Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Have I Killed It Already?
























I'm feeling a bit like Icarus. I've successfully grown a few ornamentals. Then my hubris led me to believe I can handle growing roses. Instead, I've flown too close to the sun and now it's my plant that's melting.

I haven't even had a chance to document my new sun bed and already I may have one less occupant: the Cramoisi Superieur.























I've been looking online to try to figure out the problem. Of course, yellowing leaves can indicate a lot of problems: too little nitrogen, too little water, etc. I just don't know what this problem is. I planted this rose in the same conditions--double dug bed, lots of compost--as the Duchesse de Brabant at the other end of the bed. She is doing great--bright, green healthy leaves--and is blooming already. Both have been watered on the same schedule.
















The Cramoisi may be getting slightly less than sun but it's not a huge difference between the two plants. The Antique Rose Emporium said not to add fertilizer at this point so I'm a little stumped. I plan on pruning out the dead leaves, and the buds that I think aren't opening. (Some may have been on there when I bought it.)
















Any other suggestions other than go back to growing vegetables?

8 comments:

  1. That is frustrating...I wish I knew roses but I don't...right before I left town I transplanted The Fairy rose and it croaked....no water while I was absent...it always amazes me when one plant thrives and another doesn't and they are two feet from one another.
    Hopefully someone will have an answer.
    Gail

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  2. It might be belated transplant shock. You could try the almighty Superthrive and see if it helps-- I've seen it perk up half-dead plants overnight.

    *crosses fingers*

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  3. Superthrive? I just read about it online but where can I find it in Austin (preferably someplace more central than Natural Gardener.)

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  4. Re: SuperThrive. Lowe's definitely has it. I wouldn't be surprised if Walmart had it, but I haven't checked. The cheapest place to get it is actually at Barton Springs Nursery, where you can get the really big bottle for $30. The small bottle most people sell goes for around $10, but it's worth every penny.

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  5. There are lots of roses in my garden, and a few have looked like this at some point (especially the miniatures). Before I ever give up on one, I trim it back and ignore it. It once took a transplant 6 months of being ignored before it took off. If it's from Antique Rose Emporium, it's probably one that grows from its own roots rather than being grafted, and it probably has a nice healthy root ball. Prune it and leave it alone for a while - what's the worst that could happen?

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  6. Thanks for the advice. I feel better. I did add some superthrive and pruned it back. I *think* there are new leaves growing at the end and the yellow leaves are leftover from transplant shock.

    We'll see. This is why I usually don't spend much money on plants. Then I don't feel quite so invested in their survival.

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  7. I rely on the well-termed "almighty" Superthrive myself. It has helped with roses and, more especially, with Pines of all kinds. Are you familiar with "M Roots" and some of the other root hormones? We've had luck with these as well. Your plant looks a bit "shocked" and it could have been hot weather, if you had an unnatural breakout of that.

    I discovered your blog on Blotanical. I love what you are doing and I like your lay out. Come visit me sometime, as well. Keep it up, I bookmarked you.

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  8. I think the Superthrive experiment may be your best bet, Lori. M Roots are a hormone and root developer. I have to confess I am not a rose expert and it may just be something as simple as some shock from your early heat down there.

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