Saturday, May 22, 2010

Do different soil contents determine the color of a rose, and if so, how could one predict the change?

For example, I planted a clipping from my grandmother's climbing rose in my yard last year and the blooms are more of a reddish pink than the pale pink flowers she has. This year I will plant another clipping from her rose and want to know what to change to make the roses look the same.

Do different soil contents determine the color of a rose, and if so, how could one predict the change?
There are two points: Rose cuttings rarely take the form of the original plant, they more or less revert to the stock to which the original graft was made. Secondly, many plants can change colour if iron is added to the soil close to the roots. Metal swarf (metal filings or shaving from drilling) old iron nails, or even Enos or other liver salts in the soil near the roots will cause many flowers to change from pink to a beautiful blue.


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