Pakistan Gardening Forum

Some roses died last three weeks- I threw em away but two more are now sick. Leaves dropped. Bare stems,then new green leaves (unlike fresh red growth this was very light green). And more drooping. Searching on the net, I decided it was canker, and decided to cut sick stems. To my unfortunate? surprise, the inside of the stem is brown and rotten. I'm guessing now its phytophthora. Which basically means I can't grow roses again

No cure, and its always in the soil. I contacted PARC- and they charge- please prepare yourself- 30,000rs. for a microbiological analysis of a soil sample, and 12,000rs for a simple nutrient analysis! And I thought we were an agricultural country?! haha. Please guide me as to what should I do. I must take action immediately!

Pictures can be seen here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/hamza.91/R ... directlink

Best,

H

Plant new stock & prune with good sharp cutter. Try to cover the wounds with Nail polish after pruning. Rose canker is caused due to bacteria which inters through the wounds.

My best advice though is not to plant roses back in the same soil due to rose plant soil sickness.

Rose soil sickness is a recognised but poorly understood problem. It occurs when a plant is replaced with the same type. For most plants this does not cause a problem. However, for others, most notably roses and others in the rose family, the new plant fails to thrive or put on decent growth. The roots of the previous plant need only to have been in the soil for a few months for the problem to occur.

If you have already planted them into old rose beds then, lift the plant, shake off the soil and replant in another site where the roses have not been grown before. They will often recover.

Very occasionally the problem does not occur, generally however it lasts upto 9 years in established rose bed soils. There are no chemical soil treatments available to the home gardener, there are things to try and mitigate the problem such as soil replacement, planting in biodegradable pots etc.

Regards
Ifzal

Rose soil sickness has no cure. I think the replacement of soil can not solve the problem.

You're right. I think destroying old plants is first step because there is no cure as Umar sb said.

Second, I should improve soil conditions, like drainage and water practices. And plant new stock. I'm thinking I should let the soil dry out and then solarize it? I cannot change old beds all the soil. Maybe I should plant something else then. I don't know. I don't want to give up my roses

Thank you for your advice Ifzal sb, and the nail polish tip Umar sb!

Wait

Before you destroy the old plants, did you plant them in an old rose bed and maybe that is why they are now failing to thrive due to rose soil sickness. In this case transplanting the roses into fresh soil at a site where roses have not previously grown will rejuvenate them. Unless of course they truly are on their last legs so to speak.

If it is Phytophthora and not waterlogging problems (both of which are similar and differentiated accurately only with lab testing) then yes the plants should be destroyed, following which your soil conditions should be amended and improved with the addition of composts, drainage, solar sterilisation etc before replanting with less susceptible species.

Im sure you will have made the best informed decision already. If it was me and desiring of roses then I would replace 2 feet of soil and try one or two plants of the more hardy rose varieties. If they are ok for a season amongst some cheap annuals then I would plant en masse the following season to create a wonderfull solid block of colour.

Regards
Ifzal

Or bhi phool hain dunya main roses kay alawa.

Hamza, were these grafted or own roots?

Cant you grow them in Pots with 'good soil' from some other area?

Grafted. Own roots haven't grown more than 12 inches in one year