Potted Rose or Bare Root plant?

From Peter Beales Knowledgebase

Roses were first sold in pots, as were most plants, to fulfil the demands of the instant gardener but the traditional method of supply is as bare root plants in the winter months, often by mail order. There is little between them as far as the ultimate plant is concerned but there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

The Potted Rose

As already mentioned, a container rose can be purchased at any time of year (although there are more available in the summer months for various reasons). The advantage of buying a rose in a pot is that you can select the plant yourself during a visit to a nursery oo garden centre. Remember though that the range will be smaller than the range available in grower’s catalogues. A potted rose planted during the summer months will require much more watering than a bare root rose planted in the previous autumn. So tragic to go away on holiday leaving a beautiful new rose only to find it withered or even dead on return.

The Bare Root Rose

Bare root roses can be chosen and ordered at any time of the year, though early in the summer is best to ensure that your choice is secured (growers tally orders and the roses available as the orders arrive on a first come first served basis). However they will only ever arrive in their dormant season, usually between the months of October and March. Therefore the first flowers will not be seen until the following year. Obviously they are live plants so need fairly immediate treatment upon arrival. This can be difficult in times of heavy frost or snow. (It is prudent to prepare an area in which to heel in the roses -more on this later). Bare root plants do tend to transplant more easily and have a settling in period before they are required to grow or flower. I would never advise buying a pre-packed rose from a supermarket for you have no idea how long they have been packaged and may well have dried out.

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