In society there are various symbols that represent love, beauty, tenderness and union among all of them, the Roses can be highlighted, plants that since ancient times have been present in the evolution and development of the cultures of man marking a great milestone for its symbology, Let's know a little about them, here in this article.
Las rosas
Roses correspond to a group of flowers belonging to the Rosaceae family, characterized by being a thorny and flowery bush; there is a great variety of species, with different characteristics and others in common such as thorns and their beautiful colors, this last factor will depend exclusively on the type of species, they can become known as a rosebush or small bushes.
In general, rose bushes can be found in two types of plants such as shrubs and climbing plants, the common factor being among all the thorns. In the case of species similar to shrubs, they can reach up to eighty centimeters and even one meter, while climbers can reach up to twenty meters, mainly if they manage to climb on other plants.
Roses are characterized by always being aromatic and will vary according to the species, they can adopt colors such as white, pink, yellow, orange, blue and even green, being very popular in society to be used in decorations, events and celebrations. specials.
There is a great variety of species, approximately 30,000 that can be cultivated, the majority are always native to the Asian continent, there are some that are native to Europe, North America and even Africa. Most of these species are cultivated and also hybrids that can be used ornamentally due to their characteristic smell and color.
In addition, they can be used for the extraction of essential oils from all those species for which they were extracted, especially for the field of perfumery, as a cosmetic, medicinal and also in the field of gastronomy. Normally the main cultivated species are Rosa Moschata, Rosa Damascena, Rosa Californica, Rosas Rugosas and Rosa Gallica.
The people in charge of the care and everything related to roses are known as rose growers but also as XNUMXth century rosalists, they are usually focused on strengthening their size and color, in this way being able to generate all the flowers that are large and Very attractive, generally they do not have any type of aroma, the most peculiar thing is that the most common roses or the old-fashioned ones are the ones that have the greatest fragrance, being sweet and strong.
With the passing of time, roses are the most popular among all the flowers sought after by people, being present in most gardens as a large group of rose bushes but always belonging to the same genus, being the most extensive variety when they are rose bushes. miniature from approximately 1 to 15 centimeters in height until they become shrubs or climbers that manage to reach great heights that can cover the ground.
Origin of the Roses
The origin of roses can be traced back to approximately 4000 years before Christ, in the Asian and European continents. Where the oldest civilizations such as the Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Greeks were the first to use it for decorative purposes in homes and as a symbol of beauty. Currently, roses can be located anywhere in the world, standing out mainly in the Asian continent as it is considered the place of origin for most flowers.
Characteristics of Roses
The rose is considered as a flower, and other shrubs and rose bushes are also located within this group. The Rosa genus is a group of shrubs that have varied characteristics but in general terms they are thorny and very flowery, being the main representatives of the Rosaceae family.
The Rosaceae family is characterized by being a set of plants that have different aspects, varying significantly in various genera that have very varied characteristics, being classified mainly by their fruits, leaves and flowers, in the case of flowers they are considered as hermaphrodites with varied petal styles capable of reaching fifteen meters in height, in addition to having completely varied sizes and shapes.
The genus of Roses has a bush-like appearance, with a vigorous and very deep root, although sometimes to be cultivated they must be staked because they have small roots, they have a woody stem and sometimes a flower or flower appears in the upper section. in other cases not, normally the stems have an erect shape with an epidermis in the form of stingers (thorns), their lignified branches with a green and brown color when they are young, they begin to take on a grayish color as they age.
Its leaves can be composed of different shapes, either serrated and petiolated, but they can also be smooth and with a shiny and matte variety. They can present inflorescence where they normally have at the top or solitary, they are usually composed of five petals and with a very varied coloration. Its rudiments can be seminal, free or welded.
