Roses have a bad reputation for being susceptible to fungal diseases. This is true of plants grown indoors as well. The most common disease of indoor roses is powdery mildew. To keep plants healthy, provide good air circulation near your plants, and water only in the morning. A homemade treatment for powdery mildew can be concocted from a solution of one part alcohol-based mouthwash and three parts plain water. Mix the two ingredients in a spray bottle, and apply to the leaves daily. Aphids, leafhoppers and other insects can be controlled with insecticidal soap or a systemic insecticide. Insecticidal soap is nontoxic and easy on the plant. It is safe to use indoors and around pets and children. Systemic insecticides work through the roots of the plant. Apply the product directly to the surface of the soil, and mix it in lightly. The chemical is absorbed by the roots and spreads throughout the plant. When an insect ingests the pesticide (by ingesting part of the rose), it dies. If you use systemics, apply once a month to prevent insect infestations. Remove faded blossoms to keep the plant blooming. After all, the plant's goal is to make a seed. If you prevent that seed from forming by removing the flower before it can set seed, the plant will produce more flowers. So by removing the spent blooms, you encourage more flowers to grow. Once you see that no new buds are coming on to replace the spent flowers, cut back on water and fertilizer. This encourages the plant to begin a period of rest, or dormancy. Indoor roses will stay in the dormant stage for about three months. Remove the dormant plant from its pot, and roll it in burlap. Then place it in a cool, dark, dry area such as a basement or a garage. After three months of dormancy, check the plant for new growth in the form of swelling buds at the base of the stems. Once you repot the rose, you'll start to see new growth. Use a container twice the size of the one used in the previous season. Use fresh soil, then water and fertilize. You should see new growth in as little as one month. By staggering the dormancy period of several plants, you can have indoor roses blooming all year. To keep your indoor roses healthy: - Provide bright sunlight for at least five hours per day.
- Avoid overwatering: if the leaves turn yellow, cut back on water.
- Repot regularly.
When a rose looks sick or diseased, the first thing to do is simply feel the soil and make sure the plant is getting enough water. If you think it is getting enough water, but the plant still looks sick and has yellow leaves, you may want to have the soil tested to see if it's proper for roses. If not, amend the soil as needed. Tip: - Always cut away the bad parts of the rose, branches and blooms, cutting down to the next set of blooms that's healthy. Rose bushes can rejuvenate quickly in many cases. But don't compost the clippings!
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