6 Reasons Why Your Rose Flowers Aren’t Blooming

There is no one in the world who only happy with the green rose bushes without flowers. I know, the dark green rose bushes is a matter of tranquillity. 

But after the growing season, If the green bushes don’t produce a flower, that tranquillity turns into frustration. And I think you are in the same pain. Right? Don’t worry. There’s no problem without a solution.

There are many reasons why your roses are not blooming. Such as Nutrient imbalance, Disease, Pests, Environmental stress, Blind shoots, and Improper care. 

In this article, I will discuss ins and out of your problem with control measures. I hope you will get the perfect solution.

So let’s begin-

1.Nutrient Imbalance

Rose plants need different nutrients in different stages. They require more nitrogen in the early-stage or growing stage and more phosphorus require in the flowering stage.

WHY?

Because Nitrogen is the major component of chlorophyll and chlorophyll is important for photosynthesis that produces energy for growth and development. As a result, the plant becomes bushy with dark green leaves and roots become stronger.

On the other hand, Phosphorus promotes bud development, seed formation, and blooming.

Now, you may understand when should you apply which nutrients more? If you apply more nitrogen after the growing stage, your rose will be bushy but flowering won’t happen.

Identification

Almost 60% of gardeners feed the wrong fertilizer in the wrong growing season. But identification is important to avoid taking any wrong steps.

If your rose plants look healthy and bushy with darker green leaves, Then your rose is not blooming because of nutrient imbalance.

The quick tips: Roses are growing healthy but not blooming.

The solution of Nutrient Imbalance

First, increase the drainage facilities and apply more water. So that the excess nitrogen washout. Then apply a fertilizer that contains more phosphorus. Here is the recommended rose fertilizer for you-

Miracle-Gro Plant Food 3002210 Shake 'N Feed Rose and Bloom Continuous Release
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Apply 1 tbsp. of Miracle-Gro Plant Food around a rose plant, mix with the surface soil, and water the plant.

You may pick any other phosphorus fertilizer. Read the label for specific dosage and schedule.

2.Lack of Enough Sunlight

You know, Flowering depends on the duration of sunlight. Botanically it’s called photoperiodism. Plants never produce flowers if the light requirement doesn’t fulfill. Some plants love the shade and some plants love the sun.

Roses are sun-loving plants. They need at least 6-7 hours of sunlight for flowering. Remember: More light doesn’t harm the rose plant, even more light helps the rose to produce more buds.

The solution of the Sunlight Problems

If your miniature potted roses remain in shade and are not blooming, place them in an open place where they get maximum sunlight.

Moreover, if there are any obstacles that shade your roses, remove it as soon as possible. In this case, other trees and shrubs will be the cause of shade. You should consider this while choosing the site for rose planting.

Another tips;

 Never park the car and any vehicle that shade your rose bush for a long period of time in a day.

3.Lack of Water

Water stress caused by improper watering and it is most harmful to the rose plants. It affects not only the flowering of roses but also affects the overall plant health.

The solution of Improper Watering

Rose plant needs at least 1-inch water per week in the growing season. But the best idea is to use a moisture meter(Our pick: Atree 3-in-1 Soil Tester Kits) or poke a finger into the soil. If you feel dry, water on the base of the plant.

The quick tips:

Apply less amount of water more frequently and improve the drainage facilities. Use mulch that can also help to hold moisture.

4.Environmental Stress

Environmental stress i.e heat stress, water stress, cold stress, and wind stress can be the cause of not flowering.

The solution of Environmental Stress

I have already discussed the water stress. Let’s find the solution to other environmental stress of roses.

Sprinkle water to the foliage and wash leaves to save the plant from heat stress. But wet plant leaves help to develop fungal diseases like black spots. Then what should you do?

You should learn the best time to wash off the rose leaves.

Morning is the best time to spray water on the foliage. If you spray water in the late evening, the plant won’t get enough time for drying the water. As a result, the fungus will develop in wet leaves.

On the other hand, Balling is caused by cold stress. If the rose plant grows in cold and damp weather, it only produces healthy buds but not flowers. The buds are dry before blooming. This phenomenon called balling. Dead stems and flowers can be a sign of cold stress.

Remove the damaged buds and increases the direct sunlight. Don’t forget to remove damaged buds, it may develop grey mould that causes the stem to die.