Classification of Roses
All plants have a very varied classification, they are normally classified taking into account various disciplines, genetic advances and molecular biology, in the case of Roses they belong to the plant kingdom, specifically to the Streptphyta division, being within the group of spermatophytes and to the subgroup of the rosids. In this case we know the classification of roses from the point of view of gardening, being in four main groups highlighted below:
Wild rose bushes
Wild rose bushes are those that grow in nature without the need to be cultivated, have deciduous leaves and are native to the European continent, Africa and western Asia; They are a shrub that can reach up to two meters in height, have a characteristic green color, covered with thorns and with grouped or solitary pale pink and/or white flowers and their fruits can have a high content of vitamin C. , being widely used for jam and tea. Among some of the most common species are the following:
- abyssinian rose
- rose weed
- pink banksiae
- bracteata rose
- california rose
- Rosa caninao dumetorum
- Rosa chinensis
- corymbifera rose
- Rose Scribe
- rose foetida
- Gallica rose
- Giant rose
- Glauca rose
- laevigata rose
- pink majalis
- micrantha rose
- Rose moschata
- rose moyesii
- Multiflora rose
- rose nutkan
- Rosa pimpinellifolia
- pink pouzinii
- rose roxburghii
- Rosa rubiginosa
- Rough rose
- sempervirens rose
- sericea rose
- stellate pink
- virginian rose
- Wichuraian rose
Old rose bushes
The old rosebushes are those garden roses that appeared in the middle of the year 1867, normally corresponding to a group of roses that have a European and also a Mediterranean origin. It is a woody shrub that only has a single bloom, that flower tends to be fragrant flowers, they have foliage of great resistance to diseases, its color is between white, pink and also a characteristic crimson red color. Among some of the most common species to highlight are the following:
- Alba
- musky
- Bourbonians
- centifolias
- Damascenes
- gallic
- reflowering hybrids
- mustaches
- Multiflora
- mossy
- noisettianas
- perpetual
- Polyanthas
- Portland
- China
- Tea
Modern rose bushes
Modern rosebushes are those roses that appeared after 1867 to the present, they are normally considered as those roses that were entered in modern gardens; their classification can become a bit complex because they are part of their group of old roses, therefore, they tend to be classified between growth, flowering and in some cases it can be by generation. Some of the most common modern rose bushes are the following to highlight:
- bushy
- Tea hybrid
- floribunda
- grandifloras
- Polyantha
- climbers
- Sarmentose
- pernetians
- english collection
- Canadian hardy
- Miniature
- upholstery
- Patio
Other types:
In this case, groups of rose bushes stand out that are hardly located among the previous groups, for this reason the most popular are the following to highlight:
- Rosebush standing tall or rod
- Fallen Weeping Rosebush
- rosebush landscaping landscape
- David Austin Roses
- Cut flower roses (bouquets)
History of the Roses
The popularity of roses stands out since ancient times in various parts of the world, but its history begins on the island of Crete approximately 700 BC, where it was used for ornamental purposes, decorations of homes and altars, very symbolic for its beauty and particularly colorful. Since ancient civilizations, roses were given great value as a synonym of beauty and delicacy. Over time, it began to have high relevance in the midst of cultures such as the Egyptian, Greek and Roman, being the most relevant cultures in the ancient history of society.
Particularly in Rome, the popularity of roses was significant in a great way, because they were present in the gardens, where each of the homes had rosebushes and one in particular known as Rosetum. During the early Middle Ages, the cultivation of roses had to be exclusively for monasteries because they were dedicated for religious purposes. Then, in the XNUMXth century, a great popularity of roses began, mainly at the time when they began to bloom due to their great beauty, with the passage of time they were considered a status symbol, with the emergence of a great variety of new species in the eastern region.
Greek Legend of the Roses
There are many legends focused on roses highlighting a divine and unique origin, although there are many versions that it is difficult to identify their origin story, with four main versions standing out:
Cybele and Aphrodite
In this case, the story of Greek mythology stands out where the goddess Cibeles known as the mother of the earth, the goddess Cibeles was jealous of Aphrodite (goddess of love) due to her great beauty, so she made the decision to create something born from the earth to compete against the beauty of Aphrodite, so it occurred to him to create a very beautiful red flower. From that moment on, the rose was considered a symbol of beauty for being the main rival of Aphrodite.
The White Rose of Aphrodite
In another story in Greek mythology, it is considered that Aphrodite was the creator of the roses, at the moment she was born from the foam of the sea and wanted to test her power by creating something that was as beautiful as her, at that moment in her life. a white rose emerged from her chest that she would later use as her personal adornment; one day Dionisio poured a few drops of wine on the flower and it turned pink.
Aphrodite blood
It is said that roses also sprouted from the earth for the first time from the earth, at the moment when she cut her foot while running to her lover Adonis who was dying after a boar attack, when he was mortally wounded by a boar .
Dionysus and the Briars
It is also said that Dionysus was in charge of creating the rose bushes from a bramble, where a nymph who was being persecuted by the god, she was hooked between the branches of a bush, when Dionysus appeared she blushed and he was pleased with the vision of her cheeks and ordered the bush to adorn itself with flowers of the same color.
