Hershi, many roses lack complete resistance to disease until they are fully established,
with a good, big, root system supporting them.

Is it possible that this rose might do better once it is in the ground for about 3 years?

(OTOH, Crystalline, the grandparent of this rose, mildewed uncontrollably in my
Coastal garden. It also demonstrated a complete lack of any ability to
produce decent form, without inland heat.)

Jeri

Won't you even try the baking soda spray? Of course our climates are very different, but if I can get my roses past early spring then powdery mildew isn't a problem the rest of the year. Now I do spray REAL fungicides, but in the early spring I'm usually too busy with other projects to have rose spraying as a top priority. That means that for a month or so all the roses are on their own. I haven't had any trouble with FIL (as I have had with other roses) during that no spray period. So I'm thinking maybe it's not that susceptible to disease and with just a little help from you for a short period of time during your prime mildew season, she may end up being a good girl the rest of the year.

I am on the east coast in VA. Very hot and humid. I agree this is a wonderful rose and it is very vigorous. I planted it new in the spring (bareroot) and it is as big as the ones planted last year and constantly covered in gorgeous blooms. I spray here so no problems with mildew.I would really hate to have to give this one up.

Maybe try the baking soda or some other organic solution it until it gets older. Would the nursery take it back after a month? I wouldn't even attempt it myself but I may be wrong. If it is outgrowing it's pot it may be stressed out and therefore more susceptible to disease. My FIL is way too big for a pot.

You might try Messenger spray, which is a naturally occurring protein. It has worked very well in my garden to control PM. I consider my garden to be no-spray because I do not use fungicides or pesticides, but I do spray with fertilizers such as Miracle Gro, fish emulsion and Messenger.

See link at: http://www.edenbio.com/garden/

if I can get my roses past early spring then powdery mildew isn't a problem the rest of the year.

*** Yeah, but Hershi is on the Southern California coast.
Here, a rose that mildews can mildew right through the year.
If they are susceptible, they often bring the year to a "high point" by
rusting nastily as Fall approaches.

Jeri

Yes, California climates are different for the most part. Perhaps their nurseries are too. Buying a rose and then taking it back after a month might not fly here. But then that's why a good private nursery can be of so much value.

I bought it at Rogers' Gardens, a very nice nursery that has a 1 year return policy (assuming I can find my receipt). They were having a 3 for 2 sale, so I couldn't resist. It's in a five gallon container so it's not too too cramped. Jeri is right that springtime is rust and pm, summer is pm, and fall is rust and pm. Powdery Mildew is pretty much my constant companion.

I do usally spray with horticultural oil when I have trouble, but it's been hot the last couple of weeks so I didn't want to burn the folliage.

So if I'm hearing you right, it sounds like this rose is good enough that I should go ahead and put it in the ground anyway. In other words, I should forgive any current faults and go ahead and move in together. Of course, I told myself that I would stop being such a softy and instead, show them the door when they start to act up. It's so hard to decide! (Geez, I'm glad I'm happily married. Dating is so not fun!)

FIL is really too new for almost anyone to say with 100% accuracy that it's going to be one of the greats. However, from my initial take (and others), it looks most promising. Because she's sweetly fragrant and a good cut flower, she gets a little extra wiggle room from me. And again she has had no PM here. But as Jeri so rightly points out, I don't have the PM pressure that you have. May I suggest trying at least the baking soda recipe for powdery mildew before you give up.

You know, I think it takes at least 10 years before you become ruthless about these things.

:-)

Jeri