Thank you for the replies and the welcome! I used to be on Gardenweb around 2000, when I grew over 150 bushes in the ground, zone 7b.
Wow, that seems like ages ago!
Now I'm in Central Florida. I don't want to grow roses in the ground here, for a variety of reasons. The temps have been constantly in the 90s.
I have 11 bushes in grow bags, so the roots are air pruned and don't get too hot. Wicker baskets cover the hideous black bags. I have them on rolling plant stands so I can move them out of the harsh sun, and out of storms, as needed.
Diameter of bag is 24 inches.
Most are own root roses from Heirloom, and are 2 years old. Some are older, locally purchased hybrid teas. I do treat for insects and fungal disease and none of them have, or ever had, any thrips. The only thing I have had to constantly fight has been spider mites, but regular sprayings with water and the Bug Blaster have taken care of this.
The Sharifas arrived as little more than rooted cuttings. They were growing and blooming very well for over a year, when I decided that everyone needed a little bit of iron and some kelp. The chelated iron went to the root zone, the kelp was sprayed on a cooler day, after sunset.
The Sharifas were the only ones that really hated this treatment. It was the only new thing I did before they started growing funky leaves and bad, off-color flowers.
I did cut off the old growth, but new growth came back the same way. I fear I have poisoned the soil, and I wonder how to go about rectifying that without destroying the root system.
The other 9 are doing very well. Constant attention keeps them happy, and although they will never grow as large as they get when in the ground, I have a steady supply of flowers to cut and bring inside.
Here's a picture of Double Delight, growing very nicely, and one of my latest little harvests: Firefighter, Sheer Bliss, and Double Delight.