Importance of Roses
In our society, plants are very useful for endless applications, but roses stand out mainly in two areas, the first of which is in the field of medicine, due to its high content of vitamin C, being widely used for colds, coughs and also flu. It can also be widely used as a laxative and also as an analgesic, in this case it will depend on the species.
In addition, it is also used ornamentally as a decorator or adornment of natural spaces or interiors of homes, offices, among others; Roses have a meaning in beauty and love, which is why it is widely used as a gift among people who have a great affection for each other, also widely used as part of the decoration of interior areas of homes due to its characteristic fragrance and striking colors.
Uses of Roses
There are a wide variety of applications for roses such as decorations, medicinal uses, ornamentally, among others, in this case two characteristic cases for the use of roses will be highlighted.
Gastronomic Use of Roses
The petals of roses are normally used in an edible way, this is because they are composed of a large number of essential components such as vitamin C and fiber, being part of some highly sought after dishes such as jellies, soups, salads and jam. Next, let's visualize one of the recipes for this type of food such as "Rose Jam":
Ingredients
- Three tablespoons of rosewater
- Two cups of sugar
- 2 water glasses
- Two lemons
- 270 grams of rose petals
First of all, the bitterness of all the rose petals must be removed. To do this, it is necessary to cut the lower part of all the petals and then it must be macerated in a pot. Once the petals are macerated, proceed to add the sugar and then the lemon juice. Add water and leave for 45 min over medium heat. Then you must add the juice of the other lemon and wait for it to boil. Finally, it should be removed and the rose water added.
Cosmetic Use of Roses
Another of the main uses of rose petals is for making cosmetics. All this is due to their fragrance, they are widely used for the creation of perfumes and also for beauty creams. Apart from this, roses can be used due to their composition, which is ideal for oily skin.
Technique for the Cultivation of Roses
Cultivation is a practice carried out by man since ancient times where planting and caring for a species of plant is carried out for controlled growth and its subsequent benefit to society. In this case, rose crops have also been developed mainly for the properties that characterize and benefit it, therefore, in some areas of the world, mainly in European countries, they specialize in developing this type of crop.
To carry out the cultivation of roses, it is necessary to keep in mind some factors that can be beneficial or totally essential to guarantee a correct development of the rose plantation. Highlighting the fact that there is some difficulty in carrying out the procedure of sowing them, for this reason there are some necessary recommendations.
First, you must choose a type of rose that you want to plant because there are more than 30,000 different varieties of roses in the world. It is advisable to choose the variety based on the area where it should be planted for some climatic conditions, favoring some more than others. In this case, it is recommended to carry out a study of the favored roses depending on the place that you want to grow, in this way a good growth will be guaranteed.
It is necessary that the place selected to grow the roses is a site that can receive at least 5 hours of light a day. Also highlighting the terrain that it is necessary to have good drainage, preventing the water from remaining stagnant. Therefore it is necessary that the soil is not very compact and not very sandy, in this case it can be solved by adding organic matter and prevent the soil from being very acidic. It is recommended to sow it at the end of winter and also at the beginning of spring, the latter being the most recommended period to plant roses.
The procedure is quite simple, initially just dig a hole slightly larger than the rose ensuring that it offers support to the rose. Highlighting the fact that if you want to plant several roses, it is necessary to separate them at least 70 centimeters, in this way they prevent them from competing for resources. After opening the hole, add compost and form a mound in the center to place the root of the rose in the center.
Once the root is embedded in the mound, the hole must be filled with soil, in this way it is ensured that all the roots are covered and the stem is exposed. After that it is advisable to water the flower with enough water and wait for the earth to drain it. This process culminates in making a mound of earth around the rose. Then you should try to flatten it carefully avoiding not to damage the plant. In this way you can protect the rose from the wind and keep it in place.
Care for Roses
The roses correspond to a very important part for all the gardens and different areas of the cities considered as the main ones for decorations of exterior and interior spaces, for this reason it is of the utmost importance to maintain a strict care of these beautiful plants that is not so simple. . Below is a set of procedures that can be carried out for the maintenance of rose bushes.
Energy
Light is one of the most important factors for the development and growth of a plant because it allows various biochemical processes essential for life to be carried out. In this case, the roses need to guarantee a minimum contact of 6 hours of light, depending on the type of species, because some prefer shade, so it is advisable to expose them to the sun for a maximum of 5 hours.
Substratum
It corresponds to the land or soil used to maintain an adequate maintenance of the plant in the selected soil, verifying that the drainage is adequate, if it is not the most appropriate it can cause the water to stagnate and therefore rot the plant. plant, while having a very excessive drainage will not allow the plant to humidify properly and absorb the necessary moisture.
