Apothecary Rose, Black Spots on Leaves
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Deborah Lee
Posted on: July 08, 2006

This spring I ordered an apothecary rose. It was doing very well, and had several blooms. However, it has now developed brown spots on the leaves, and they are dying. Can you please help!

This sounds like black spot of roses, a fungal disease. Try removing all infected and fallen leaves and then burning, not composting them. Then spray the plant with a sulphur powder suspension. Water the plant only with a soaker hose, so that the leaves do not get wet. After every rain, repeat the spray. Ensure good air movement around the plant, to keep the leaves dry. You could try a neem oil spray too. It is anti-fungal as well as insecticidal. (One to two teaspoons neem oil plus one teaspoon dishwash detergent or Safer’s soap concentrate in one litre of water) Tea tree oil may also work, since it is anti-fungal. You could try to use it like neem, that is with soap as an emulsifying agent, but I would use only one or two drops per litre of water.

If all this fails you may have to use an inorganic method, but use it only as a last resort.

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