistent watering schedule and prune a few leaves so that the plant can concentrate on blooming.
YAY! FLOWERS
Now that you have reached this stage of rose plant growth, it is time you give another pat on the back to yourself. The flowers have started to bloom and the inner gardener in you is all rosy and pink looking at all the ‘flowers’ of your labor (Chuckle!). The rose plants come in many varieties, here are a few,
- Desi Rose
- Kashmiri Roses
- Climbing Roses
- Tea Roses
- Miniature Roses
And so many more. From humble beginnings as a tiny flower to a fully blossomed flower nodding its head towards the sun in all its glory.
POLLINATION AND MORE
After blooming, make sure to deadhead the spent flowers so that newer flowers can appear. Regular pruning of your plant will help it grow more branches and hence have a more fuller shape. When bees and other pollinating insects start coming to your flowers you can be rest assured that the plant is ready for pollination, a crucial stage in the lifecycle of a plant. Pollination ensures that more plants are produced and the cycle of life continues. Encourage pollination by keeping more flowering plants around so bees, butterflies, and birds are attracted to them.
CONCLUSION
Now that you know about the life stages of a rose plant or a rose flower, why not plant this beauty in your home and start your gardening journey today? As for seasoned gardeners, we hope this blog motivated you to take that extra step for your plant baby.
Happy Gardening, Pip-Pip!