Rose Farming in Greenhouse: Cost, Yield, and Handbook

Roses are often symbols of romance and popular gifts for loved ones and friends. Beyond this, they have extensive applications in various industries like food, perfume, cosmetics, and medicine. According to the Cut Flowers – Global Strategic Business Report, the rose market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%, reaching $15.8 billion by the end of the forecast period. This growth indicates a rising demand for roses in the market.

Rose Essential Oil
Rose Essential Oil

Roses are very sensitive to their growing environment. Small temperature, humidity, and light changes can significantly affect their yield and quality. Greenhouse technology can provide an ideal growing environment for the mass cultivation of roses, helping to improve both yield and quality despite natural challenges.

This article will explore key factors to consider when growing roses in a greenhouse. We will also offer practical tips to help you stay competitive.

Section 1: Choosing the Right Greenhouse for Rose Cultivation

There are many types of greenhouses, and the costs can vary significantly depending on the materials used and the smart systems included.

1. How to Choose the Right Greenhouse?

If your rose garden is in tropical or subtropical regions, economical poly tunnels may suffice. However, in temperate or higher latitude areas, you might need to choose more expensive glass or polycarbonate greenhouses. These options provide better insulation and durability during winter.

Smart Greenhouse for Rose Planting
Smart Greenhouse for Rose Planting

If you are a gardening enthusiast focused on cost control, a simple plastic tunnel, which is relatively cheaper, would typically suffice. For large-scale commercial rose cultivation, especially if you focus on high-end varieties, investing in a smart greenhouse might be necessary.

Don’t Miss: 10 Advantages of A Commercial Smart Greenhouse

2. Costs of Greenhouses for Rose Cultivation

Home-Scale Small Greenhouses

For small poly greenhouses without complex systems, the price is quite affordable. You can purchase ready-made ones from local agricultural stores or online shops and assemble them quickly following instructions. On Amazon, portable greenhouses are priced under $100. Of course, greenhouse prices can vary widely across different regions.

Amazon Portable Greenhouse for Flower Planting
Amazon Portable Greenhouse for Flower Planting

If you are handy, you can buy raw materials and follow some DIY tutorials to build your own greenhouse.

Large-Scale Rose Cultivation

The initial construction costs can be quite high for commercial greenhouses that support large-scale rose cultivation. For example, even the cheapest polytunnels measuring 8 meters by 30 meters (25 feet by 100 feet) cost about $12,000 in Nigeria.

Commercial Greenhouse Cost Caculate
Commercial Greenhouse Cost Calculate

The costs will be higher if you are considering modern greenhouses with climate control systems. For example, a 100ft by 100ft commercial greenhouse in the United States can cost between $200,000 and $300,000.

3.  Yield of Greenhouse-Grown Roses

From optimizing growing conditions to improving harvesting efficiency, greenhouse technology significantly enhances the yield and quality of roses. Whether using low-cost plastic film greenhouses or high-end glass or polycarbonate smart greenhouses, the yield and quality are superior to naturally grown roses.

Image 1: Electrified trolleys operated by growers; productivity has increased twofold with new technologies like these source from hbs.edu
Image 1: Electrified trolleys operated by growers; productivity has increased twofold with new technologies like these source from hbs.edu

By integrating sensor networks, data analysis tools, and automated monitoring systems, rose production in greenhouses can be highly automated. Some greenhouse rose producers operate efficiently 24/7, with automated production lines processing 10,000 roses per hour. The annual yield can exceed 300 high-quality roses per square meter.

Section 2: Growing Conditions for Greenhouse Roses

Ensuring optimal soil pH, light, temperature, and moisture management is crucial when growing roses in a greenhouse. These factors directly impact the roses’ health, growth rate, quality, and yield.

1. Soil Requirements

Roses thrive in soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. They prefer loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. Roses also need trace elements such as iron, zinc, and manganese, which are important for their growth and flowering. After harvesting cut flowers, apply well-rotted organic fertilizer around the plants and water thoroughly in winter.

Rose Planting Required PH
Rose Planting Required PH

If you use a smart greenhouse for soilless cultivation, you do not need to worry about these soil conditions.

2. Light

Roses are like sun-loving dancers; their growth and flowering depend on sunlight. They need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to stay vibrant and lively. Did you know many large rose plantations are in high-altitude areas like Yunnan in China, Ethiopia in Africa, and Ecuador in South America? These regions, situated above 2000 meters, receive more intense sunlight, making the roses’ colors more vibrant. This light requirement also includes artificial lighting when necessary.

