Rose Gardening Community

I have eight hybrid teas. The first blooms they produced this year were wonderful, big and healthy. After pruning the first blooms, though, most of my bushes are growing multiple, smaller buds on stems where one large bloom was before. Any idea what causes this to happen? Could it be the unusual amount of rain we've had in Virginia?

I don't think it is the rain. It is fairly common for the 2nd fulsh of blooms to be smaller. It takes a lot of energy to produce the large blooms.

Can you offer any suggestions on how to boost their available energy? I have fertilized, but none of my plants seem to be flourishing this year.

It also depends on how genetically strong the rose bush is. Remember not all roses are bred for vigorous blooming, and you can fertilize them until you are blue in the face. I personally have had to throw out a few duds every year.

Remember, too, that the side buds that you mention with the one central bud in the middle is very common and normal growth.  When the first young bud emerges, you can "side prune" the 2 side buds out by using the thumb and forefinger to carefully break or prune out the 2 smaller side buds.  This will allow more energy to be focused on the one remaining, central bud and you should have larger blooms as a result.  In addition, remember that as the temps rise in the summer, the blooms on average will decrease somewhat in size.  Largest blooms are during spring and fall.