5.Diseases and Pests

Diseases and pest injury can be the cause of stress that prevents the roses from not to bloom. Fungal diseases are most common to the rose gardeners such as Black spots, Powdery mildew, and Rust.

They can damage and kill the rose plants. Botrytis blight is another fungal disease that directly involves preventing the buds from opening.

And Aphids, Japanese beetles, thrips leaf-footed bug, rosebud borer, scale. slug and root-knot nematodes are the most destructive insects of roses. They attack the rose plant leaves and roots, suck the cell sap. That’s why the plant becomes weak and doesn’t produce the flower.

Sometimes chili thrips, leaf-footed bug, and rosebud borer eat the roses leaves, buds, and flowers. As a result, rosebuds can’t open and plant can’t produce new buds.

So, Diseases and insects may the reason why your roses are not blooming.

The solution of Rose Diseases and Pests

Remember, fungal diseases slip out of control if it develops completely. So, Prevention is the only way to control fungus successfully.

To control the fungal disease of roses-

Increase the sunlight, air circulation, and spray fungicide. Here is the most recommended fungicide for roses

Bonide 811 Copper 4E Fungicide
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Mix 2-3 tablespoons of copper concentration per gallon of water and spray on the upper and lower surface of leaves.

To control insects and pest-

Spray Ready to Use insecticidal soap or any organic rose insecticide. Here is the expert’s recommended insecticide for roses-

Bonide (BND857) - Pyrethrin Garden Insect Spray
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Mix 5 tbsp. of  Bonide pyrethrin solution per gallon of water and Spray on the rose foliage to keep insects away.

Quick Tips: Spray neem oil (learn more- uses of neem oil for plants) to your rose bushes to kill both fungus and insects. Neem oil contains Azadirachtin that acts as a fungicide and insecticide. Sounds impressive, right? But there’s more

Here are a few homemade recipes for you-

Homemade Fungicide for Treat and Prevent Fungal Diseases

Recipe-1: Baking soda and Dish soap Solution

Steps:

  1.  Create a mixture of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 1-liter of water.
  2. Shake it well and spray it on the rose plant.

Recipe-2: Vinegar

Steps:

  1.  Create a mixture of 1-2 tablespoon vinegar and 1-liter water.
  2.  Shake the solution and spray the homemade fungicide on roses.

Note: Do a test on a few leaves of roses before applying on entire plants.

Homemade Insecticide For roses

Recipe-1: Homemade Insecticidal Soap Spray

Steps:

  1. Take 1 gallon of water and add 5 tablespoons of castile soap and a few drops of vegetable oil or neem oil.
  2. Shake the solution and spray on the rose foliage.

6.Blind Shoots

The blind shoot is the shoot that is not able to produce rose blooms. It can be caused by frost damage, soil infertility, over-fertilization, shady and cold conditions. 

Blind shoots grow and develop normally but can’t produce buds and sometimes produce empty and dry buds. If your old rose bush is not blooming, It may be the reason.

The Solution of Blind Shoots

Cut the blind shoot to accelerate further growth. Apply fertilizer and increases the light.

Other Tips To Get More Blooms

  1. Remove the spent flower regularly(Deadhead of roses)
  2. Check the soil pH. If the soil pH remains less than 6.5, enough possibility to occur chlorosis. That may cause yellow leaves of the rose. To learn more-Rose Leaves Turning Yellow? – Here is the 360-Degree Solution
  3. Prune your roses correctly
  4. Sprinkle eggshell, banana peels, or coffee grounds around the rose bushes as a natural fertilizer. To learn how to apply-15 uses of banana peel in the garden and daily life [How to Guide]

Conclusion

I kept my promise. I have discussed every possible reason behind the problem and mentioned the solution. Now it’s your turn. Observe your rose bushes carefully and find out why are the roses not blooming.

Remember; There are many varieties of roses. For example Carpet roses, Miniature roses, Knockout roses, Drift roses, Climbing roses, etc. All are not a hungry feeder. So, feeding too much won’t help you to get blooms.

To get a lot of blooms in the flowering season-

Just take care (i.e apply slow-release rose fertilizer, increases sunlight, water regularly, and controls diseases, pests) of your roses.

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