Question: Thursday, March 02, 2000
What advice would you give somebody who cannot immediately plant new rosebushes? How long should they soak in clean water, and at what temperature? Last spring, I had ordered three rugosa roses in the mail and had them soak for a couple of hours each, only to have them ending up dead in my garden. And at that time, there was still a lot of frosts in the ground.
Answer:
Recommended temperature for planting roses outside is 10ºC or in a controlled environment. Order from a reputable company and advise them when you require your roses to be dispatached. If you cannot plant immediately, store the plants in a closed plastic bag in a frost-proof place. If the branches appear shriveled the plants may be immersed in water until the bark looks smooth again, however, they should not be left in water for too long. It is most important the roots are not allowed to dry out before planting.
