Roses are often the star of the garden, but to truly flourish, they require additional conditions. Fertilizer plays a crucial role. While many rely on specialized commercial fertilizers, a simple secret will help your roses thrive: alfalfa infusion. Experts highly recommend this organic mixture as it promotes healthier rose bush growth, greener foliage, and more abundant blooms.
Alex Biggart, brand manager for 123 Flowers, says, “If you want roses to bloom almost instantly, as if they were plucked from a royal garden, alfalfa tea is the perfect choice. It’s rich in natural growth stimulants, providing roses with everything they need to thrive. It’s like giving a plant a superfood smoothie!” So what’s so special about this ingredient? Alfalfa is a legume rich in many essential nutrients, including triacontanol, a “powerful natural growth stimulant.”
Our community members can take advantage of special offers, promotions, and advertising from us and our partners. You can access the site at any time. Read our privacy policy.
When tea is prepared, this compound is released, providing the rose bush with a mixture of essential minerals and plant hormones that promote vigorous growth and flowering.
Alex added: “Triacontanol acts as a stimulant for roses. It accelerates growth, strengthens stems, and significantly increases the number of flowers. You’ll start to notice changes within a few weeks.”
Making alfalfa tea is very simple and requires only a few basic ingredients—10 to 12 cups of alfalfa powder or granules and 32 gallons of water.
We will use your registration information to provide you with content in accordance with your consent and to deepen our understanding of your needs. This may include advertising from us and third parties, shown based on our understanding of your needs. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please review our privacy policy.
Alex shared his method, explaining, “Mix alfalfa with water in a large plastic container and soak for four to five days, stirring occasionally. During the soaking process, the nutrients break down and dissolve in the water, creating a powerful herbal tonic.”
After preparing the tea, pour it directly onto the base of the rose bush. Alex explains, “One gallon of tea is ideal for each large rose bush, while for smaller, miniature varieties, about a third is sufficient. You’ll soon see the leaves become a richer green and the plants become stronger.”
To enhance the effect, Alex recommends adding magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) to the mixture. He explains, “Adding magnesium sulfate promotes magnesium absorption, and a small amount of chelated iron can stimulate chlorophyll production, which helps roses grow more vigorously. This is a great way to naturally improve rose growth.”
Timing is crucial for achieving the best results. The best times to apply alfalfa infusion are early spring, when roses awaken from dormancy, and late summer, to strengthen their resilience before winter sets in.
To achieve “amazing results,” it is enough to feed roses twice a year, but if they are growing poorly, you can feed them again in the middle of summer.
”For those looking for the secret to changing their approach to rose care, alfalfa tea may be the answer,” says Alex.
”This is a simple and natural care method that will provide your roses with everything they need. If you want stunning flowers, this tip is essential!”
View today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, subscribe to back issues and explore the Daily Express historical archive.
Post time: Dec-23-2025