How to Fertilize Roses in Rainy Season (2 Proven Tips)
It has been cloudy and rainy lately, and the weather forecast shows continued rain for the coming week. Early April is a critical time for roses to grow rapidly and produce buds, which require plenty of nutrients. However, persistent rain makes fertilizing tricky – traditional root fertilization gets washed away by the rain, and foliar sprays have trouble finding gaps where the rain stops. Today, we’ll explore how to scientifically replenish roses during the rainy season.
The effect of continuous rainfall on potted roses
Light rainy weather: less impactful, but be aware of the risk of disease (e.g., black spot, powdery mildew) and growth due to insufficient light.
Heavy rainy weather: more serious problems. Rain will wash away the nutrients in the potting soil, resulting in a rapid loss of soil fertility. If fertilizers are not replenished in time, roses may suffer from yellow leaves, stunted buds and other symptoms of fertilizer deficiency.
Two effective ways to fertilize during the rainy season
1. Foliar fertilization (seize the gap between rainy seasons)
Operation steps:
- Dilute the water-soluble fertilizer according to the instructions (usually 1000-1500 times liquid), and evenly spray the front and back of the leaves with a spray bottle (the back of the leaves has a stronger absorption capacity).
Precautions:
- Choose fast-absorbing fertilizers (e.g. liquid fertilizers containing trace elements).
- Avoid spraying in bright light or high temperature to prevent burns on the leaves.
2. Sprinkle quick-acting fertilizer (direct operation on rainy days)
Operation steps:
- Choose granular water-soluble fertilizer (such as Ao Green, Flower Duo), dosage reference: 2 gallon pots along the edge of the evenly sprinkled 2-3 grams.
- Avoid the main stem and root concentration area to prevent fertilizer damage.
Key Takeaway:
- Fertilizer will gradually dissolve and leach into the soil with rain.
- If fertilizer is spread on leaves or leaf cores, rinse with water immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if it stops raining after spreading, but the fertilizer has not melted?
If it will still rain in the short term, no treatment is needed. If it turns sunny, you need to manually water the fertilizer thoroughly (to simulate rainfall) to ensure that the fertilizer is dissolved and to avoid the accumulation of salts.
Q: How can I reduce the risk of disease during the rainy season?
Check leaves after rain and remove diseased leaves in time; broad-spectrum fungicides (e.g. Manganese zinc diclofenac) can be sprayed in advance for prevention.
