We bring in large rootstock and plant into big 4-gallon fiber pots.
Fiber pots breathe better and dry out a little quicker – which the roses love. We hold the roses in a cold frame during the really cold months of winter as they root in and start to set buds for leaves. Then, when the time is right, we set them out into retail. Roses have delicate root systems, they don’t always travel well over long distances on trucks. It works better to grow them close to where they are sold.
Once you get the rose home there is another advantage to the big fiber pot. You can leave it on and plant the whole thing! Remember, roses don’t like to have their roots disturbed too much. Leave the pot on and set the whole thing into the hole (the pot will degrade in a few weeks.), the roots will stay happy and the plant, and ultimately the flowers will perform much better.