Why doesnt my rose bush grow?

Olga
by Olga
I planted a rose bush about 4 years ago. The rose bush may be 5" in height if that much. However it gives me the most beautiful blooms, one at a time at least 3-4 times during the season. thanks
  29 answers
  • Mary Jo Mauro Carter Mary Jo Mauro Carter on Jun 10, 2017

    Roses are heavy feeders. More food:)

  • Heidi Geldean Heidi Geldean on Jun 10, 2017

    Move it to a different location so it gets more sun.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 10, 2017

    Is the bush in full sun? Have you fed it and if so with what?

  • Charles Ridgway Charles Ridgway on Jun 10, 2017

    I know this is gonna sound wierd but stop by your local butcher and put one cup of blood over the base of the rose bush. :o)

  • Carolyn from NH Carolyn from NH on Jun 10, 2017

    Could try organic rose bush fertilizer in early Sprihg after you clear away the Winter mulch around it. I live in NH if that helps.

  • Maureen Toms Maureen Toms on Jun 10, 2017

    Sounds to me like you have a mini-rose.


    it will grow taller with time especially if it's in a rose bed being properly fed.


    i don't think raw blood from a butcher is something I'd want in my beds


    its a sure fire attraction for whatever carnivorous predators Live in your area.

  • Dorothy McLean Dorothy McLean on Jun 10, 2017

    I agree with the above comment. It is probably a miniature rose. The leaves also look smaller than large roses.

  • Ernest Travis Ernest Travis on Jun 10, 2017

    Try putting old, used coffee grounds around the base- 3-4 times a year. That nourishes my roses just fine.

  • Fmc7928782 Fmc7928782 on Jun 10, 2017

    It looks exactly like my miniature rose, the give away is the tiny leaves.

  • Delores Snellen Delores Snellen on Jun 10, 2017

    Epsom salt, coffee grounds roses like acid Don't think it is a mini rose mine mini is 4 ft tall but I keep it trimmed back so it doesn't get any taller It gets morning sun

  • Jeanne Brissette Jeanne Brissette on Jun 10, 2017

    I agree with the above comments. Mini rose and the coffee grounds wilol work wonders

  • Carol Fredette Carol Fredette on Jun 10, 2017

    Use banana peels and coffee grounds to fertilize and water heavy in summer.

  • Rachelmary Rachelmary on Jun 10, 2017

    I use coffee grounds, egg shells and banana peels all mixed Together and lots of sun. Works wonders.

  • Sandra D Ceretti-Stewart Sandra D Ceretti-Stewart on Jun 10, 2017

    I feed my mini rose a cup of steeped tea.

  • Kelly Gibson Kelly Gibson on Jun 10, 2017

    I have also had success adding powdered bone meal that I purchased from my local garden center.

    Kelly from Canada

  • Phy22391581 Phy22391581 on Jun 10, 2017

    Have you tried Epsom Salts yet? It is a miracle worker for roses.

  • Charles Ridgway Charles Ridgway on Jun 10, 2017

    They do make a type of fertilizer called boodmeal that you can use also

  • Charles Ridgway Charles Ridgway on Jun 10, 2017

    bloodmeal , sorry

  • Diane Diane on Jun 10, 2017

    A mini rose. Move into a pot in a sunny spot. Plant marigolds around the base. Spray daily with used dishwater ( not in direct sunlight). Feed with Epson salts. KEep moist. Roses are greedy.

  • Evelyn Gonzalez Evelyn Gonzalez on Jun 10, 2017

    I find knockout roses are the easiest to grow. Multi-blooms spring to fall. Water with Miracle Grow fertilizer every 2 weeks. Full sunlight.

  • Marilyn Cordell Marilyn Cordell on Jun 10, 2017

    I was told to crush egg shells and bury down towards the roots. The roses need calcium as feed and mine have turned out beautiful.

  • Dor11762738 Dor11762738 on Jun 11, 2017

    I feed my roses rabbit food, sounds crazy but my daughters friend told me to feed them rabbit food n it works.

  • Olga Olga on Jun 11, 2017

    Thank you all so much for your comments n suggestions. She does get plenty of sunshine. She's getting rose food (mixed with water) once a week (this year so far) going to try some of the other suggestions as well. Thanks again.

  • Taj2300874 Taj2300874 on Jun 11, 2017

    Hi, I am putting banana covering beside the roots of the roses, it's very helpful for their growt. After few weeks you will notice the differenc.

  • Yur11948143 Yur11948143 on Jun 11, 2017

    agWhat is the organic ground cover? It looks like conifer bark perhaps? If so, I would pull it away from the base of the rose. Who has been pruning? It looks like like a regular occurrence and that would stunt it if not properly applied. The leaves and flower actually look very healthy so I suspect food and sun ware not the culprit. If it was mine, I would only prune an expiring flower to the nearest 5 leaf junction and not touch the main stem until January. That pruning will/should result in multiple new blooms at each cut. I can get upwards of 100 blooms after the second pruning. You can too I think.

    • Olga Olga on Jun 11, 2017

      It has never been pruned accept of course to remove the expired bloom. I did pull away the mulch this morning as it was due for rose feeding.

  • Katherine Katherine on Jun 11, 2017

    I'm sure you've heard plenty of advice but there is one thing that wasn't mentioned. How did you prepare the hole for this rose? Could it be that the roots aren't able to spread out adequately to support a larger bush? Although small your rose does look happy. Good luck!

  • Janine Bartram Janine Bartram on Jun 11, 2017

    I never prune rose bushes just cut the dead flowers off. They seem to flower all year then.

  • Aprille Aprille on Jun 11, 2017

    I totally agree with a couple of people above. Epsom Salt is what is often advised for roses. Another thought - that little rose might be a pixie/miniature rose.

  • Mamamia Mamamia on Jun 12, 2017

    I bought rose bushes from Sams Club and they are doing better than yours. First, I think you should get your soil tested. Follow up and I plant a banana peel in the soil once a month. Maybe it needs some kind of rose fertilizer. Hope this helps.