Q.Nootka Roses
I have several Nootka roses that a forest service friend gave me…originally around a foot tall. They have been in my garden for 4 years and have not bloomed once. They leaf out nicely. I don’t fertilize them and after the first year I just let them be, as if they were in the wild, only watering in the dead heat of summer. Am I doing something wrong? I am really looking forward to the blooms! Will it ever happen?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It sounds as if the nitrogen/phosphorus levels are off. Too much nitrogen in the soil will lead to more foliage growth and little to no flowering. I would recommend adding some more phosphorus, like bone meal, to the soil around your plants to offset the nitrogen. Here is more information that should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/nootka-rose-info.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/bone-meal-fertilizer.htm
