Knowledgebase

Roses #871940

Asked June 06, 2024, 4:42 PM EDT

I live in the Duluth area and I planted a rose plant in a pot where they did fine last summer and then put them in the garage for the winter. There are only 3 green stalks and the rest are brown right now. I brought the plant inside and gave it fertilizer water. I received this plant from my school as a retirement gift so it is sentimental and I would like to save it if possible. I don’t see any sprouts. Is there anything I can do to help it to sprout. Thank you.

Lake County Minnesota

Expert Response

Good Morning Kristine, 

Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service. 

Is the garage the plant was in all winter heated? If not, a plant will not survive a Minnesota cold winter in a pot. The roots freeze in the pot. Is it a hardy rose? or a hybrid tea? Did you receive the tag with the plant?

If this is a hardy shrub rose, you could have planted it in the soil outside with some mulch on it to protect the roots all winter. 

If it is some kind of a hybrid tea rose, you would need to bury it to protect it for the winter. 

I am surprised it has any green stems. You don't want to fertilize it until after it sprouts leaves. 

I would prune the tops of the green stems to see if they are alive. If so, I would put the pot outside in full sun to see if it sprouts. Water it.  There might be some part of it that is salvageable. See if it sprouts any leaves over the next few weeks. 

Good Luck!

Maureen Graber Replied June 07, 2024, 8:38 AM EDT

Loading ...