Lenten roses are some of the absolute earliest bloomers you can add to your garden. Just as winter starts to wind down, these beauties pop up in shades of white, red, yellow, and pink. By the time the rest of the spring garden is finally waking up, their show is usually already over. But does that early bloom cycle mean they need a ton of fertilizer to keep going?
Is Fertilizing Really Necessary?
When it comes to energy, Lenten roses are actually pretty low-maintenance. This makes sense when you consider where they come from—their natural habitat is in the mountains of Turkey and the Caucasus. In those rocky regions, the soil is pretty lean. Because of that, your Lenten roses don’t need a strict feeding schedule; they’re usually perfectly happy with whatever nutrients are already in the ground.
Deep Roots Do the Heavy Lifting
If your soil is nice and loose, Lenten roses will send their roots deep into the earth to find what they need. That’s why it’s so important to choose a spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Before you get around to planting, I recommend mixing some fresh compost into the soil. This ensures the roots have a great head start and plenty of natural nutrients to draw from. You can keep this up in the following years by simply adding a fresh layer of compost around the base every spring for a natural boost.
Easy-Going Garden Favorites
Beyond feeding, Lenten roses are incredibly chill when it comes to watering and pruning. They can handle dry spells without much drama, though if you want a spectacular flower show at the end of winter, it helps to keep the soil consistently moist. As for pruning? Just snip off the old, dried-up foliage at the end of fall. This clears the way so the new growth can shine without any clutter!
