Guide to Making the Most of Rose Growers

Enhance your florist business by making the most of rose growers

By Tai G., Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pick rose growers that offer a refund or replacement policy that works for your business

It is imperative that any grower you work with provides a refund policy that accommodates your short term goals and long term needs. If you are not happy with the grower's product, the company should do its utmost to get you replacement flowers expeditiously so you can fill your orders on time.

I recommend: Grow Quest has a "return of goods policy," although the company does charge restocking fees for the inconvenience. It also offers a livechat for customer service. Edmund Roses guarantees "top-grade" products and efficient rose deliveries.

Go with suppliers that can also help you develop rose arrangements

There are many florist wholesalers that go above and beyond to assist their small business customers. Some suppliers go so far as to offer business assistance via educational tools, product tips, business ideas and newsletters.

I recommend: Weeks Roses provides resources that include tips, classes and links to industry associations. Heirloom Roses features information on virus problems, as well as articles on roses and FAQs.

Select wholesale rose growers that also offer up-to-date news

In order for your business to grow with the times, you should always stay abreast with the latest news in the rose industry. Not only will you be familiar with what's new in your business, but you will learn the latest information about changing consumer needs.

I recommend: Vintage Gardens offers an industry newsletter, in addition to learning opportunities through two reputable programs. Nor-East provides industry articles, press releases and event opportunities.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many rose growers provide product samples to rose florists so they can better determine their purchasing needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save your client some money by ordering discount roses

Buying roses at full price isn't always necessary. For the bride on a budget, you'll need to provide an affordable alternative to pricey arrangements. Consider suggesting that she and her bridesmaids create their bouquets and arrangements themselves. It's a simple process yet it is often overlooked. By buying in bulk or ordering through a store that offers a discount to wedding planners, you can save the bride quite a bit of money, for which she will be grateful.

I recommend: Order rose petals in bulk from the Wedding Flower Shop. Sign up for a great discount at RoseSource.com.

Buy from quality spray rose growers

Spray roses are miniature roses that are grouped together on the same stem. There are a few different sizes of spray roses you can buy, depending on what they'll be used for. Miniature roses are commonly incorporated into corsages and boutonnières and are also used as accents for various tables at the reception, like to adorn the cake table, or even the cake itself.

I recommend: Order spray roses in bulk from FiftyFlowers. Consider using small potted miniature rose bushes to decorate the reception hall; find them at Nor'East Miniature Roses.

Simplify the process by using companies that provide rose deliveries

Count on the experts to design and deliver the bride's selections in a timely fashion. The bride need only convey her desires to you, and you can place an order for her and get the process started. If you buy roses this way, neither of you needs to lift a finger until the order is delivered, and then, only to distribute the arrangements to the proper people and places.

I recommend: Let the bride create her own package from the selections at Globalrose and have the roses delivered straight to the ceremony and reception halls. If you're in a time crunch, GrowerFlowers.com will send your arrangements by overnight courier.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you'd like to do business with wholesale rose growers, you'll need to give your tax identification number for discounted pricing. Many growers won't even sell to people who don't have this ID number, so even if you don't charge sales tax on your services, it's wise to apply for a tax ID anyway.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover the best ways for a rose grower to plant and prune

Careful planting and pruning are two main steps in the rose growing process. Before you plant, you'll need to ensure that your soil is prepared, the plants are healthy and that you dig holes for your roses spaced the proper distance. Pruning is equally important as it can ward off disease, allow the plant to grow more efficiently and give your buyers the quality stems they desire.

I recommend: Follow the planting tips from Clemson Extension; the guide also describes characteristics of particular rose types. Find out how to prune a variety of types of roses using the guide from the University of Illinois Extension. Attend a convention given by the American Rose Society to further your knowledge of caring for roses.

Know when to use pesticides when you grow roses

Roses are susceptible to a whole host of diseases and pests. Some experts believe that pesticides and fungicides are the best remedies for these since they can be detrimental to your whole nursery. Keep in mind that many retailers and consumers prefer to buy pesticide-free roses, so try to keep your use of these chemicals to a minimum.

I recommend: Learn how to prevent fungicide resistance at the American Rose Society. Make sure you're really ready to use a pesticide by considering the tips from The Regents of the University of California. If you're still not sure how to use pesticides, contact your local Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service office.

Learn about organic alternatives for rose growers

One of the best ways to fertilize your roses is with compost. You can make this yourself by disposing of certain leftover foods, yard debris and various other household items, like dryer lint. It will all break down and give you a soil rich with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, nutrients your roses need to survive. There are also organic ways to treat diseases and pests.

I recommend: Follow the advice from Rose Magazine if you would like to start composting. Use the recipes from the Good Earth R.O.S.E. Committee whenever you have a diseased rose plant. Learn about alternative pest control techniques at the Bio-Integral Resource Center.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although it is not necessary, you can obtain a post-secondary degree in horticulture, agriculture or plant biology. These aren't specifically honed toward teaching how to grow wholesale rose bushes, but you may learn some very valuable information that you can apply in your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sport

A sport is a spontaneous mutation that ultimately creates a new rose. For instance, climbing roses are a sport of bush roses. Other common changes in a sport involve different colors or number of petals.

I recommend: Learn more about sport and how it pertains to roses by visiting the Regan Nursery.

Black spot

Black spot is a common fungal disease that attacks roses. Small black spots form on the leaves, and the leaves turn yellow and fall from the plant. Black spot tends to occur during warm, humid weather.

I recommend: Visit the University of Maine to learn how to manage and prevent the spread of black spot on roses.

Prune

To prune a rose means to remove woody material from the plant. It's best to prune a rose by removing dead and diseased wood and then selectively trimming the remaining plant to form the shape of the plant.

I recommend: Ventura County Star has an online video demonstrating how to prune a rose.

Propagation

In order to produce new varieties of roses, you may want to use propagation, which involves growing the plants through seeds. Asexual propagation or reproduction occurs when you take the cuttings from a parent plant and create a clone plant.

I recommend: Check out the Temecula Valley Rose Society to learn more about rose propagation.

Deadhead

When you deadhead a rose, you remove the spent or already-bloomed flowers from the plant. This prevents hips from forming. It also encourages the rose to continue producing flowers.

I recommend: To learn more about how to deadhead roses, visit Rose Magazine.

Hips

Hips do not refer to the rose grower but rather the plant. They are the colorful fruit inside the rose flower that is full of vitamin C, although there are certain varieties of roses that do not produce hips. When dried, you can use hips in herbal teas or make them into syrups and jellies.

I recommend: Visit Rose Gardening 101 to learn more about how deadheading roses affects the hips.