Nighttime Supplemental Lighting for Roses in Greenhouses
Nighttime Supplemental Lighting for Roses in Greenhouses

3. Temperature

Temperature is also crucial. It greatly affects the size of the rose flowers. The optimal daytime temperature for rose growth is between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius, and the night temperature should be maintained between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.

Monitoring Temperature, Humidity, and Soil Moisture for Rose Planting in Greenhouses
Monitoring Temperature, Humidity, and Soil Moisture for Rose Planting in Greenhouses

Remember two important points about daily temperature transitions: the transition from night to day and from day to night. The intensity and duration of these transitions significantly affect plant growth. A rapid temperature increase from night to day often weakens the leaves’ photosynthetic activity, making the flower buds thin and weak. The transition from night to day should last at least two hours.

4. Humidity Conditions

The relative humidity in your greenhouse is also an important parameter. A relative humidity of 70-85% supports active growth, providing optimal conditions for photosynthesis. When the humidity exceeds 90%, the risk of powdery mildew increases. Conversely, if the relative humidity falls below 50%, the risk of spider mites and powdery mildew rises, leading to a sharp decline in the quality of your roses and affecting their market price.

5. Water Management

Drip irrigation is primarily used for watering greenhouse roses. Roses are drought-tolerant but do not thrive in overly wet conditions. The watering principle should be “water thoroughly when dry.” Morning is the best time to water. If you notice no dew on the edges of the rose leaves in the morning, it means the soil in your rose garden is dry, and you should water immediately.

Irrigation Beds for Greenhouse Roses
Irrigation Beds for Greenhouse Roses

6. Carbon Dioxide Levels

Low carbon dioxide levels in greenhouses can limit the photosynthesis required for high yields. Carbon dioxide consumption is crucial for plant growth. When the concentration of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse air increases from 300 ppm to 900 ppm, the intensity of photosynthesis and productivity can increase by 50%.

Section 3: Greenhouse Rose Propagation

In greenhouse cultivation, roses are primarily propagated through two asexual methods: grafting and cuttings. Plants from cuttings can be harvested for 4 to 5 years after planting, while those from grafting can be harvested for 6 to 7 years, with multiple crops produced each year. Below, we briefly describe these two propagation methods for your reference.

Grafting

Grafting is one of the most common methods for propagating roses. Follow these steps for successful grafting:

  1. Select several healthy branches from a strong plant.
  2. Keep the scion (the grafted part) clean to avoid contamination.
  3. Align the scion with the rootstock.
  4. Secure the graft with wire and cover it with a plastic bag, leaving a small opening.
  5. Maintain appropriate temperature and moisture levels.
Grafting Roses
Grafting Roses

Successful union of scion and rootstock in grafted roses.

Cuttings

Cuttings involve using healthy branches to grow new plants. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Select healthy branches free from pests and diseases.
  2. Cut the branches into 3 to 4 segments, keeping the top bud section.
  3. Retain 2 to 3 leaves in the middle section.
  4. Disinfect the cut ends with a potassium permanganate solution.
  5. Insert the cuttings into nutrient bags at a depth of about 4 to 6 cm.
  6. Water adequately.

In about a month, the cuttings will develop roots and start to sprout.

Rose Cuttings
Rose Cuttings

Section 4: Disease and Pest Management

When growing roses in a greenhouse, the most common diseases include black spot, powdery mildew, and botrytis blight. The main pests are red spider mites, leaf mites, and thrips. Here, we provide some methods for managing diseases and pests in greenhouse roses, which we hope will be helpful to you.

1. Common Diseases

  • Black Spot: This fungal disease causes black spots on leaves, leading to leaf drop. To prevent it, maintain good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and use fungicides as needed.
  • Powdery Mildew: This disease appears as white powder on leaves and stems. It thrives in high humidity. Control it by reducing humidity, ensuring good air circulation, and applying appropriate fungicides.
  • Botrytis Blight: This disease causes grey mold on flowers and leaves. It is prevalent in cool, moist conditions. Prevent it by removing infected plant parts, improving air circulation, and using fungicides.

2. Common Pests

  • Red Spider Mites: These tiny pests suck sap from leaves, causing them to turn yellow and drop. Control them by maintaining high humidity, using insecticidal soaps, and introducing natural predators like ladybugs.
  • Leaf Mites: These pests cause leaves to curl and become distorted. Manage them with miticides and by encouraging beneficial insects.
  • Thrips: These small insects damage flowers and leaves by sucking their juices. Control them with insecticidal soaps, sticky traps, and introducing natural predators.

3. Resources for Further Reading

Section 5: Greenhouse Roses Caring

Pruning is a crucial part of managing rose production. There are two types of pruning: blooming season pruning and dormant season pruning.

1. Blooming Season Pruning

During the blooming season, pruning should be combined with flower harvesting. After the first batch of flowers blooms, trim the stems back to 10-15 cm above the base. This promotes the growth of more and better-quality flowers in the next bloom.

2. Dormant Season Pruning

Dormant season pruning is done in early spring before new growth starts. For each plant, retain 4-5 main stems, trimming them to 40-50 cm above the ground. Each main stem should have 1-2 side branches, with each side branch pruned to leave two buds. Remove any dead or diseased branches.

Harvesting Roses in Smart Greenhouse
Harvesting Roses in Smart Greenhouse

3. Fertilization

Taking greenhouse rose farming in Yunnan of China as an example, these roses grow year-round and require intensive cultivation. They need significant amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers can lead to soil salinization, acidification, and compaction, which severely affect cultivation.

To maintain a healthy rose garden, combine organic and inorganic fertilizers to ensure balanced nutrition. Use fertilizers with low residual metal salts. During the early growth stage, the NPK ratio should be 3:1:2. During the flowering stage, adjust it to 3:1:3. In addition to NPK, roses also need trace elements like calcium, magnesium, zinc, and boron, which should be added during cultivation.

Roses for Immediate Deep Processing
Roses for Immediate Deep Processing

Section 6: Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling

Cut roses are prone to spoilage, making post-harvest management crucial. Maintaining a complete cold chain system (from production site, flower center, supermarket, to flower shop) and using specific preservation solutions are essential for extending the shelf life and quality of roses.

Sorting and packaging freshly harvested roses.
Sorting and packaging freshly harvested roses.

Here are some resources on harvesting and handling cut roses for your reference.

References

Section 7: Market and Sales Strategies

In addition to the ongoing growth in demand for roses, there is a significant surge in demand during holidays like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas. To meet this demand, it is crucial to plan ahead to ensure an adequate supply. By using advanced mathematical models like ROSGRO and ROSESIM, you can adjust production timing and resources in your greenhouse to align with market demand.

1. Cost Management

The cost of growing roses involves multiple factors, such as energy, labor, and facility management. For example, moving operations to countries with lower energy costs, like Tanzania and Kenya, can significantly increase profitability. In these regions, roses can be grown in low-cost plastic film greenhouses. Increasing greenhouse automation and optimizing labor costs are also effective ways to reduce expenses and improve efficiency.

Harvesting Roses in Polyhouse
Harvesting Roses in Polyhouse

2. Sales Strategies

To reduce transportation costs and ensure freshness, consider growing roses close to major markets. For instance, the Dounan Flower Market in Yunnan, China, is Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest flower trading market, with cut roses accounting for about 70% of China’s total production. Being near such a market can enhance your competitiveness. Additionally, using online platforms and social media can expand your consumer base and increase brand exposure, especially during holiday promotions.

Rose Trading at Dounan Flower Market
Rose Trading at Dounan Flower Market

3. Profit Calculation

Profit = Total Revenue – Total Cost. Given that the price of roses can vary by season and region, you can estimate the potential profit from operating a greenhouse based on local market conditions.

Conclusion

Commercial rose cultivation involves many factors. Besides the topics we covered, you will also need to consider the operational costs after setting up the greenhouse. For building large greenhouses, consider importing from major manufacturing countries like China. Feel free to contact us for details on customization and the latest pricing.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Project Showcase

Discover our expertise in crafting greenhouses

Recent Articles

Lettuce Grown on the Sunniest Side of a Chinese-Style Greenhouse
How to Grow Lettuce in a Greenhouse [Step-by-Step Guide]
September 4, 2024
Grape seedlings in the greenhouse
How to Grow Grapes in a Greenhouse? Step-by-Step Guide
August 26, 2024
Automated Seedling Greenhouse
12 Common Greenhouse Seedling Challenges and Solutions
August 20, 2024

Why Choose INSONGREEN?

Customizable, professional, and knowledgeable. We produce cost-effective & high-quality commercial greenhouses.

Learn More

Open WhatsApp
Contact us via WhatsApp
Need help with your commercial greenhouse? Click to chat with our team and get personalized solutions.