What's with the rose?

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by gallina, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. gallina

    gallina Active Member

    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto Canada
    This is a shrub rose Abraham Darby. I bought it this spring and have been growing in a container. It's been blooming, and looks healthy overall. But I noticed that leaves have changed the even green color. They look blotchy, and on the back side of the leaf there is some kind of a greyish web or deposit. Is this caused by a virus or insects?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Sea Witch

    Sea Witch Active Member

    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, Zone 7
    Hi gallina. Others may have different opinions but a greyish web or deposit on the back of a leaf sounds to me like grey mold or Botrytis--so a fungus.
     
  3. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,398
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    You've go a Mite infestation, might be redspider or another type.
     
  4. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,251
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    No doubt about it, webbing is even visible.
     
  5. gallina

    gallina Active Member

    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto Canada
    I just took the leaf to the nearest nursery, and they said it was milldew. They recommended a sulphur-based spray. I did not buy it, because the rose is on my balcony, I don't want the smell around.
    Are there any other options for the milldew?
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,251
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    They are wrong, it is mites. Have a look with a hand lens.
     
  7. gallina

    gallina Active Member

    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto Canada
    If it's mites, how should I deal with them?
     
  8. David Payne Terra Nova

    David Payne Terra Nova Active Member

    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada
    Try a table spoon of baking soda in a litre of water and spray it.
     
  9. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    4,398
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Mites must be rare in Canada that no-one recognizes them on site.
     
  10. David Payne Terra Nova

    David Payne Terra Nova Active Member

    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada
    For mite control try Safer's Insecticidal soap. Make sure you hit the insect with it.

    You can also try lime-sulphur. Or a mix of the insecticidal soap and the lime-sulphur. Read the bottle directions.

    Other remedies are lace wings, lady beetles and there are predatory mites too.
     
  11. gallina

    gallina Active Member

    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto Canada
    Thank you all. Will be looking for Safer's soap.
     
  12. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

    Messages:
    21,251
    Likes Received:
    786
    Location:
    WA USA (Z8)
    It's not a matter of mites being rare here, it's a matter of bad information being common at retail outlets - if the number of "the nursery said" internet posts relating falsehoods or misdirections are any indication. Nowadays often "the nursery" is a big box chain store plant department.
     
  13. gallina

    gallina Active Member

    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Toronto Canada
    I'm surprised that the specialist at the nursery (one of the biggest in Toronto) gave wrong information.
     
  14. David Payne Terra Nova

    David Payne Terra Nova Active Member

    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada
    I've found that the nurseries hire alot of inexperienced people that they can pay lower wages to.

    Up here they should at least get their pesticide applicators license and become certified through the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.

    If you're a retail nursery person, look into the C.H.T. Certification. That is, Certified Horticultural Technician.
     

Share This Page