tropical rose care - how to grow roses in tropical countries

Most rose varieties shown here in this photo gallery of the Philippine islands are from mountains around Baguio City.

Roses in tropical countries rarely grow in lowland hot tropical climate zones. I have only seen a few special species of roses, very small mini-roses and another few wild roses in Bicol province that grow in real hot zones with temperature day and night in the range of 30-40 degrees C.

In tropical countries such as South East Asia or particularly Philippine islands, roses grow very beautifully and strong in mountain areas above 1000 mtrs above seal level - i.e. in subtropical or tropical mountain zones with year round average temperature between 15-20 degrees C night lowest and maximum 25-30 degrees C day time highest temperature.

Roses love heavy soil, like clay or similar heavy soil. Heavy soil also keeps water longer ... roses love it wet. Extended periods of dry season need to be avoided - hence water your roses at least once a week - at least as often to assure that the soil always is moist !!

In the rose plantations outside Baguio city, the rose farmers water in abundance the rose fields almost daily. If you have temperature like subtropical or tropical mountains, roses need more watering than in cooler climate zones.

Roses love mixed cultures - let "weeds" grow around roses, they contribute to the health of your roses and may also help to keep insects away from eating up roses. Mulching leaves or cut grass helps roses to be healthy and strong - additional fertilizer to be added is natural wood ash ! nothing else. 2-4 times a year add about one handful of pure wood ash around each rose bush - that helps the roses to grow strong wood and healthy bushes for a rich blossom.

When a rose blossom is over - remove each rose blossom. That preserves energy to roses and make roses grow new blossoms faster. Once an entire blossoming branch is over - cut that branch with a clean rose cutter deep down about 15-20 cm away from the stem. This will cause the rose to grow new branches soon for more and year round blossoms.

In subtropical climate or tropical mountain areas it is easy to have a rose bush grow and blossom year round.

Enjoy the company and beauty of roses around your house.