A GARDENING expert has revealed the secret to getting roses to bloom like crazy this spring – and it may all be down to brewing them a special homemade tea.
While many rely on specific fertilisers and careful upkeep, one simple secret can boost your roses: alfalfa tea.
Experts swear by this organic mix for healthier bushes, greener leaves and more blooms.
Alex Biggart, Brand Manager at 123 Flowers, explained: “If you want roses that look like they’ve been plucked straight from a royal garden, alfalfa tea is the way to go.
“It’s packed with natural growth stimulants that give roses everything they need to flourish.
“It’s like a superfood smoothie for your plants!”
Alfalfa is a leguminous plant loaded with vital nutrients including triacontanol – a powerful natural growth stimulant.
When brewed into a tea, this compound is released, feeding rose bushes with a blend of essential minerals and plant hormones that drive vigorous growth and flower production.
Alex said: “Triacontanol is like a wake-up call for roses.
“It speeds up growth, strengthens stems and dramatically increases the number of blooms. You’ll start noticing the difference in just a couple of weeks.”
DIY brew
Creating alfalfa tea is simple and requires just a few basic ingredients: 10 to 12 cups of alfalfa meal or pellets and 32 gallons (145 litres) of water.
You can get a bag of alfalfa meal for £6.99 from Living Soils Fertiliser.
Alex added: “Mix the alfalfa with water in a large plastic container and let it steep for about four to five days, giving it a stir every now and then.
“As it brews, the nutrients break down and infuse the water, creating a potent plant tonic.”
Once the tea is ready, apply it directly to the base of your rose bushes.
Alex says: “A gallon per large rose bush is ideal, while smaller, miniature varieties need about a third of that amount.
“You’ll start seeing deeper green leaves and stronger growth almost immediately.”
Boosting the brew
For an extra punch, Alex suggests customising the mixture.
He explained: “Adding Epsom salts can help with magnesium uptake, and a little chelated iron boosts chlorophyll production, which leads to even more vigorous growth. It’s a great way to supercharge your roses naturally.”
To maximise results, timing is key.
Alex said: “The best times to apply alfalfa tea are in early spring when your roses are waking up from dormancy, and again in late summer to strengthen them before winter.
“Twice a year is enough to see spectacular results, but if your roses are struggling, an extra feeding in midsummer won’t hurt.”
March gardening jobs
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine has shared the first gardening jobs of spring.
Start sowing seeds
You can plant Aubergine seeds into propagator – or outdoors after the last frost. Or you could try growbags in a coldframe – and hopefully you can harvest from August onwards.
Have a think about planting some different varieties of seeds this year – check out She Grows Veg and other sites for heirloom varieties. There’s an astonishing array on offer, like purple carrots, globe-shaped aubergines, lime green cauliflower or storage tomatoes that stay fresh for months.
Buy and plant summer bulbs
Summer flowering bulbs provide huge big blousey blooms – with some bringing a real touch of the tropics to your garden. Try Gladioli, dahlias, calla lilies, peonies and crocosmia.
Lawncare starts now!
Start your lawn care with a boosting high nitrogen spring feed, reseed any bare patches – and you’ll probably start mowing regularly in earnest this month. If you can – keep a corner long to help wildlife.
Check compost
Dig well rotting compost into your soil. If you have the space, it’s even worth digging trenches and chucking in your rotting veg that’s usually destined for the recycling bin – then cover. It adds great nutrients for free.
Clean outside spaces
Time to blast your patios and paths with a pressure washer – if your children are responsible enough it’s a great job for them – they’ll get soaked and have fun at the same time.
Soak sweet peas
Soak your sweet peas before sowing into long narrow pots or toilet rolls – put two seeds in a pot. These can go in an unheated greenhouse – and when there’s three or four pairs of leaves, pinch out the growing tip which will make them grow outward instead of upwards.
Create a wildflower meadow
Sow a wildflower meadow – if you have room. A lot of shops now sell wildflower mixes to make things easier – or even seed bombs which can just be scattered onto the soil.
