Our Roses Need NPK. What is that? Part 1

Oh, how we love our roses! We love the pretty blooms, and healthy plants. We love how they beautify our gardens and homes. What makes them grow into such beautiful plants?  It is simple: adequate sunlight, air, water and mineral nutrients.  

The rose is predominately made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, in the form of water, sugar and starches. These three elements are derived from the air and water.  All remaining nutrients are obtained from the soil.
 
The major, or macronutrients found in the soil are: 

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium (C)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulfur (S) 

The nutrients needed by plants in lesser amounts are called micronutrients, and are rarely missing from the soil.  They are: 

• Boron (B)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Zinc (Zn) 

The three main macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or NPK. These three nutrients are needed for all plants to live and grow. Roses are especially sensitive to the right amounts of these elements in the soil.  If the quantities are not correct, the rose suffers. This is why we pay such special attention to NPK ratios in our soils and in our fertilizers. 

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