These beautiful roses are popular for many reasons. If you are shopping for roses, you will encounter them often and they are an asset in any garden. Caring for them correctly is crucial for a happy and healthy rose bush that produces the many amazing blooms these roses can deliver.

We discuss the following:

Hybrid Tea Hardiness

Due to prolific crossbreeding and hybridization over the years, there is a vast difference in the hardiness of some hybrid tea roses compared to others. The bottom line is that they are not as tough as many other varieties. With some effort and understanding, it is not difficult to maintain happy hybrid tea roses in most areas.

Hybrid Tea Sun Requirements

Sun, sun sun! The more the better. Although many hybrids can handle partial shade, plan to plant your hybrid tea roses where they will get a good many hours of sunlight. The ideal is 6 to 8 hours, as with most roses. Again, some hybrids are more shade-tolerant if you are short on sunny spots.

Where to Plant Hybrid Tea Roses 

You want a sunny spot, that is clear. Some wind protection will also be beneficial. We discuss ideal soil requirements, but you want to select an area that drains well. They do not like to have their “feet” wet. Also, consider other plants growing nearby so that they do not crowd or shade the rose shrub.

If you are planting multiple hybrid tea roses, space them roughly 6 feet apart. If you mix in with other roses, that is not a problem, but consider their growth habit. You might need more space between roses with some of the wider spreading varieties.

For a closer look at planting Hybrid Teas click through to read this article.

Ideal Soil for Hybrid Tea Roses 

These roses prefer a somewhat acidic soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. The more organic material, the better your results will be. Soil quality is the first step to ensure a successful rewarding plant. It is tricky to correct once the rose is established so it is best to get it right from the start.

Watering Hybrid Tea Roses

There are a few simple rules. Don’t splash the soil. Give the roses a good deep watering of roughly 2 inches per plant. This can be done twice a week for established plants and the most important aspect to remember is to water the soil and not the plant. Wetting the foliage can lead to disease and other issues. Deep watering will help the plant develop a healthy root system making it more stable and resilient.

Hybrid Tea Temperature and Humidity

The idea is to purchase your favorite choices according to your climate. When buying online they will often guide you. Local nurseries should be selling roses that are suitable for the local climate.

Some varieties are more tolerant to extreme humidity and high heat. High humidity can lead to mildew if the plant is not naturally resistant.

In cold areas, some might just need a bit of protection in the severe weather, but this is easy to do. This is especially true for roses that are not yet fully established.

Fertilizing Hybrid Tea

Another area of concern for rose growers is correct fertilizing. Note that most roses, particularly these guys, are voracious feeders. One needs to do it at the right time and with the right fertilizer for the best results.

You can get specialized rose fertilizers and the best options, according to your goals, are 5-10-5 or 10-10-10. The numbers refer to the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in that order.

If you measure the soil quality with an affordable soil tester, this might help guide you on the best option or ratio. If you have nutrient-rich soil at the outset this need not be a major concern. Another option is organic fertilizers. This will slowly deliver essential nutrients and minerals to the rose.

A good idea is to add Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) to the mix. Simply sprinkle about half a cup around the base of each plant and gently water it in. Do this when the plants are blooming. The reward is healthier growing canes with more vibrant flower colors as well as lush healthy foliage.

Always water the rose bush well after application and do not do it in the heat of the day, particularly if you are not going the organic route.

A common issue is “too much” love or care. Use fertilizers sparingly and at the right time. So, early spring, as the rose is about to embark on a new growth cycle, is a great time to feed the plant. Once the plants have produced the first flush, they can be fed again. One can do this after every flush.

Take care to stop way before the cold hits. You do not want to “encourage” growth when the plant needs to be dormant.

Pruning Your Hybrid Tea 

This is often a cause of stress for rose growers, particularly beginners. It need not be a worry, particularly with hybrid teas.

Ensure you prune with sharp and sterile secateurs. Sterilize as you go to ensure you do not transfer an issue from one plant to another. Gardening gloves are handy to save you from the thorns.

The first step, and this can be done at any time, is to remove diseased or dead parts of the bush. Next, shape the bush and remove any spindly or misshapen canes.

Your main prune should be done early in spring. Do not be shy and cut them back to about a third of their length. This will allow the plant to focus energy on new growth, meaning more flowers. Cut above a node at a 45-degree angle to prevent water accumulation.

Another aspect of pruning is to regularly deadhead blooms as they start to die. This will allow the bush to create more blooms.

Hybrid Tea Pests and How to Treat Them 

Pests are less of a concern than diseases but do occur. Here are some to look out for:

• Aphids

These are generally easy to spot if you keep an eye on your plants but they are likely to be the most common pest you encounter. They can spread rapidly and do a fair amount of damage very quickly if left untreated. They are tiny insects that appear in a range of colors. You will probably notice their damage before you see the tiny critters.

The good news is that nature normally comes to the rescue, provided the rest of the garden is in balance and the plants are healthy. A relatively strong spay of water often does the trick. If that fails, spray with a diluted soap solution. If the problem persists, use neem oil.

• Japanese Beetles

If you see holes in the leaves on your shrub, look out for these pesky beetles. They are easy to spot and should be treated in the same way. As they are larger, you can hand remove them and spray them with soapy water. Again, if these methods don’t work, use neem oil.

Other pests you could encounter are mites, greenfly, blackfly, thrips, scale, slugs, and occasionally caterpillars. All can be treated similarly. Although they do some damage, they will not kill the plant. The key is to inspect them frequently and address any issues quickly to mitigate the damage.

Hybrid Tea Diseases and How to Treat Them

Disease is more of an issue than pests with these roses but again, they are easy to treat if identified in time.

Here are your main concerns:

• Black Spot

This is the main threat with this rose variety. It is a fungal disease noted by the dark blotches on the leaves. If treated early it is easy to control and again, good sunlight, soil, and correct watering will significantly reduce the risk of this infection.

You can treat it with a commercial fungicidal spray or use a solution of baking soda and warm water (1 teaspoon per quart of water).  Remove and destroy all infected leaves.

• Rust

The next most common issue is rust. It is also a fungal issue and can develop rampantly and spread to other roses.  You can’t miss it as it makes the plant unsightly. Remove infected leaves manually and treat the plants with a commercial fungicide and insecticide treatment.

• Powdery Mildew

The telltale sign is a coat of gray on the leaves. Also a fungal infection, it thrives when air circulation is poor. Healthy roses will probably shrug it off before it does major damage but keep a close eye on it. You also do not want it to spread to other roses. Be sure to remove and destroy all dead and infected leaves. If you have a severe infection, use a fungal treatment to eradicate the problem before it becomes a major issue. 

As with most of these fungal treatments, remember to treat both sides of the rose leaf, not just the top. Another point to note is that a single treatment is often insufficient, so inspect and reapply as necessary.

Those are the main ones to watch out for but do keep an eye out for other forms of mildew, canker, and blight. Yet again, the right rose that has been planted well in the correct environment will stave off diseases. Plan well.   

Conclusion

The rewards of a happy hybrid tea make the minimum effort all worthwhile. They are an asset in any garden and do not take major care. Get the basics right from the start and you will be rewarded with abundant magnificent blooms.

For the full story on Hybrid Teas see our feature article here: