Roses are one of the most popular Flowers in the world due to their beauty and deep symbolism. It is said that there is a rose of every color for every person, for every emotion. However, besides being popular for these admirable qualities, roses are also well-known to be one of the more difficult flowers to grow. They need very specific conditions to look and stay at their best. Just one missing requirement and a healthy bush of roses can wither and (if not remedied immediately) die.
Roses thrive best in temperate countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, to name a few. In other words, roses prefer mild climates that are not very prone to extreme changes in seasons or temperature. They can't stand it if it's too hot or too cold, and it is only in temperate zones that roses grow most naturally.
Tropical countries, on the other hand, have high temperatures and humidity or moisture content in the air. Examples of tropical countries are the Philippines, Indonesia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina, to name a few. There are only two seasons: dry, when the temperature reaches record levels during the summer months and wet, when typhoons make their seasonal rounds with heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Given these conditions present in tropical countries, it is no wonder that growing roses have become a tough challenge. Roses are sensitive plants---too much or too little can kill them quite easily. How do rose growers in tropical climates manage to grow them then? Growing roses the natural way requires a lot of manpower and constant attention. The rose grower/s must be on guard all the time to shade the bushes when it becomes too hot, to cover them when it's raining and to have the pesticide always on hand.
In the Philippines, growing roses are better managed in colder localities such as Tagaytay and Baguio, where temperatures are milder than usual. The environment of such places in the Philippines is similar to temperate climate. Thus, the quality of roses grown is markedly better than its counterparts.
Rose growers in tropical countries also use greenhouses in order to grow their roses. In greenhouses, the environment can easily be controlled, thus resulting to less damage on the rose crop and less manpower. The rose grower need not worry about sudden changes in the weather since the flowers are encased in a glass house, protected from pests and excessive rain and heat.
With the help of technology and human ingenuity, roses are now grown all over the world with more ease. Indeed, they have become more beautiful than ever as eternal symbols of love and peace.
