🌸 Rose — Varieties, Propagation, and Production Technology
Rose — Varieties, Propagation, and Production Technology.
Rose (Rosa spp.) is known as the "Queen of Flowers" and is the most important commercial cut flower in the world. It belongs to the family Rosaceae and is grown in India for both domestic loose-flower demand and export-oriented cut flower trade.
Classification of Roses
| Type | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Tea (HT) | Large single blooms on long stems, ideal for cut flowers | Gladiator, First Red, Taj Mahal |
| Floribunda | Clusters of medium flowers, good for landscaping | Iceberg, Fashion, Queen Elizabeth |
| Miniature | Dwarf plants, small flowers | Baby Masquerade, Cinderella |
| Climbing | Long canes, need support | Climbing Crimson Glory, Marechal Niel |
| Polyantha | Small flowers in large clusters | The Fairy, China Doll |
Varieties for Commercial Cut Flower Production
- Red: First Red, Top Secret, Freedom, Samurai, Grand Gala
- Pink: Noblesse, Sonia, Sweet Avalanche, Titanic
- Yellow: Gold Strike, Skyline, Aalsmeer Gold
- White: Avalanche, Tineke, Virginia
- Orange: Tropical Amazone, Naranga, Confetti
Climate and Soil Requirements
- Temperature: 15-28°C (day), 12-15°C (night)
- Relative humidity: 60-70%
- Light: 6-8 hours of bright sunshine; supplemental lighting improves quality
- Soil: Well-drained sandy loam, pH 5.5-6.5, rich in organic matter
- Growing medium (polyhouse): Cocopeat + Red soil + FYM (1:1:1)
Propagation
- T-budding on rootstock (Rosa indica var. odorata, Edward Rose) — most common commercial method
- Stenting — Simultaneous grafting and rooting of cuttings (hi-tech method)
- Stem cuttings — For shrub roses and landscape varieties
- Tissue culture — For mass multiplication of elite varieties
Production Technology (Polyhouse)
Planting
- Spacing: 20 cm x 30 cm (row to row x plant to plant) at 8-10 plants/sq.m
- Raised beds of 1 m width and 30 cm height with drainage
- Drip irrigation with fertigation is standard practice
Nutrient Management
- N:P:K at 30:10:30 through fertigation on alternate days
- EC (Electrical Conductivity) of nutrient solution maintained at 1.5-2.5 mS/cm
- Foliar sprays of micronutrients (Fe, Zn, B, Mn) at fortnightly intervals
Training and Pruning
- Bending of weak shoots to build plant frame and increase basal breaks
- Pinching of initial buds to strengthen the plant
- Deshooting — Removal of side buds to produce single-stemmed cut flowers
- Pruning — In open-field roses, done annually in October (South India) or November (North India)
Harvesting and Post-Harvest
- Harvest at tight bud stage (petals just starting to unfold)
- Immediately place stems in clean water with preservative (sucrose + citric acid + 8-HQC)
- Cold storage at 2-4°C extends vase life
- Grade by stem length: 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 cm
- Pack in corrugated boxes with cushioning for export
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Species | Rosa spp., family Rosaceae |
| Best climate | 15-28°C day, 12-15°C night |
| Main propagation | T-budding on suitable rootstocks |
| Core practices | Bending, pinching, deshooting, pruning |
| Harvest stage | Tight bud stage for maximum vase life |
References
2 sources • [1] [2]
References
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