How to get more flowers on roses: the feeding routine that works
To get more flowers on roses: feed fortnightly with a phosphorus and potassium-led bloom feed from when buds first appear, deadhead spent blooms weekly, give at least 6 hours of sun, and water deeply at the base rather than little and often. Most disappointing rose bushes are simply on the wrong diet: high-nitrogen feeding grows leaves at the expense of flowers.
Roses are greedy, and they are honest. Feed them right and they repay you all season; feed them wrong and they tell you with a big green bush and three sad blooms. Here is the home routine that works.
The feeding routine for repeat blooms
- Early spring: as new growth starts, one or two nitrogen-led feeds (Medigrow) build the frame and foliage that will carry the flowers.
- From first buds: switch to a bloom feed. Mix 2.5 mL of Medibud per litre of water, about 22 mL in a 9 L watering can per established bush, every 1 to 2 weeks.
- After each flush: deadhead, then feed again. Repeat-flowering roses bloom in waves about 6 weeks apart, and the feed after deadheading is what fuels the next wave.
- Late autumn: ease off and let the plant wind down before winter pruning.
If you are unsure about the changeover moment, our guide to switching from grow to bloom feeding covers it for every flowering plant.
The non-feeding levers
Sun: under 6 hours of direct sun, flowering drops off no matter what you feed. Deadheading: a spent flower left on the bush tells the plant to make seed, not more flowers. Snip just above the first five-leaflet leaf below the bloom. Water: deep soaks at the base twice a week beat daily sprinkles, and keeping water off the foliage helps prevent black spot. Airflow: an open centre after winter pruning means healthier leaves, and healthy leaves power blooms.
Why lots of leaves but no flowers?
Almost always excess nitrogen. Lawn feeds, manures and general-purpose fertilisers push leafy growth, and the rose obliges. Stop the nitrogen, run a straight bloom feed for a month, keep deadheading, and buds nearly always follow.
Common questions
How long until I see more flowers?
Roses set buds on new growth, so expect the response one flush later: typically 4 to 6 weeks after switching the feed. Foliar spraying the bloom feed over the leaves speeds up uptake.
Do potted roses need a different routine?
Same feed, same rate, slightly more often: pots leach nutrients faster, so weekly light feeding in peak season suits them.
Is bloom feeding safe around pets?
Medibud is mineral-based with no blood and bone, so there is nothing in it to tempt a dog to dig up the rose bed. Let foliage dry after spraying and carry on as normal.
Put it into practice
Medigrow builds growth, Medibud brings the bloom. The bundle covers the whole season from 38c a feed, backed by the 30-Day Growers Guarantee.
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