There’s nothing like seeing those first blooms of the season appear on your roses. But when they don’t bloom quite as vibrantly as you imagined, it can be frustrating– and even concerning. Don’t be alarmed, this post will help you diagnose and fix the issues preventing your roses from blooming to their full potential.
First Questions: Is It Actually Time for Blooms?
Before diagnosing a problem, ask yourself the following questions to determine if your rose should already be flowering:
1. When is the bloom time for my rose type?
Bloom time can vary slightly depending on the rose variety and climate. If kept in favorable conditions and cared for properly, nearly all of these roses will grace your garden with repeat blooms all season long.
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Hybrid tea: Summer through early fall
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Floribunda: Late spring through late fall
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Grandiflora: Late spring to fall
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Shrub/landscape roses: Early summer to late fall
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Climbers: Spring to fall
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Miniatures: Late spring to fall
2. How old is my rose?
Young or newly-planted roses may direct their energy towards strong root establishment rather than producing flowers. It’s possible you may not see blooms at all during the first season. Hang tight– they’ll come around next season!
3. What type of climate do I live in?
Knowing your rose hardiness zone is essential to determining when your roses should bloom. Weather can be unpredictable, with heat waves and cold snaps often causing delayed flowering.
Light & Location Problems
Insufficient sun is one of the main causes of reduced flowering on roses. To get those beautiful blooms, they’ll need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. The main reasons your roses may not be getting the right amount of sun could be:
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Improper placement: If you’re growing roses in containers, simply move them to a sunnier spot in your garden. Relocating a bare root rose is trickier, but doable – just make sure you do it during dormancy to reduce stress.
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Competition/shade creep: Seasonal sun-angle shifts can impede your roses’ sunlight. Try pruning any neighboring shrubs to give your roses some of their sun back.
Pruning & Deadheading Mistakes
Pruning & deadheading are 2 of the most essential care tasks to encourage new, healthy growth on your roses. But performing these improperly can lead to reduced flowering. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid when trimming your roses:
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Pruning too early or too late: Late winter or early spring are the ideal times to prune your roses – after the last frost and before new growth begins.
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Improper cutting: Cut canes at a 45-degree angle, about a quarter inch above an outward-facing bud.
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Deadheading neglect: Remove spent flowers regularly to help your roses divert their energy towards new bloom formation.
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Using dirty/dull tools: Use sharp pruning shears or kitchen scissors to make clean cuts and avoid damaging the canes. Always sanitize your tools before and after use to prevent the spread of disease.
Nutrition & Feeding Errors
Roses are hungry plants, and fertilization is key to providing them with the nutrients they need to thrive. But it’s important to be mindful about what type of fertilizer you use and how you use it. Here are a few feeding mistakes that can lead to fewer blooms on your roses:
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Over/underfeeding: Apply a balanced rose-specific fertilizer moderately throughout the growing season. Too much fertilizer at once can shock your roses, while too little can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
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Excess/insufficient nitrogen: Using a fertilizer with too high of a nitrogen content can cause your roses to produce lush foliage with minimal blooms.
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Phosphorous/potassium deficiency: Rose buds may fail to open due to lack of essential nutrients.
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High soil pH: High pH levels can lead to iron unavailability, chlorosis (yellowing of the foliage), and reduced flowering. Test your soil and make amendments to achieve a pH level of 6.5-7.0.
Watering & Soil Problems
Roses are thirsty plants and need plenty of water to bloom vibrantly. But inconsistent and improper watering techniques can lead to underlying problems beneath the soil. Common causes of weakened blooms include:
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Drought stress/irregular watering: Water deeply and infrequently to keep blooms healthy and vibrant.
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Poor drainage: Waterlogged soil can lead to root stress and fewer flowers. Improve soil structure with organic amendments – such as perlite or vermiculite.
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Soil compaction: Apply a thin layer – about 2-3 inches – of organic mulch to alleviate compaction. Leave a gap between the mulch and canes to prevent moisture buildup.
