Roses: Seeking Divine Grace on Navratri Day 5!

Roses, known as the "queen of flowers," are cherished globally for their vibrant hues, enchanting fragrance, and symbolism. With over 300 species and thousands of cultivars, roses are versatile and widely adored for their cultural, economic, and medicinal significance.

Importance of Roses

Roses symbolize love, beauty, and elegance across cultures, making them prominent in literature, art, and ceremonial traditions. In the floral industry, roses are one of the most gifted flowers, significantly contributing to the global cut-flower market. Additionally, their fragrance is widely used in perfumes, cosmetics, and essential oils. Roses also enhance garden aesthetics, attract pollinators, and promote biodiversity.

Popular Rose Varieties

The Edward Rose, Andhra Red Rose, and Button Rose are widely cultivated in India.

Cultivation of Roses

• Soil and Climate: Roses thrive in well-drained sandy loam soil with a pH of 6-7. They require bright sunlight for at least six hours daily, with ideal temperatures being 26°C during the day and 15°C at night.

• Propagation and Planting: Cuttings with 2-3 buds should be dipped in IBA or IAA (500 ppm). Pits measuring 45 x 45 x 45 cm should be dug with 2m x 1m spacing, and 10kg FYM should be added to each pit before planting.

• Irrigation: Water once every two days until plants establish, then water once a week. Avoid using saltwater.

• Fertilization: After pruning in October and again in July, apply 10kg FYM and 6:12:12g of NPK per plant.

• Biofertilizers: During planting, mix 2kg each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria with 100kg FYM and apply to the pits.

• Pruning: Prune vigorously grown shoots by half between October and December, removing weak, diseased, and unproductive shoots. Protect the cut ends with Bordeaux paste or a mix of Copper Oxychloride and Carbaryl 50 WP.

• Growth Regulators: To boost flower production, spray GA3 (250 ppm) 30 days after pruning during the early vegetative phase.

• Harvesting and Yield: Roses start blooming in the first year, with full yields by the second year. Flowering begins 45 days after pruning, and fully opened flowers are harvested early in the morning. A yield of about 10 lakh flowers per hectare per year is common.

Plant Protection

Pests:

• Rose Chaffer Beetle: Handpick and destroy the beetles during the day. Spray Quinalphos 25 EC (2ml/lit) or use light traps for pest control.

• White Grub: Set up light traps and spray Phosalone 35 EC (2ml/lit).

• Red Scale: Rub off scales using cotton soaked in kerosene or diesel, and cut and burn affected branches. Spray Malathion 50 EC (2ml/lit) during pruning and again in March-April.

• Mealy Bug: Spray Methyl Parathion (2ml/lit).

• Flower Caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura): Use Ha NPV (1.5 x 10^2 PIB/ha) and Sl NPV (1.5 x 10^2 PIB/ha) to control infestations.

• Bud Worm: Spray regularly at fortnightly intervals during flowering.

Diseases:

• Black Spot Disease: Spray Carbendazim (1g/lit) twice at fortnightly intervals.

• Powdery Mildew: Control with Carbendazim (1g/lit) or Wettable Sulphur (2g/lit).

• Botrytis Blight: Remove and destroy infected blossoms. Spray Carbendazim (1g), Chlorothalonil (2g), Mancozeb (2g), Azoxystrobin (0.5g), or Thiophanate Methyl (0.5g) per liter of water.

• Die-back: Spray Chlorothalonil (2g/lit) or Mancozeb (2g/lit).

Market Price

In India, a single cut rose sells for Rs. 15 to Rs. 50 per stem, depending on quality and variety.

(Source: Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Commodity Online Prices)