Thursday, April 17, 2008

Unusual Roses

There are many very pretty roses out there, and some are even stunning to say the least. What about something different? I have heard and been hearing for a number of years about blue roses being developed.

Not tinted or sprayed blue, but really blue roses. Whoa now that is different and cool. In the beginning of this journey I remember reading a magazine article about this ongoing project. At the time, they really weren't available to the public.
At least not in an affordable manner for most of us.

In the article it was stated how they were being grown and so on. The article went on to state that if you really wanted some they would be about $10,000 for a dozen!
Yikes and double yikes. This was in about the year 1991.

Fast forward a few years. The scientists have still not been able to bring the blue roses to market, and probably never will. So we will have to settle for artificial, dyed or painted blue roses for the time being.

Besides most people really do prefer red now, don't they......

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

What is a hydroponic rose?

Hydroponic roses are roses grown in a solution rather than soil. Nutrients are easier to uptake by the root system through a solution rather than soil. In other words, this is a more efficient system.

This is more cost prohibitive, because of water pumps, fertilizer, lights and so on.
Are the roses nicer? Probably because there is more control in how they are grown versus mother nature.

Bottom line, roses are being grown in new ways and more modern farming techniques that enhance the quality of the roses that the end consumer receives. Prices can be better also. However, with diesel prices rising, it becomes more expensive to ship stuff so prices may never actually go down.

Hydroponic roses are more disease free because there are less bugs due to lack of soil,and roses being grown in a greenhouse environment with more temperature control
and less excess moisture causing leaf fungi to develop less.

We all want more environmentally friendly farming for the future and personally I believe this to be a great method to move things like rose farming into the future.
Kind of a bit complicated for a rose, but I think they are worth it considering all the joy they bring to us rose lovers.