Pruning
Pruning corresponds to a set of techniques applied to control the growth of some branches or sections of plants that affect their aesthetic shape and stem growth. All rose bushes normally bloom throughout the year starting in spring until mid-winter. In this way, withered roses that can be found among the rosebushes are removed. A widely used technique is to be able to follow the stem of the dry rose until you find the first branch that has five leaves and then be cut above it.
In mid-winter, radical pruning should be done, allowing four or five branches to remain on the main trunk. Half pruning can also be done during the season to keep the rosebush at a medium size. It is not a dependent factor for plant growth.
It is recommended that the cuts be made with a very sharp scissors in this way it is guaranteed that they are totally clean, avoiding pecking. They must also be biased, avoid straight cuts and without leaving fibers in them. It is advisable to cut half a centimeter above the outer bud, in the case of applying biased inwards (inclined) recommended at times when it rains or in cases where the plant is watered with running water and it does not accumulate in the bud, preventing its flowering.
Normally rose bushes have a wine glass shape allowing light access to the entire plant. Therefore, they must be pruned when all the leaves finish sprouting.
Propagation
The plants are characterized by being able to multiply very quickly, therefore, propagation can be applied, corresponding to all the techniques applied for the multiplication of rose bushes to reproduce during the autumn season, being applied in four ways:
- By seeds: corresponds to the procedure of extracting the seeds from the rose hip, adding them in water for about 12 hours, then they must be sown in the desired land. Not guaranteeing equitable growth of the plant in the cultivated area, which is why it is considered a not very effective procedure.
- By cuttings: It is one of the most recommended methods for obtaining plants where cuttings are applied, being widely used in nurseries.
- By layering: It is not a very applied method, it is recommended for some species, it is a long and flexible stem that has a cut in the curve and hormones are added, then it is introduced into the ground in a fixed way.
- By grafting: It is a procedure used to weld two plants in a different way, while they grow they join until they become one, normally a branch or a bud is used and they are grafted. These grafts can be in the form of a “T” or a wedge.
Diseases and Pests of Roses
Plants are characterized by being a beauty of mother nature exposed to the different elements and changes that are observed on the planet, among some of the factors that can influence it are pests and diseases. Normally it is heard of aphids or mosquito larvae that affect rose bushes, let us know what are the main conditions that can influence:
Black spot
Black spot is considered a disease that can be spread through water, so it affects conditions with very humid environments. The origin of its name is due to the appearance of black spots, appearing on the leaves and also on the stem of the rose. This type of disease can generate a great weakening in the plant.
To combat it, it should be prevented mainly by watering only the base of the plant and ignoring the foliage. It should be done in the morning so that the plant has time to dry up. If the plant is already infected, it can be subjected to a copper-based fungicide.
Roya
It corresponds to a disease that can manifest itself through the appearance of orange spots around the leaves of the rose, all this happens due to a fungus that adheres to the most exposed areas of the rose and affects the flowering of the rose to the point of cause his death. In this case, it is advisable to remove all the dead leaves of the rose and apply the same procedure recommended for black spot, preferably using a copper-based fungicide.
Powdery mildew
It is considered a very serious disease for plants, it can be caused by a fungus, also presenting the appearance of white spots on the entire plant. This type of disease will cause a rapid weakening of the plant and finally the death of the rose. What is recommended for this type of disease is to deal with a fast and effective treatment that favors the plant.
It is necessary to react quickly since the more contact the disease has with the plant, the more difficult it will be to return to normal even after the treatment is applied. In this case it is preferable to apply a bicarbonate-based fungicide.
Mildew
It corresponds to a very dangerous disease since it can cause the complete defoliation of the rosebush. In this case, its greatest appearance is observed in humid weather. The main symptom observed for this disease is the appearance of several purple spots on the leaves.
It is advisable to control this disease from the beginning of the crop, therefore, prevention is better, being recommended a good pruning technique that manages to reduce the risk of contagion to other plants or neighboring rosebushes. But if it is already infected, it is advisable to discard the affected areas and finally treat the roses with the ideal fungicide.
mosaic virus
It is considered a very dangerous virus because it can influence growth to the point of paralyzing it, also influencing the development of the rose. The virus can be identified by having the appearance of different yellow spots. In the case of having a plant with this type of condition, unfortunately the plant must be discarded but in case the plant has only been affected in some leaves, they can be replaced and possibly the plant can improve its growth.
