Rose Bush Problem

Question

I have an Ingrid Bergman rose bush that’s 8-10 years old and has been a great producer of long lasting roses each year with vigorous growth, particularly in the spring. Now I have one of the canes that grew out either last year or the year before, grew flower buds but is now dying. The rest of the plant is growing but more like it does in the middle of summer. Very subdued growth and blooms. I don’t know what to do for it. I gave it fertilizer this spring. Maybe I gave it too much? I’ve been making sure I give it water. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

It could be that the new cane came out from below the graft or union on the rose. Such canes are growing from the root stock and not the desired upper part of the bush, which is Ingrid Bergman. Such canes tend to be nutrition robbers and steal as much as they can from the rest of the grafted bush for themselves. Check that new growth out and see how low it is coming out on the bush, if it is way low, sometimes coming up from below ground, prune it out as far down as you can and seal the cut with Elmers white glue of the White Tacky Glue you can get at craft stores. Give the rosebush 1/2 cup of Kelp Meal worked into the soils well. Then in a couple weeks give the rosebush 1/2 cup of Epsom Salts and scratch that into the soils around the rosebush. Water the rosebush with a 2 gallon watering can with some Super Thrive and root stimulator mixed into the water together. This should get her looking like her old self.

Stan The Rose Man
Consulting Rosarian
Gardening Know How