How wide and how deep does the container need to be for successful growing a rose ?

Answer #1 · Maple Tree's Answer · Hi Sharon-You can grow the miniature roses and others that obtain a height of approximately 5 feet easily in containers. Large climbing roses will normally need more space and support which is hard to give them when planted in pots. I would start most of the roses in pots no smaller than 15 inches in diameter. Most of these you can find will vary in depth but most will be around 15 inches given a couple of inches one way or another. This size pot will normally supply the rose with enough soil to maintain good root development and hold the amount of moisture needed for healthy growth for about two years. After this they will need to be transplanted into the same container with new soil if there is still room for the roots to grow or transplanted up into another container one or two sizes larger. Roses in containers can deplete the soil of nutrients more quickly than if planted in the ground. Because of this it is best to transplant every couple of years into new soil. Whether you choose to use a plastic, fiberglass, or clay pot it really doesn't matter. I like using plastic or fiberglass pots only because they are lighter to move around. Because the soil drys out much quicker in plastic pots than those made of clay I try to find ones I like in lighter colors that don't absorb as much heat. If you live in a colder climate the clay pots can crack if not protected from freezing temperatures. Most important is making sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom. Roses require a well draining soil and pot. Too much water or too wet a soil is a real killer of roses. It is important to use a quality potting soil that is well draining. In my opinion these can only be found in the quality nurseries and garden centers (not the Box stores). Before filling my pots with soil I like to cover the drainage holes with a plastic or fiberglass mesh. This mesh will not deteriorate and will keep the soil from being washed out of the pot. I keep a roll of drywall fiberglass tape on hand for this job as I grow a lot of plants in pots. This drywall tape can easily be found at any hardware store.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

John)