A really simplified interpretation of NPK. N = nitrogen (for leaves); P = phosphate (for roots); K = potash (for flowers). It depends on your soil. If you have an excess of potash, then 14-14-14 would do. Roses like potash and if your soil has a deficiency of potash, then 15-15-30 would be better.

I almost never use chemical fertiliser for potted roses. Too burny. I use lucerne hay topped with sheep manure, and once every three months perhaps, 1/4 teaspoon of sulphate of potash.

In zone 9, winter generally isn't an issue. The feeder sticks, pills are okay, but I wouldn't consider them a once and done thing for two years.

They provide a steady supply of food, but during bloom season it isn't enough to sustain all the growth. A nice triple 16 lawn food or any balanced flower food would span the gap.

Hi, Carolyn,
What's truly best for your roses depends on your garden soils. Wendy is absolutely right: you don't need to worry about hardening your roses for winter in Zone 9.

Agriform tablets include time-release components that won't release too much fertilizer over winter (we hope). As for the estimate of up to two years, I take that will a grain of salt. There are three sizes available. The warmer the soils and the more they are watered, the faster the fertilizers will be released. That's one of the biggest problems with time-release fertilizers: we can't be sure when they're used up without testing the soil, nor can we control the rate of release. For example when the weather is brutally hot in late June and July, roses can take a little snooze. But the fertilizers will be released at the maximal rate at that time - - good for lawns, not good for roses.

If the choice is...I do nothing because I have so little available time...or I use the Agriform tablets, I'd still say use the tablets.

I am firmly contrarian on rose fertilizing. I prefer a product that can be applied once a year (at spring pruning time) and is effective for 6 to 9 months. I consider the nitrogen content of the tablets too high. Depending on the maturity of your garden soils and your location, you might not need potassium or phosporus at all - - or your soils might need greater proportions of both. If your county extension provides free soils tests, that's a service that will give you a lot of information about how to fertilize your roses.

My roses tend to like a well balanced food, 20-20-20. Honestly all roses just like to be fed, so it doesn't matter so much what you feed them, so long as you feed them.
Potted roses require watching, liquid food tends to get washed out with watering. Granules can build up.

Patio Hit roses are classified as miniature roses, so use whatever fertilizer you choose at half strength. Water your roses well the day before you feed them to avoid fertilizer burn.

Smiles,

Lyn