Hello. I read that roses thrive with a fertilizer of an 8-20-40- formula. I am unable to locate this fertilizer ratio. Is anyone aware of such a product? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

this wasn't from the mother of an ex-husband?

All nutrients in fertilizers should be present in appropriate ratios to each other so that they can be efficiently used by plants. For roses, the best ratio for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 1 : 0.8 : 1.8.

https://intermag.eu/news/ferti...

Thank you. My first reaction was of disbelief, but two people on the HMF rose comment section supported this. I tried to double check the ratio with the author of the post, but never got a response.
Any organic fertizer suggestions?

I use dried blood and chelated iron, along with , from the farm, Sheep manure on occasions.

Cow manure is the best manure for roses and I use it bagged when planting roses.

This site gives you a good idea what is out there..
http://www.rosemagazine.com/ar...

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I would love to be able to use the same products, but our dogs would have a great time rolling in and eating the manure. I am considering alfalfa pellets --

Hello Rose Grower!
I've tried manure, blood meal, and bone meal. The dogs had a ball, dug it up, rolled in it and ate it (and the soil it was mixed in). They're also not above munching on alfalfa pellets. Then I tried it all in the front yard, where the wildlife did the same. (Coyotes?)
I'd suggest just using a commercial rose fertilizer, whatever is available locally. It's really not critical. I do stay away from the multi-pesticide products, but some rose growers swear by them.
Oh, and get some other toys for the dogs!

The NPK Ratio to be used should also take into account what nutrients your soil is high/low of (you will need to make a soil test). But when you get recommendations, also consider that some people exhibit roses and they tend to use larger NPK ratios to get more bloomage or because their soil is low in some nutrients. If you find one that works for you markedly, stick with it. If someone recommends me a certain number for a certain plant, I do not fixate on an exact number match. So for example, if I needed a 8-20-40 fert and there was a 7-20-40 or a 4-10-20 fert, I would consider those.

Thought I would use this recent fertilizer thread to ask a question of my own. Today, I saw that someone had donated some 16-9-5 fertilizer for the rose garden where I volunteer. I'm thinking it's probably left-over from a recent grass planting (for hay, etc.) in the area. Thoughts?

If not combined with other mostly nitrogen free fertilizer you will get very green very bushy roses with fewer blooms.

I've always heard that roses like a very balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10. I would think that anything with one number much higher than the rest would be lacking in something the roses need for healthy growth and blooming.

Would it make sense to use that with spring growth? And then switch to a more balanced fertilizer? Just wondering.

Isn't using a nitrogen heavy fertilizer going to encourage more fungal and bacterial issues?
Or that is going to happen only in certain contexts?
Just asking.

Heavy nitrogen encourages green leafy growth. If more leaves encourages more disease I can't say.

There is an organic fertilizer that is 9-6-6 and says "Great For Roses." Can be applied dry or as a tea. Thoughts?

Also, would any fertilizer that is advertised as being good for tomatoes also be suitable for roses do you think?

You know, I've used every fertilizer in the book. I usually get what ever is available and on sale when I need to buy. I've used vegetable fertilizer, lawn fertilizer, rose food, anything and everything. They eat it up. The roses love it all. They aren't all that picky, just hungry! Feed them! They will thank you with lovely blooms in the end.

Seil is correct; I generally try to use specific fertilizer , or at least have it on hand but at times I use what I have without problems.