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Problems in the yard...

DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
edited May 2022 in Problem solving
Evening all!

I bought a climbing Iceberg rose on Saturday (21st), a healthy looking plant, with new growth and buds forming.

I planted it up into a larger pot using John Innes No.3 mixed with perlite, and used mycorrhizal fungi in the base of the hole. I watered it in and placed it in position approx' 20cm from the wall I'd like it to eventually climb up - which gets morning sun and good ambient light for the rest of the day. There is plenty of airflow around the plant (and yard).

Sadly, my Monday morning inspection showed up three leaves with the dreaded powdery mildew, which I pinched and binned - I then treated with Provanto Fungus Fighter Plus, hoping this would cheer-up the situation.

This morning I took off an entire stem with buds as both were newly powdered. Tonight there is another singular leaf heading for the chop. As I remove one site, it appears elsewhere!

Weather has been pretty wet in-between sunny spells.

Sad times indeed. What am I doing wrong? 

As I post, the Wollerton OH opposite is unaffected (visibly).

Please help!

DJM
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I find that powdery mildew often occurs on newly purchased plants and I suspect that it’s because they’ve been allowed to get too dry in the pot at the garden centre. 

    Plants that have been weakened by drought are quite often susceptible to powdery mildew as it attacks stressed plants. 

    I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I’d remove any badly affected leaves, perhaps give the leaves a spray with dilute seaweed tonic, and ensure the rose doesn’t dry out. I think it’ll be fine. 

    I try not to use fungicides … I’ve never found them to be very effective, and there’s a worrying development in that doctors are finding that some health conditions involving fungal infections are becoming fungicide resistant, due to their over-use… in the same way that bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics in a dangerous way. 

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





  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    @Dovefromabove Thank you! I'll look at the seaweed tonic - is removal of all patches not necessary?

    DJM
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Are you intending to grow a climbing Rose in a pot?
    If so it will need to be a very large pot, if you are going to keep it happy.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2022
    I don’t believe there’s need to remove any but the most badly affected leaves. A healthy plant will survive and outgrow a bit of powdery mildew. 

    However, I do agree with @punkdoc that a climbing rose needs a very large pot if it’s to be successful. There are folk who have been successful with carefully chosen varieties … @Busy-Lizzie may be able to help with advice on that, or @Marlorena and @Nollie if they’re around. 

    😊 

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





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    @Dovefromabove has given some good advice.

    I have grown short climbers in pots. They need a lot more watering and feeding than roses in the ground. Fungal infections are more common when the plant is too dry.

    The pot should be at least 60cms tall as roses develop quite long roots.

    My roses in pots were never infected but I have one in the ground that was, lack of rain and I was away for a while. I sprayed it and gave it a good soak every 2 to 3 days and the fungus vanished. I hardly even removed any leaves.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    edited May 2022
    @Dovefromabove and @punkdoc Thank you. I have 2 climbing roses (Wollerton Old Hall and Iceberg) in pots that are 15 inches deep and a foot wide...Is this too small? If undersized, would this cause health issues or simply restrict ultimate spread/height?

    I'm glad this came up within their first week, and not further down the line!

    Edit to add: Thank you @Busy-Lizzie, I posted before seeing your reply!
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Yes, those pots are too small. Leave them for this summer then re-pot the roses into pots at least 2 ft tall and almost as wide this winter when the roses are dormant.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I grow roses in barrels and they do well if I keep on top of feeding and watering. A short climber would be fine if extremely well looked after but as o say a half barrel is the smallest size I would consider for a climber for more than a year or so and I believe Wollerton is fairly vigorous? 
    Roses are hungry and thirsty and the bigger the pot the better for everyone. 
  • DeterminedNoviceDeterminedNovice Posts: 13
    Thank you all, apologies for my 'beginner-itis' - I'm hoping it's a mild case and clears up quickly!
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Don’t worry too much roses are ridiculously tough and will be ok until you can repot if you keep on top of the watering. 
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