Question
I live in Katy, Texas (just outside of Houston)and have a rose bush in front and 5 in the back. The one in the front is a white rose, I think John F. Kennedy and was planted last year. I don't remember the variety though. It is really taking off this spring and has about 5 buds on it. However, one of them opened and is droopy, almost like if the bud is too heavy. It is not opened all the way either, but I am thinking in a few days it may open more. I don't know if the buds are supposed to be like this or if I am doing something wrong. I water it about twice a week, spray it with insect and disease killer once a week and also put Miracle Gro for roses about once a week. Last year it struggled and looked diseased and eaten up by bugs, but this year it doesn't look like that. Any helpful hints you can give me would be appreciated. Also, the ones in the backyard, I have two that are called Angelface which are Floribunda roses. I planted these about a month ago or so. They have taken off as well and have already opened up their blooms but the buds also droop. They are very frangrant and so beautiful, the only bad thing is they are so droopy. The other 3 are hybrid teas, only one has bloomed two buds and they were beautiful, full and not droopy. Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks!  

Answer
Hi Rebecca-
If I remember right - around this date it may have been raining - if so - rain will often ruin blooms.  Also - it could be the humidity - which will sometimes cause blooms to not open all the way.  One thing I would definitely do is stop fertilizing every week - that is way too much fertilizer.  I would fertilize maybe every 3-4 weeks.  John F. Kennedy is a hybrid tea so it will always have problems handling this humidity (that we have in the Houston area) and also problems with disease, blackspot, insects etc.  Why don't you try one of the disease resistant Earthkind roses - like Belinda's Dream, or antique rose like Mrs. B.R. Cant?  (both roses available through the Antique Rose Emporium and Chamblee roses on the web). Also - you could try a better white rose - called Iceberg.  It is more disease resistant and doesn't have as many problems opening all the way up.  Otherwise - if you still want to grow JFK rose - you will have to be patient and understand that rose growing is not a perfect science.  Even if you do everything right - the rose blooms will not turn out perfect every time.  I myself have very few Hybrid Tea roses because I don't like the hassle and I prefer the antique roses or Earthkind roses, which bloom better in my humble opinion.
Good luck-
Carlene