How to transplant mature roses, but not chilli thrips?

11 years ago

There is a young man (translate 'strong') in my city who is interesting in taking some of my roses even though they have chilli thrips. I have warned him not to try it in order to forestall the arrival of chilli thips in his garden, but he's coming over this afternoon to talk it over. He's a 'Master Gardener' and quite knowledable about plants.

I'm wondering if the roses could be safely transplanted when they are semi-dormant in January and the chilli thrips eliminated by cutting them back, stripping the leaves, spraying them with something (but what?) and the bare roots rinsed. Roses never go completely dormant in this climate. He would have holes dug and they would be immediately planted. Some of them are on Fortuniana roots. Most of them, even those on Fortuniana roots, are in large containers.

What do you all think? Can they take this severe treatment or would it be too much of a shock for them? How much cane cut back can Austins and antique tea roses tolerate? And do you think the treatment would serve to do away with chilli thrips that are present? I don't like to use insecticides, but perhaps the roses should be treated also before digging, perhaps with imidacloprid, which Dr. Manners said they are using to treat for chilli thrips.

I know there is nothing that would be sure fire, but might be worth a try. I would very much appreciate your opinions.

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Comments (4)

roseseek
11 years ago
I'm so sorry you're having these issues, Roselee. I also sympathize with your desire not to use pesticides as well as not "share the wealth", sending the thrips to the gentleman's garden, though they are very likely to make it there all by themselves. You would be hard pressed to receive advice more expert than Malcolm's. If he advises using imidacloprid, that is what I would use, strictly adhering to the label instructions.

Of course, the ideal for the Teas would be not to have to move them and not to have to whack them back, but what can you do? Thankfully, those with Fortuniana roots have a very good chance of rebounding well, and quickly, due to the extra push that rose provides. The own root plants will take a while longer, but CAN rebound if provided the best culture and position possible. Most of the Austin roses will recover well, given the weather, culture and conditions they are moved in provide at least the minimum any rose requires to thrive. The only ones I might worry over would be any really weak growers, like Dove.

Hopefully, the winter will cooperate, providing you with rain and cooler temps which will both give the roses better chances of recovery. Personally, I would treat them with the pesticide as instructed for Chili Thrips. If possible, I would permit them to retain as much of a root ball as possible, balancing the tops to the root size (or even a bit larger root system compared to the top growth) and move them as you know they should be. You're an experienced gardener and rose grower with a lot of good judgement and intuition. Between the two of you, I'm sure they can be moved properly and receive the best care and attention possible. It honestly boils down to you just have to do what you have to do. The "ideals" are just that, ideals. Sometimes, you can't do the "ideal". You just have to do what you CAN. Good luck to you both! I certainly do not envy you the thrips, nor having to remove the roses. I've already moved many hundreds, both canned and in-ground, four times. There will NOT be a fifth. Kim
Brittie - La Porte, TX 9a
11 years ago
Honestly, if he's a master gardener, I'd just leave it up to him on what he might want to do. If he's up to the challenge, might as well let him have a go at it.
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Much appreciation for all the responses. I'll call around for the Fertilome product containing Spinosad, the active ingredient in Conserve. Oh, I just found I have an almost full bottle of "Bull's-Eye Bioinsecticide" containing Spinosad as the active ingredient. It's a Garden's Alive product purchased several years ago for thrips with one of their coupon deals, but I stopped using all insecticides a short time later. (As an aside I'll pass along that within a couple of years of not spraying insecticides I've not had thrips in the rose blooms nor spider mites.) WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF SPINOSAD? This bottle is probably 5 to 6 years old. I googled "Shelf life of Spinosad" and found this: "It has a pH of 7.74, is stable to metal and metal ions for 28 days, and has a shelf life of three years as formulated material." Does "forumulated material" mean after it is mixed with water for spraying, or as it sits in the original container? Another question is wouldn't waiting until there were symptoms allow any Chilli thrips that might be present to spread? How DO they spread? Wind? Infected plant touching a clean plant? Do they fly at some point? I have skimmed several articles online and haven't found a definite answer. Maybe they don't know. One article said this: "Prevention To prevent the introduction of chilli thrips into new landscapes it is important make sure that material is not infested prior to planting. New plants being planted could be infesting in a number of ways. The most common method would be to purchase infested plants. However, another overlooked method would be for infested plants removed from the landscape and brought back to a holding area to infest clean plants. When moving plants between properties make sure that they do not have chilli thrips. Infested plants can spread an infestation to holding areas and new landscapes into which they are planted." But this doesn't tell me HOW they spread. Do you think I should I keep them in a large cardboard box covered with clear plastic (in the shade of course) for a couple of weeks? An article in a Houston newspaper suggested that Ike's winds spread Chilli thrips much further inland than the Houston area. This article also said: "Control of chilli thrips is not difficult but requires persistent treatment. Though the pest is easily killed with insecticides, we have not found any insecticides that provide long-term preventive control." Another article said Chilli thrips were thought be deveoping immunity to Spinosad and a variety of insecticides should be used against them. Of course, I would have to believe that the grower of these roses has kept on top of the Chilli thrips problem and my treatment would be simply a precautionary measure. I didn't ask them if they'd ever experienced Chilli thrips among their roses, but when I emailed about what to spray with to forestall a possible problem they suggested Conserve. Any other suggestions will be gratefully received. Hopefully, this is much ado about nothing, but as Kathy indicates, better to be safe than sorry.
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roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
11 years ago
Brittie, the young man is going to take all the roses that I'm not keeping. That will be about 40 roses going to him. He'll be collecting pots and potting soil and digging holes until the time comes to move them. He will lay in some imidacloprid and spinosad to treat them with for starters. As you suggested he knows all about that stuff. Perhaps that will keep them free from the pesky little chilli thrips for awhile.

Kim, thanks so much for the wise rose counsel and kind words. You can always be counted on for both. We'll be taking your advice and leave the root balls as intact as possible.

For the present I'll be keeping about 10 roses so I won't be bereft of my favorite flowers, but I'm eagerly anticipating redesigning the garden with more drought tolerant plants.

If anyone just likes to look at garden pictures as I do here's a recent thread I posted to the GW Texas Gallery. (I post a lot on there.) Actually I'm getting a pretty good flush of rose blooms after cutting off the chilli thippy buds and foliage and spraying the organically approved spinosad.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Gallery post with a few roses ...
roseseek
11 years ago
You're welcome ma'am! Gorgeous garden shots, BTW. Thank you for sharing! Kim

How to transplant mature roses, but not chilli thrips?

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Brittie - La Porte, TX 9a

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How to transplant mature roses, but not chilli thrips?

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Brittie - La Porte, TX 9a

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roselee z8b S.W. TexasOriginal Author

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