How to Water Roses for Beautiful Blooms

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Learn how often and how much to water rose bushes

Co-authored by Andi Xoch and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: September 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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How Often to Water

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How Much to Water

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When to Water

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Signs of Overwatering

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Watering Techniques & Tricks

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Video

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Q&A

Your roses need water to grow and bloom beautiful flowers, but too much water can do more harm than good. Whether you’re new to caring for and watering roses or want to help an old bush that isn't thriving anymore, we're here to help. Properly watering roses is easy once you know what to do. Check out the tips below to learn how often you should water your roses and how much water you should be giving them to help them flourish.

How do you water roses?

Water your roses once a week with 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water. In summer heat, aim to water 2 to 3 times a week to keep the soil moist. No matter the weather, make sure you give enough water to soak the soil to a depth of 18 in (46 cm).

Section 1 of 5:

How often do you water roses?

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1
Water rose bushes once a week or 3-4 times a week in hot weather. It’s better to give rose bushes a large amount of water less often than a small amount of water more often. For example, giving a full can of water once a week rather than a quarter can every other day will allow the water to penetrate down to the roots.^{[1]
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- Keep an eye on the weather. If it’s especially dry and hot outside, water your roses every 3 or 4 days, as the plant will be thirstier. If you’ve had a lot of rain, hold off on watering.
- The type of rose you’re planting may have special watering instructions. For instance, bare-root roses require daily watering for the first 2 weeks until buds start to form. Check the label on your newly purchased plant for more individualized details.
Unlike ground-planted rose bushes, roses in a container or pot need to be watered daily, especially if they’re outside. Pots provide the roots with very little insulation from the sun, meaning that the soil can dry out more quickly. To avoid scorching your plant, aim to water the roses every morning.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 5:

How much water do roses need?

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1
Give ground-planted roses about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water. Aim to water the soil to ensure 18 in (46 cm) below the surface is saturated, which is about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water. Focus the water on the base of the plant, pouring fairly slowly and pausing for the water to sink in. This ensures that all the roots get enough water.^{[3]
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- Remember that after dry spells, it can take longer for soil to absorb water—be patient.
Like ground-planted roses, water roses in containers until the roots are saturated. Water your plant until water comes out of the bottom of the pot to ensure that all of the soil and roots are moist.^{[4]
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Section 3 of 5:

When should you water roses?

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It’s usually best to avoid watering your rose bushes during the heat of the day. Try to get in the habit of watering them first thing in the morning before the sun gets too high. This lets foliage dry off by the time the cooler evening air gets to them. If a rose has wet foliage, it can be more at risk of mildew and blackspot.^{[5]
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Section 4 of 5:

How can you tell if a rose is overwatered?

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Overwatered roses have yellow, droopy leaves. Plant specialist Andi Xoch explains that “an indication of [roses] being overwatered is yellow leaves.” Too much water can make leaves droop and wilt.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Andi Xoch
Plant Specialist

Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.} If you water your roses too much, they can experience root rot and start to decay. Root rot is when a plant’s root system deteriorates because of a fungus that thrives in wet soil conditions.^{[7]
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- Make sure container-planted roses never sit in water. Avoid putting containers or pots in trays, bowls, or saucers, as this can hinder drainage and contribute to root rot.

Section 5 of 5:

Watering Techniques & Tricks

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Overhead watering can foster disease by keeping the stems, leaves, and flowers wet, and also washes away insecticides or other treatments you may apply. Water the ground around the base of the plant, instead, aiming to soak the soil rather than the roses themselves.^{[8]
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University of Missouri Extension
University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education

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Use a showerhead-style watering can. The best watering can to water roses with is one with a showerhead-style spout (or one with multiple holes in the spout). Using a can that has a single-stream spout can erode the soil around the roots and potentially cause damage.
- If using a garden hose, avoid a high-pressure jet, which can also erode the soil from the roots. Alternatively, you could set up an irrigation system but monitor it carefully.
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Water more when the weather is hot and dry. Additionally, water more in windy and cold weather conditions, which can dry out the plant. So, pay attention to the weather patterns and regularly test your roses' soil to ensure they’re getting enough water.^{[9]
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- As a rough guide, on a standard summer day, water every 2 or 3 days; during average and colder temperatures, water about once a week.
- Xoch says a sign of underwatering is if the leaves start drying up or getting “crispy tips.”^{[10]
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  Andi Xoch
  Plant Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.}
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Water sandy soil more and clay soil less. Soil type and drainage influence how often you need to water your roses. Sandy soil drains easily and won’t retain water very well. If your garden has clay-type soil, it’ll retain moisture better; however, if the soil is extremely clay-heavy, add some compost or similar horticultural material to improve it at planting time.^{[11]
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- Test your garden’s soil by purchasing a DIY soil test kit or bringing a sample to your local garden center.
5
Water container-grown roses more frequently. Container-grown or potted roses tend to dry out a bit faster than ground-planted ones, so these will need watering more often. In hot conditions, be prepared to water container-grown roses every day.^{[12]
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- You can help reduce water requirements by mulching. Inorganic mulches such as pebbles or gravel can work well in containers and look attractive.
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Water newly planted roses more often. Recently planted roses still haven’t developed their root system, so if you’ve planted in the last few months, it’s important to water the roses regularly during dry spells (even if you planted just before winter). Lack of water is the most common reason newly planted plants fail.^{[13]
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- Once established, plants will be more adept at seeking water from a wider soil area, so you can start to ease off your watering regime after 6 months.
Larger rose bushes have roots spread over a wider area of soil. This means larger rose bushes require more water to ensure the water reaches all of their roots.^{[14]
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Apply a thick layer of mulch in the spring to minimize watering. Mulch helps keep the soil moist and reduces the need for watering as often.^{[15]
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University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education

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- Every year, remove the spent mulch and replace it with a fresh layer. The start of the growing season (spring) is a good time to feed your roses and replace the mulch.
- Alternatively, you can use a well-rotted manure. Apply the manure after feeding the roses in a 3 inch (7.6 cm) depth around the bush. This is ideal in late spring when the ground isn’t cold or frozen.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is it bad if water hits roses from above?

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Sometimes too much water from above can weigh the roses down; however, most of the water will still reach the roots of the plant.

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I am using a crushed banana and coffee grounds to fertilize my plants. How often should this be done?

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I would suggest doing this once a month to start, and then alter the schedule as needed depending on the results.

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How long should I leave a soaker hose going on my roses for once-a-week watering?

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I find that a good minute or two of watering works best. Just enough water to get the plants nice and misty along with getting the soil moist. It's also a good idea to water them at night so that the sun doesn't dry up all the water on the plant; it will end up damaging the plant if it does.

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