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What has caused white spots - not mildew!

marytrvrs2marytrvrs2 Posts: 7
in Problem solving
All our roses (and other plants in the garden too) have these white/yellow spots on the lower leaves. The roses otherwise look great, and the newer leaves are fine. Could it have been  violent hail storm we had at the time the leaves were growing? Hope the pics are clear
enough.

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Mosaic virus?
    Utah, USA.
  • marytrvrs2marytrvrs2 Posts: 7
    Thank you Blue Onion - looking at pictures online, it is a distinct possibility, although it hasn't affected the vitality of the roses which appears to be one of the symptons - will read further.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    @Marlorena is our resident rose expert.. perhaps she knows?
    Utah, USA.
  • marytrvrs2marytrvrs2 Posts: 7
    Thank you, will follow your advice - will take a better photo first!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Earlier in the year some of the leaves on my Falstaff roses had completely yellow leaves - not as in a deficiency, but some leaves were 1/2 yellow and the other 1/2 healthy green.
    I had the same happen with a few of my heliopsis too.
    All subsequent leaves have been fine.
    I've put it down to environmental conditions, but I've never seen leaves quite like yours before

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    It does rather look like rose mosaic virus doesn't it?  however I'm not totally convinced because the rootstocks used here are virus free, grown from seeds, so if it is rmv then the original cuttings taken to graft must have had the virus.   
    Why I'm not convinced is because I'm seeing a lot of this, I have something similar on some of my roses, not quite as bad, and I'm seeing it in other gardens and on very new roses.   Which makes me think it's something to do with climate conditions - we've all had a strange Spring..

    In case it is RMV, as a precaution, if you prune this rose you should disinfect your pruners or whatever you use, before using them on another rose to prune that, otherwise you will transfer the virus [if that's what it is]...

    I'm hoping that as the year progresses, like Pete8 above, the foliage will improve and return to normal, but if it stays the same, then yes rmv it would seem... but that in itself isn't a catastrophe, the rose should grow through it, depends whether the gardener can tolerate the appearance or not...
    East Anglia, England
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Just a thought and thinking laterally ... has there been any treatment/cleaning fluid used on that paving behind the roses?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    From the photos and description it seems that it's only the earlier leaves that have been affected (and the same in my case).
    I reckon it was the unusually bad weather (hail, snow, severe frosts etc) even into March this year that caused damage to the outer leaves (exterior) of the leaf bud, and the unusual markings have appeared as the damaged leaves have unfolded and expanded - leaves deep inside the bud were better insulated and undamaged
    That's the best I could come up with on a 30 minute dog walk :)


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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