Disorders (Physiopathies)
There are various circumstances that can influence rose bushes, not only diseases or disorders, but also exposure to various natural situations that can become very significant in their development, the following stand out:
Frost: Exposure to low temperatures in winter periods can cause damage to the roots, as well as late frosts that can burn those young shoots on the plants.
Hail: It corresponds to those conditions of frozen rain being very destructive, at the level of defoliation and marks of stems that cause diseases.
Wind: Exposure to strong wind causes branches to break, hot or dry causes the plant to wither, the cold can burn the plants, if it is close to the sea it can cause salts to be deposited that generate burns.
Heat wave: Exposure to temperatures of 40ºC and low humidity can cause dryness and dehydration in plants until they wither.
Lack of light: It can cause the flowers to become scarce and even fail to appear, causing them to grow lanky and weak.
Ponding: Try to overwater the plant, to the point of causing suffocation of the roots and generating fungi that can activate diseases and rot the roots.
Lack of water: Water is a vital element for proper plant growth.
Bad planting: It is necessary to appease various knowledge such as planting at the right time, using manure, not planting too tightly and knowing the soil.
Soil disease: Normally there are rose bushes that have been planted for more than 10 years in the same soil, it is advisable not to replant another rose bush because it will generate a depletion of microelements and possible fungi and toxins present.
Poor quality irrigation water: It is necessary not to use any type of water because it can affect the growth of the plant, in some they can have salts that burn the tips of the leaves until they have a yellowish and droopy shape, it is recommended to analyze the elements present in the water.
Mechanical damage to roots from ditching or tilling: It is advisable to cut the wounds that may be present on the roots and with this apply a fungicide, keeping in mind the type of root that the plant has.
Soil contamination: You can get to keep in mind some substances that affect the soil such as animal urine, detergents, diesel, pesticides, phytosanitary products, among others.
Lack of any nutrient: Over time, there are elements that can lose essential elements such as nitrogen, potassium, iron, among others. For this case it is advisable to apply a fertilizer with specialized fertilizers.
Excess Nitrogen: It is advisable to avoid abuse with nitrogenous fertilizers because it can cause burns, excessive growth, forms of weak plants, diseases, among others.
Poorly done pruning: It is necessary to keep in mind the corresponding times to carry out the pruning to influence the true growth of the bush.
Wrong phytosanitary treatments: the application of herbicides or fertilizers that cause burns or by wind action are transferred to another area that generate damage to the plants present there.
Bundling of cocoons: They are those buds that do not open the petals and are placed brown, due to excess moisture and generate some pests such as aphids.
Damage done with the string trimmer: corresponds to the one that is in charge of eliminating weeds in the bushes using a string trimmer, it is a delicate procedure because if the trunks are hit they can be damaged and the plant will die ringed.
Curiosities of the Roses
Roses are considered one of the most sought-after plants worldwide, and there are even more than one hundred types and up to thirty thousand different varieties of roses, so the development in the study of roses is increasingly broad. This demonstrates the great variety of species that are distributed throughout the world, in different shapes, colors and styles.
The cultivation of roses is a practice carried out since ancient times, having a great boom in the Middle Ages when highlighting the medicinal properties that these plants possess. The first roses of which there is a record of their cultivation, was at the beginning of the XNUMXth century and the XNUMXth century, where they were cultivated to later be used ornamentally and even for religious purposes, for this reason a large number of rose bushes were observed in the gardens of monasteries and churches.
The oldest rosebush in the world is located in the Hildeseilm Cathedral in Germany, it is considered to be more than a thousand years old. In historical terms it is a legend in the world of roses, where according to the stories it is said that it is related to the appearance of the Virgin and because of this a chapel was built in the name of the Blessed Mother.
It can be said that there are more than 100 million roses that are cultivated exclusively to be used on February 14, which is the commemorative day of Valentine's Day, being a very celebrated day worldwide known as the day of love and friendship, where numerous couples They give each other roses and flowers in commemoration of that beautiful day. Being such a commercial day, it causes the concern of many florists since they must cover the world demand in commemoration of such a wonderful day.
According to the records of numerous rose bushes that can reach up to 5 meters in height, this type of situation can be quite unusual, since rose bushes usually do not grow much more than 3 meters. In addition, it should be noted that there are climbing species that can reach great heights. Therefore, the species of roses can be very varied in shapes and colors, in terms of size they are usually very similar, depending on the type of species that you want to obtain.
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