Disease & Pest Pressure Reducing Bud Set
While impressively hardy plants, roses are susceptible to pests and disease – common causes of stunted growth and fewer blooms. Here’s what to do when your roses inevitably face a pest infestation or fungal infection:
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Fungal diseases: Infections such as black spot and powdery mildew can cause defoliation and fewer blooms. Remove and dispose of all infected leaves. Pruning center canes can improve airflow and prevent the spread of disease. Consider applying a rose fungicide if necessary.
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Sap-sucking pests: Unwanted critters such as aphids, thrips, and spider mites damage buds and distort new growth. Inspect the buds and undersides of leaves on a weekly basis. There are several kinds of pesticides and pest management techniques you can use to prevent or treat infestations. Our favorite and most natural method is companion planting – attracting beneficial insects that ward off pests.
Plant Health & Establishment Factors
Root establishment plays an important role in the quality of your roses’ blooms. Possible reasons why they may not be growing properly include:
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Inadequate pot size: Roses need sufficient legroom for proper root establishment. Repot them into a container that’s large enough for them to grow comfortably.
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Transplant shock: Moving bare-root roses to another location may delay blooms. Water consistently, lightly prune, and avoid fertilization until new growth. Your roses should bounce back in a month or so.
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Depleted soil beds: Add compost and organic matter to flower beds to give your roses a nutrient boost and encourage new blooms.
Variety Choice & Grafting Quirks
From classic hybrid teas to climbing varieties, different types of roses bloom differently. If your rose isn’t flowering quite as vigorously as you expected it to, consider the following before troubleshooting:
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Once-blooming old roses: This variety flowers just once a year on wood that grew the previous year. If you don’t see blooms in late spring or early summer, this is simply because their cycle has concluded.
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Graft suckers: Grafted roses are full of surprises. Growth from below the graft can be non-blooming or of a different type. Remove these shoots cleanly at the base.
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Mismatched expectations: Understand your rose variety’s bloom habit before diagnosing a problem.
Weather & Environmental Stress
You may have mastered your rose gardening routine, but Mother Nature has a way of being unpredictable. Challenges will inevitably arise that could prevent your roses from blooming to their full potential. Here are a few weather-related events that you should be prepared for:
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Late frosts: Use frost cloths for late-season cold snaps to protect developing buds.
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Heat extremes: High temperatures can stall bud development or shorten bloom cycles. Use shade cloths to provide temporary late-afternoon shade during heatwaves, or move container roses to a shadier spot. Make sure to water consistently.
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Wind exposure: High winds can dry out plant tissue and disrupt nutrient uptake, leading to stunted growth. Consider using shade cloth, trellises, or bamboo screening as a windbreak – blocking the wind from desiccating your roses.
Quick Diagnostic Flow: Step by Step
With all the possible reasons for reduced flowering, finding the root cause can be overwhelming. Here’s a quick checklist to narrow it down:
Step 1: Confirm timing/type/age: Is it the right season for your type of rose to bloom? Is your rose too young to bloom?
Step 2: Check sun hours: Is your rose getting at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day?
Step 3: Inspect pruning history: Have you pruned properly and deadheaded regularly to encourage new growth?
Step 4: Soil & feed: Have you tested your soil and determined if there’s too much nitrogen or not enough phosphorus/potassium?
Step 5: Water & drainage: Is your soil waterlogged?
Step 6: Pests/disease on leaves/buds? Have you checked for signs of disease or pests invading your roses?
Step 7: Container constraints or transplant shock? Have you recently relocated a bare-root rose or planted a container rose in a pot that’s too small?
Step 8: Variety habits/graft issues/weather stress? Does the bloom habit match that of your chosen rose variety? Have there been any sudden temperature swings?
Bringing the Blooms Back
Getting your roses to produce beautiful blooms is all about steady, balanced care. If you’re not seeing those vibrant flowers you hoped for, refer to the diagnostic flow above and troubleshoot methodically. Once you determine the root cause, you’ll surely be able to course correct and restore blooms in no time. Visit April & Ashley to browse our selection of premium rose bushes – delivered straight from our farm to your doorstep.