Introduction: Going 'Ape' Over Roses

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The simple and cheap-o way to have luscious roses that are pest and disease free is to feed them Bananas! Peels and all.

Step 1: Prepare the Area

Since I don't have any place where I want to put roses in the ground we are going to repeat the set up process for container gardening done in this earlier instructable https://www.instructables.com/id/Successful-Container-Gardening/ except we are going to add banana peels to the soil.

Put some bark, stones, packing worms, etc., anything that will not pack down in the bottom of the container.

Stand a cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll, paper towel roll or gift wrap roll depending on the depth of your container.

Pack more dirt around the cardboard tube about 1/3 of the way up to keep it upright and toss some chopped banana peels on top of the dirt, finish filling the container with dirt and fill the tube with more drainage material.

If you are planting in the ground just toss the banana peels in the bottom of the hole. If they are already planted just bury some whole over ripened bananas or chopped banana peels an inch or two deep within the root zone and forget using things like fertilizer, sprays that can be harmful to kids and pets or dusts that distract from the true beauty of your roses.

Step 2: Plant Your Roses

Plant your roses in the soil spreading the root ball out and adding more soil to cover the root ball if necessary.

Step 3: Water Your Roses

Water your roses in and around the cardboard tube to get even distribution through the soil and to the root system.

Step 4: Add the Pest Control

Don't forget the pest control as mentioned in this instructable on successful container gardening:
https://www.instructables.com/id/S4I43XWFVRRFTMO/

Coat the inside of plastic lids like frosting, yogurt or cottage cheese with Vaseline or Karo Syrup and place sticky side up in the container.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Roses

This miracle monkey food has everything your roses and other fruit and flower bearing plants need to reach their full potential; calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, silica, sodium and sulfur.

The best part? You can repeat this process whenever you feel like it so if you have some bananas that are too far gone to eat your roses will love them and you haven't wasted your money on fruit gone bad.

Step 6: UPDATE 1 Month Later

This is what my Roses look like one month later following these instructions compared to the second picture below..

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