I planted 3 new rose bushes about a month and half ago. They are I think what is referred to bare root roses (as opposed to ones in gallon containers), the roots were in a wood chip filled bag around the roots with the canes exposed. Anyway, they looked like they were beginning to show signs of new growth on a couple of them but now that new growth is brown and dry looking. The canes one these same two are green for the most part. On the third rose the canes are brown and never really saw new growth on it like the other two. Actually the new growth on the other two was only like 2 leave buds on each nothing more. I am new to planting roses. I just moved into this house a year ago, it had 4 overgrown and neglected bushes that I pruned and had blooming all the way thru' October. I live in Oregon and it has been raining so they are not dried out. Any suggestions? Are they still alive? Should I give up on them?
"GoldLexus" wrote in message news:u%Boc.122638$G snipped-for-privacy@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
Bodybag roses are the puppymill roses of the retail world. The lowest quality to begin with, then they hack the roots off, dip them in hot green wax to hide any imperfections and forcibly compress them into sawdust filled plastic bags with machines. Most people, even experienced rosarians, don't have a lot of luck with them. It's not your fault, other than you are the one that bought crap. You didn't know any better. A lot of people don't. Dig them up and take them back and demand your money back. Get some potted ones instead. At least you can be half sure that they aren't mislabeled, which is very common in the bodybags. Order you some real bare root roses next year from Edmunds if you like hybrid teas or Ashdown if you like antiques or shrubs. Real bare root roses are stored in temperature and humidity controlled environments until it's time to ship to the customer and then they are packaged with damp newspaper or shavings around the roots and everything is enclosed in a heavy duty plastic bag and sealed. When you open the bag, everything is plump and green and the roots are at least a foot long, not those pitiful 3" stubs the bodybags have. Bodybag roses are also notorious for being mislabeled (as are most Mart roses) and for having Rose Mosaic Virus, which makes them produce less flowers, makes them more disease prone, makes them more winter tender, and generally negativly impacts their overall vigor. Most of your discount roses from Texas will be crap, simply because of RMV that the growers don't care to eradicate because it might cost them an extra nickel. Besides, with a built in expiration date on roses, they'll always have a sucker coming back to them not knowing it wasnt' their fault the roses were crappy and croaked. The sad part is, crappy roses tend to turn off folks from roses permanantly, and help to perpetuate the myth that roses are "difficult". *Some* roses are difficult in *some* climates, but if you start off with the deck stacked against you, you don't ever experience enough success to keep you wanting to try.
I bought the roses from a very popular nursery, here in Portland Oregon, that is endorsed by the Portland Rose Society. So I am a little confused. Wouldn't they know the proper way to sell roses? They grow them at the nursery, they offered to 'dig' up the roses if I didn't find what I wanted. I thought I was buying good quality roses.
Bare root plants are only viable during their dormant season. Bare root roses in the PNW should be sold bare root until late February/early March at the latest - after that they are in their growing cycle and need to be planted in the ground or potting soil if at a nursery. And that nursery should know that, if they have any kind of reputation. I'd definitely ask for replacement plants, but not ones "dug up" - that is also very stressfull to roses when they are in full growth mode.
Have you watered them at all? FWIW, I live only a couple of hours north in Seattle and it has been a VERY dry and warm spring and I should imagine Portland's has been very similar. You CANNOT rely just on natural rainfall for newly planted plants - supplemental irrigation is necessary and this year, essential. Even plants established in the landscape have needed supplemental irrigation this spring - we are looking at a long dry season ahead :-((
Yes I have been watering them when it has been dry and warm. I called the nursery, they are willing to give me store credit but I need the receipt. I can't find the receipt. :( I had it laying around for weeks, now I can't find it! Have you heard of Kasch's? It is a nursery here in Portland just wonder if they are located further up north or not. If so don't go to them!
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