The variety of flowers, which received such a unique and magnificent name, cannot fail to please you with its correspondence to the famous image, since the rose "Sophia Loren" is one of the most famous representatives of the Rosaceae family, as the encyclopedia of roses says. In this article we will look at how to choose the right rose bush, how to properly plant, feed and with what plants are best to combine.
Biological features
Sort "Sophia Loren" wonders of all flower growers for their beauty. Roses have pointy rounded buds, bright red petals and a velvety surface. Variety of roses "Sophia Loren" refers to hybrid tea varieties that have re-bloom. 
Did you know? The smallest rose in the world (variety "C") - the size of a rice grain.At the stage of full blooming, the average size of the flowers of this variety reaches 12 centimeters. A characteristic feature is a large number of velvety petals, which is why the flowers look elegant and very decorative. Also of note is a very strong, but pleasant and not very obsessive scent of flowers. The shrub blossoms, as a rule, single flowers or in inflorescences, on powerful, direct stalks.
The leaves of the bush are leathery, dark green, resemble an egg in shape, the bush reaches a height of 150 centimeters. There are also large, but rare spikes. The variety "Sophia Loren" keeps well the shape of buds, keeps a fresh look for a long time after the flowers have been cut. The rose perfectly adapts to the soil and weather conditions even in regions with a cold climate, where it takes root well. The flower blooms completely, the plant itself reaches its maximum size. Cultivated flower in the open air and in greenhouse conditions.
The "Sophia Loren" variety was bred by flower growers in Germany in 1967 and, because of its beauty and glamor, was named after the famous actress Sophia Loren. 
How to choose seedlings when buying
When buying seedlings of this variety, you need to choose one-year or two-year copies. Seedlings should have at least 2 woody stems of a dark green color, they should have dormant buds and a developed root system with healthy roots. The root neck should be 8-10 mm in diameter. Flowers, leaves and fruits should be cut.
Important! If you observe a high degree of agrotechnology and follow all the recommendations of gardeners, the variety of roses "Sophia Loren" in the second year of growth, it will reach high decorative qualities and will remain productive for 20 years.Florists recommend buying seedlings planted in a container, in which case you minimize the risk of damaging the plant during transportation. At the same time, a sapling in such a container is several times more expensive than a normal, with an open root.
You also need to pay attention when buying any seedlings on the roots and stems. They must be healthy, free from damage and signs of disease. You can not overdry the roots of seedlings, if they are open, remember that during transportation they need moisture. 
Planting roses on the site
If you decide to plant a rose on your site, you should know the simple rules of planting. Purchased seedlings preferably immediately landed in the ground. The soil layer for grafted roses should be more than 70 centimeters, for root-bearing flowers - up to half a meter. The dimensions of the planting pit should be no less than 50 x 50 x 50 cm. This will allow the plant to settle freely and, which is very important, with straightened roots. Next, we consider in more detail how to properly plant these wonderful flowers.
Optimal timing
In our strip of roses "Sophia Loren" can be planted twice a year - autumn and spring. In the spring, it is worthwhile to pay special attention to planting roses, because after winter storage the bushes are often weakened.
Autumn planting for roses is even preferable, as they manage to take root, hibernate and spring in growth along with the old bushes.
Among the shortcomings of the autumn planting are difficulties in choosing suitable weather (since if the weather is warm enough in the fall, the seedling will actively grow and freeze in the first frosts).
Selection and preparation of the site
The main guarantee of a good landing is the right place. Shrubs better planted on a small slope, which is directed to the south. At such a place the roses will be warmer and the plant will receive more light. Also, do not plant flowers in the sun, the rose should be a little pritenena. Pritenyat can be low shrubs or trees. 
A place for a rose should be a little on a height and not be filled with melt water. The soil should be with good drainage, as this flower does not like dampness at the roots.
The landing pit for the rose "Sophia Loren" is prepared in the same way as for other shrubs. To begin to dig deep pit. The soil should have a good mechanical composition, that is, when planting, you need to add organic fertilizer and sand.
Organic fertilizers, sand or clay, peat are added to the landing pit. It is better to cook it a couple of weeks before planting the flower, so that the pit has time to settle, and the seedling does not fall into the ground after planting.
Did you know? The largest single rose - the white bush Lady Banks is located in the United States, Arizona. It occupies an area equal to a football field, and is covered in the flowering season with more than 200 thousand flowers. Every year it is measured by representatives of the Guinness Book of Records.
Preparation and planting seedlings
There are two ways of planting rose seedlings - dry and wet ways.
With the dry method they dig a hole, and the seedling is filled with planting mixture.
With the wet method, the seedling is filled with earth and water, the result is a liquid porridge. Thus, the roots are enveloped in soil and water. With such planting seedlings quickly take root. Planting method is chosen depending on soil moisture.
At the bottom of the excavated pit they form a mound, along which the roots of the shrub are spread. Sapling asleep planting mixture. It is necessary to monitor the place of inoculation (the place where shoots begin) of the seedling. It should be immediately under the surface of the soil. This is done so that in winter the flower will not peremerz, and in the summer - wild shoots will not form, which will thicken the shrub.
After planting, it is imperative to water the bush so that the seedling gets the right amount of moisture.
After watering, it is recommended to spud a little rose and complace with compost. This will preserve moisture. Two weeks after planting, when the bush takes root, you need to remove the ground, which was used for hilling. Otherwise, the shoots will take root, and the rose will be weak.
If the seedling has not been cut in advance, then it must be cut after planting. It is necessary to cut short to stimulate the growth of strong shoots from the base of the bush. After planting the seedling the first two or three weeks should be regularly fertilized with growth stimulants. And as soon as the first buds appear, they need to be nipped off. This is necessary so that the rose does not spend strength on flowering and is able to grow stronger.
Rose "Sophia Loren", like any other hybrid tea, is capricious and requires special care. Thanks to the recommendations below, you can get not only well-groomed and beautiful shrubs, but also for a sufficiently long period to please the eye with a beautiful and abundant flowering.
How to care for roses "Sophia Loren"
If you follow the rules for the care and cultivation of roses, you can get a culture of high decorative qualities with good growth and lush flowering. A more detailed look at how to properly care for this flower.
Pest and disease prevention
Rose "Sophia Loren", like other varieties of these flowers, suffers from various pests. It is attacked not only by insects, but also by viruses and fungi. Mostly shrubs are affected in summer.
For the prevention of rot on flower leaves, it is recommended to provide plants with good ventilation and moderate watering.
To prevent spider mites and spiders, it is recommended to use natural rosemary oil, which scares off these pests. It needs to be sprayed on the leaves.
Also, these flowers can often have powdery mildew. The appearance of powdery mildew contributes to wet and warm weather. In order to protect the bush from this disease, you must:
- plant plants in places where air circulation is good;
- periodically carry out preventive pruning of stems and buds;
- during the growing season, spray the flowers with a copper-soap solution;
- process shrubs with a 3% Bordeaux mixture in early spring;
- in the summer period to process bushes with 1% Bordeaux mortar;
- mulch and loosen the soil;
- in the autumn you need to burn all the fallen leaves.
Watering, weeding and loosening
Bushes do not like excessive watering and are very sensitive to it. The ideal form of irrigation for roses is the root drip system.
You also need to maintain cleanliness among the bushes. Remove weeds from time to time (take care at least once a week). You also need to pay attention to loosening the soil surface. Loosening prevents the formation of a soil crust that prevents air and water from entering the ground.
Top dressing
With regular fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers, the shrub prolongs its flowering, and the number of flowers increases. The first time is recommended to make urea in the spring at the beginning of the growing season.
Also feeding should be carried out in the period of active budding. During this period, suitable potash-phosphate fertilizers, and you can also prepare the solution yourself. To do this, mix 10 g of slurry, 10 g of potassium sulfate and 10 g of superphosphate. Dissolve ingredients in 10 liters of water. It is recommended to moderately fertilize the bushes, as they do not like excessive dressings.
Pruning
Cutting bushes of roses "Sophia Loren" need in the spring. Pruning allows you to form a bush and increase flowering. 2, a maximum of 3 well-formed buds are left on the stem. If the stem is weak or small, it is recommended to leave 1 or 2 buds.
Preparing for the winter
Also, flower care involves the proper preparation of the plant for the winter. It must begin in the last days of August or in early September. At the same time, it is not recommended to cut flowers, as this stimulates the emergence of new shoots.
Important! Before the onset of cold weather, a layer of soil or 20 cm of peat should be poured into the tree trunks of the bush. It is also recommended to cover the rose with the help of garden polyethylene or fir spruce branches.
Use in landscape design
Tall flowers are often used in landscape design, this is due to their beauty and the fact that they can be used as a rich flowering background for other plants. The combination of hedges and roses planted in front of her looks very modern and elegant. In this case, the background can be represented by deciduous plants of predominantly shrub and tree species, as well as evergreen plants.
A single planting or tapeworm is also a great option for planting a hybrid tea Sophia Loren. The spectacular view of the rose bush will make it possible to use it as a focal point of the meadow, lawn, slope. 
This plant is well combined with gypsophila, tart buttercup, and also a soft cuff. At the same time, they do not recommend planting large-flowered dahlias, late peonies and tuberous begonias next to Sophia Loren. Excellent as a background fit veronica and sage, aconites, catnip and astilbe of a contrasting color. Designers recommend combining the flower with hosts of blue varieties and decorative cereals, such as blue sedleria, ever-living sheep and any varietal elimus.
Eloquently about the rose "Sophia Loren" say reviews of experienced gardeners who argue that this flower is the ideal option for growing in countries with a cold climate, if you need the highest decorative result. And our recommendations will allow you to choose the right seedlings of this flower, learn how to plant a rose, how to care for roses and protect them from adverse environmental conditions.
Sophia Loren
