A variation of leaves
Rose leaves may have from 3 to 15 leaflets. Three, five
and seven leaflets on a stem is normal and indicates good cultivation.
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| Different leaf types |
Black Spot
The number one fungus disease to cause defoliation. It is prevalent during
rainy periods. Spray preventatively with RP, Cocktail 1 and/or 2. Retain
infected leaves on bush
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| Black Spot |
Powdery Mildew
A fungus disease that appears on the soft leaved tips causing curling of leaves and is unsightly. It appears at any season and climate mostly on plants that are dry, in windy positions, shade or varietal susceptibility. Spray with RP, Cocktail 1 and or 2.
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| Powdery Mildew |
Downey Mildew
A serious fungus disease that stops buds from opening and causes defoliation, bursting of the bark and is prevalent during high humidity and cool weather. Leaves should be hardened by foliar feeding Magical, liming the soil and by spraying cocktail 2 and or Propomacarb or Ridomil Gold.
Botrytis
A fungus disease that will only by that under extremely wet circumstance and standing water at root level. Remove plants of susceptible varieties. Spraying with Cocktail 2 prevents spreading.
Mosaic Virus
The markings on the leaves may vary and are a nuisance being more prevalent in cooler weather. It does not hinder or slow down growth, does not spread and cannot be treated. All plants of some varieties i.e. Climber ‘Cocktail’ are infected in South Africa.
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| Mosaic Virus |
Aphid Soot
The black layer on leaves is a fungus that grows on the sweet sap secreted,
milked out by ants from aphid. It is unsightly and prevents proper assimilation
and should be washed off with a strong jet of water or sprayed with a dishwasher
solution.
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| Aphid Soot |
Spider Mite
They breed rapidly on the underside of water stressed leaves, with the concentrated sap being very nourishing. Conventional insecticides with the active ingredient of organo-phosphate does not kill these mites but rather induces hectic breeding. Regular wetting of the underside of the lower leaves, spraying with the oil based Insect Spray prevents outbreaks. With heavy infections use a combination of Ludwig’s Red Spider Spray and Efekto Spider Mite Spray, repeat after 5 days and again if movement is still noticed. Water more often or for longer periods especially when root competition from other plants might be the reason.
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| Signs of Spider Mite activity on underside of
rose leaf |
Spider Mite activity on underside of rose
leaf |
Chafer Beetle
Also known as Christmas beetle they are active at night hiding in trees or mulch during the day. Lights, with a water/oil filled bucket underneath are effective, so are the blue light insect traps. Spraying the leaves weekly during invasion periods with insect spray and or Karbasol kills them off.
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| Rose leaf laced by chafer beetle |
All types of Chlorosis
It is a deficiency of micronutrients arriving during the process of new leaf formation. Such deficiency does not mean these nutrients have disappeared from the soil but is rather an imbalance of the marco-elemts (i.e. brak water) It can also occur due to severe soil compaction & poor aeration at root level. Foliar feeding with chelated nutrients, mostly iron, will assist but not overcome the problem.
A sprinkling of 50g LAN per bush may help, powdering with Flower of Sulpher for ‘brak’ situations & digging in coarse compost are possible remedies.
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| Chlorosis treated with LAN |
Fertiliser leaf burn
Fertilizer spread over wet leave even at the correct measure, instantly
dissolves in the water on the leaves. Some leaves may be more burnt than others,
however, the bush should re-sprout after a good watering application.
Fertiliser burn
The application of far too much fertilizer, especially on young plants leads
to burning of the plants identifiable by black stems and brittle black-brown
leaves. Replant in same hole after approximately three week.
Weedkiller damage
Rose leaves are incredibly sensitive in absorbing evaporation fumes from weed killer spray on pavements a few metres away. It does not cause burning, rather a miniaturisation of new leaves and blooms. Slight absorptions can be outgrown underneath. There is no remedy.
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| Slight Weedkiller damage |
Damage by Roundup |
Severe Weedkiller damage |
Frost Damage
The sap flow stoppage is severe in roses which have been affected by unexpected frost after sprouting. Overhead watering will slow down the iced sap melting. In accordance with severity, it may lead to the tips of the new sprouts to burn. No problem. Freezing of the sap in the main stems again leads to stem cancer.
Heat Stress
Superficial burning of leaves during periods of extreme heat in beds without a heat insulting mulch and or insufficient available water, should easily regrow if one or all three causes are addressed.
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| Signs of heat stress |
Burnt edges due to drought
Due to drought during periods of very fast growth in extreme heat, the pipes are (xelym) are simply not large to allow sufficient transportation of water from roots to tip to make up for this loss due to evaporation. Short bursts of irrigation during the heat of the day.
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| Burnt leaf edges |
Old leaves pushed off
The first few leaves still sprouting during cold weather, with very harrow internodes are pushed off (sealed off) by mid September. This phenomenon of yellow leaves in the centre is natural, a varietal curiosity and cannot be avoided.
