How to water a rose
The best way to water a rose is to aim the water source directly at the root of the plant, so that the rose can absorb the water as efficiently as possible. Wherever possible, you should avoid watering the leaves of the plant as the water droplets can magnify the heat from the sun and dry out the leaves.
If your rose is in a pot, you should keep watering it until you see water coming through the holes in the bottom of the pot. If your rose is in the ground, you should water it until you see water starting to pool slightly on the surface of the soil.
Watering when you receive a new rose
When you receive a new potted rose, it is crucial to water it straight away, especially if you have ordered it online as it will have missed a day of watering whilst it is in transit.
The best way to plant your roses for efficient watering
When you plant a rose, the roots and the first section of green stem should always be under the surface. This prevents the plant from drying out too quickly and requiring excessive watering.
If you are planting your rose in a pot, we recommend choosing a resin, plastic or glazed clay pot. This is because unglazed clay pots will soak up the water and prevent it from soaking into the soil. Then in the winter, all of the excess water in the clay will freeze and cause cracks in the pots surface.
If you do need to plant your rose in an unglazed clay pot, our rosarians recommend lining the inside with bubble wrap to prevent this from happening and allow the water to pass through the pot easily.
The best time of day to water a rose
When the weather is above 20 degrees, you should do your watering in the morning or evening before the sun gets too hot. This prevents the sun from soaking up all of the water before it has a chance to soak into the soil.
Watering your rose in summer vs winter
Throughout the summer, your rose will require regular watering. During the winter months, your rose shouldn’t need watering, unless it is under cover, as the rainfall should be enough to keep the rose moist. Additionally, it is important that the soil around your rose doesn’t get waterlogged in winter, as you will risk the roots rotting.
If you are unsure of whether your rose needs watering during the colder months, you can do the soil test, as described below.
How to know whether your rose needs watering during the summer
During the summer, it should be quite easy to tell whether a rose needs watering by looking at how dry the soil is, based on the amount of rain you have had recently.
If you are unsure whether your rose needs watering, you can test the soil. To do this, simply squeeze a handful of soil between your fingers. If the soil is moist enough, it should form a sticky ball. If it doesn’t, then your rose needs watering.
Keeping your rose watered whilst you’re on holiday in the summer
If you’re going away through the summer months, it is best to get a friend or neighbour to water your roses whilst you are away. If this isn’t possible, then the best thing to do is to sit the rose in a bucket or tray of water if it is a potted rose, or if it is in the ground, give the rose a really good watering before you go away, and it should be ok for a few days.
Can you overwater a rose?
Roses are a greedy plant that likes a lot of water, so it is almost impossible to overwater a rose during the summer months. With that in mind, you will know if a rose has had too much water if the water level has risen up the stems towards the branches.
Through the colder months, it is crucial not to overwater your rose, as excess water will sit in the soil around the roots. Then if the soil temperature dips below zero degrees, the water will freeze in the soil and rot the roots of the plant.
Do some varieties of rose require more water than others?
Yes, some varieties of rose do require more water than others to thrive through the summer months. For example, Hybrid Musk roses, need more water than most in order to grow at their best. To help with their water consumption, our Rosarians advise planting Hybrid Musk roses in the shade wherever possible.
If you are unsure about the amount of water your rose needs, it is best to look at the individual specifications for the plant on the product page. Or if you need some advice on watering your roses, contact our team, and one of our expert rosarians will be able to help you out.
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