Does the Rose Moondance Grow Well in Zone 10 in a Pot?

Description

• “Moondance” is a white rose that emits a raspberry-like scent. The flowers grow on an upright shrub with dark green glossy foliage. The shrub is capable of reaching a height of 5 feet but controllable through pruning. If you are seeking a rose for cut flowers, this is it – stems measure 14 to 18 inches in length. “Moondance” blooms in flushes throughout the growing season.

Choosing a Container

• A suitable container for a “Moondance” rose will be large enough to allow the roots to develop, it will have holes in the bottom for drainage and it will have a wide base so that it doesn’t blow over in high winds. Those are just the basics, however. USDA hardiness zone 10 includes some of the warmer areas of the country, so the material from which the pot is constructed is important as well. If you live in an area with hot summers, avoid plastic or glazed ceramic pots. These materials tend to heat up, drying the soil and, if it’s hot enough, cooking the “Moondance’s” roots. Choose porous materials, such as terra cotta or wood. Finally, since “Moondance” is a large floribunda, use at least a 15-gallon pot.

Soil

• Roses are rugged plants and tolerate just about any type of soil, although many rosarians will beg to differ. It seems as if each one has a different potting soil recipe. The most important quality of the soil in which you plant “Moondance” is that it drains quickly. Inexpensive commercial mixes usually lack this quality. The experts at All-America Rose Selections suggest that you choose a “basic potting soil.

Water

• If you’ve grown roses in the ground and this is your first experience with container growing, throw out everything you thought you knew about rose care. “Moondance” still requires the deep watering of the garden-grown rose, but you’ll find yourself watering more frequently. Especially when planted in a porous pot, the rose’s potting soil will dry out a lot quicker than garden-grown roses. Water the rose slowly, allowing the water to moisten the entire root ball and leak from the bottom of the container. Pay close attention to the moisture content of the soil on hot days in your zone 10 garden. You may need to water more than once a day.

Fertilizer

• Every time you water the potted “Moondance” rose you leach nutrients from the soil. This is true for any container-grown plant. What you feed the rose isn’t as important as how often you feed it. Although you can purchase fertilizers that are labeled as ideal for roses, any balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, will work. Apply the fertilizer to wet soil every two to three weeks during the growing season, and water again after the application. Stop fertilizing in fall. To boost “Moondance’s” blooms, use one tablespoon of a 15-30-15 fertilizer for each gallon of water.