RdV is always pink in hot weather.
It was poiple most often for me, as my climate is coastal, and cooler than average.
But I once had a bloom DQ'd in a rose show, because the Distinguished Judge was under the impression that RdV was always shocking pink.
(He lived inland.)

Jeri

My RdV was from Pickering and it is true to variety. Can you post a picture. Sometimes first blooms can be a little different
olga

My two are struggling. They made it through the winter unprotected so now are smaller. I pruned off the dead "twigs", certainly not fat enough to call canes, fed them Mills Magic about half what it says. They were babies but bloomed last year deep pinkish-mauve, think I got them from ARE. I just love them if I can get them going. I also have two bottles I cut the bottoms out of and screwed on some spikes I got for deep watering.

I don't know if I should put a little Miracle Gro (regular not Miracid unless leaves get funny again) in that water now and then or not. Jeri helped me last year. I posted a photo, and the leaves were turning funny in the pots B4 I put them in the ground. She named the malady but I can't remember what now. I did what she said. They look green enough now. I may have to move them in time or try to amend the soil better around them, think it best to leave them be for the rest of this year. Got to get some compost and fresh mulch there except the iris. Would a little peat help, too? I could scratch it in a little but don't want to disturb stuff.

The hose won't reach that far; hence the bottle method. Better than nothing. Soil is clay and was brought to the surface when we buried my cat there. The new iris there are fine. They do well in iffy soil. Two unknowns I rooted are there, too. They took forever to root until I figured out what to do rather than lose them, then died back after keeping them in the sunroom for that winter. Maybe since I didn't have the healthiest cuttings, had to take what was they will never amount to anything, look like Mme. Plantier but I don't know. They have little buds on them. You people would laugh if you saw the pathetic mess I'm fighting here constantly.

At a guess, Aliska, your Reine des Violettes was suffering from chlorosis.
This rose is very sensitive to alkaline conditions -- so if it slips into the alkaline range, it has difficulty utilizing nutrients.
For established roses with that problem, I've tried various remedies, and settled on the addition of a little soil sulfur.

Jeri

'Reine des Violettes' is unlikely to show true to color in its first year. Also as others have stated soil pH plays a huge role in how this rose develops its pigments. I think its a bit early to be judging its merit.

it's nice to have more information on the matter from those in the know (though I don't believe the soil ph would play a factor for me, as I believe my clay soil, as heavily amended with mulch & manure (at least for this rose)-I think there is a work analogy there, somewhere- would tend to the acidic.

In any event, I agree it is too early to judge, and they are the first blooms, as you say, so........

jerijen, thanks. I can remember sulphur but know I don't have any. Re the chlorosis, it was last year about May 27, I'm sure I posted some photos, still have them on my server, but cannot find that thread with the photos now and have searched many ways, here, google advanced, and google images. We did refer to it after-the-fact on the Bees and Pesticides thread which I refer to often. I was sure at the time I didn't want to run out and get sulpher so used a little Miracid (with your approval?) instead if my memory serves me right.

Anyway, they're a nice green now despite being so small, so if it shows up again, I'll get some sulphur.

But, of course, before adding sulfur, I think I'd be sure that the pH indicated a need for it.

Jeri

Jeri, I still don't want to bother to test for ph, don't know how, and afraid to send in soil samples and the work of that. Maybe I'll be forced to do it. I'm lazy about some of it. There are little buds on what's left of my RDV's. Guess I'll have a couple mini RDV's this spring.

If they put out new growth this season, I'll try to force myself to protect them for the winter. I don't have to do it for all. They weren't in the best of shape when I got them anyway; they offered to replace one, but I didn't want to bother with it. That one isn't patented, I doubt, so I got two for insurance anyway. I can root some new ones from cuttings if I want unlike some of my others.

First blooms on Harison today; they're not going to be very double this year like last. Probably the winter, but absolutely no tip dieback. Every single other rose had a little or a lot of it.

Generally speaking, an inexpensive pH meter, available in many local nurseries, would do the job.

I'm just never comfortable with the idea of treating a condition unless you are sure you have it. :-)

Jeri

Jerijen, once again, thank you. Next time I'm at the nursery or send someone, I'll get one then. I could use it elsewhere for other plants and roses, especially my rhodies and think it's a great idea now. I used to know, well looked it up rather than make a fool of myself. Neutral is 7, acidic is below 7 increasing down to 1, and above 7 is alkaline increasing as the number gets larger. Pink and blue on litmus paper we used to test in chemistry, pink is acid; blue, alkaline.

I agree you shouldn't treat for something without a proper diagnosis. I had confidence that you nailed it when I did post those photos. I still have them on my hard drive and server but can't find them here at GW now.

So I'll just post them again. Maybe it will help someone else. Taken May 27, 2008. Keywords: chlorosis or chlorotic.

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Oh, I think you have some chlorosis there, I just don't know for certainsure that it's caused by aklaline conditions. :-)
If it was in MY garden, I'd know.
But it ain't.
And other things can cause yellowy leaves with green veins. Consider Magnesium, for instance (see below).

So first making sure that you HAVE an alkalinity problem will start you on the road to correcting it.

Jeri

Here is a link that might be useful: When You Love Roses Too Much

They're better now, no veining, but the green isn't the best. Those were when I first got them last year while they were still in pots.

I'll check your link. Appreciate it.

I didn't go to the doctor, but broke a rib 3 weeks ago, hurt for several days and when breathing but seems ok now, lifted 40# bags of peat (could barely do it but caused no pain). Wet in bags outside so weighs more than normal for peat. My therapist says I should get a bone density scan and take magnesium if my bones break that easily. The cat did it with his paw pushing off my chest. I heard a snap, then felt the pain. If I take all the stuff I should, it makes me nauseous. Probably same with roses, don't want to over-medicate.

Your doc is right!!!

Jeri

Jeri, chuckle. I'll get to it so long as it isn't that chalky old milk of magnesia I used to have to take as a kid, ick, didn't see any last time I was at Walgreen's and was too impatient to ask, will next time. I told my regular doctor some time back if I have to be one of those old ladies on 10 different kinds of pills, I'm not doing it. I will prioritize. I've seen what some of that stuff does to old people.

I wonder how I check my ph ;-)