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Help!! Black leaves but not black spot?

6 years ago

This Carding Mill was doing great when I brought it home. I have left it in the container it was grown in for now. Leaves were green and healthy and it had just gone through a bloom/prune before I bought it and strong new growth was coming in several places. I started noticing some aphids multiplying so one evening at dusk I sprayed the plant lightly with a mild insecticidal soap. It was dry the next morning. But over the past few days the new growth has died and the leaves are turning black!! It doesnt really look like black spot. The plant is watered daily and the pot has drainage holes so I dont think its sitting in water.

Did the insecticide soap do this?! I could cry. This shrub was so healthy when I brought it home.

Featured Answer

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

6 years ago

I think its possible there was some dried residue left in the leaves then the sun hit it and it fried them. I would rinse the leaves really well w plain water and kinda rub with your fingers while rinsing. The new growth was more tender so probably fried quicker. You will probably have to wait for new growth to push through as it recovers. As it recovers, be careful with watering if you lose a ton of foilage..just water when barely dry because with less leaves, the rose needs less watering and you wont want to drown the roots. Let your rose tell you how much water it needs by checking the soil for dryness.

Aphids can usually just be squished or squirted off with the hose. No need for insecticides :) Its easy if you have potted roses that arent too large yet because you can pick it up and tip it to get under the leaves with the hose or water faucet.

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Comments (10)

Natasha (Chandler AZ 9b) W
6 years ago
I have this here and there. And I don't spray my roses with anything. This summer I started noticing these black spots on leaves even without any rain for several months as well as without me showering my roses with tap water... the cause of it is still mystery to me...
cmeister419 thanked Natasha (Chandler AZ 9b) W
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cmeister419
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks so much. Should I prune the new growth that died?
Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I believe the damage you have is the result of your application of the insecticidal soap.

Contrary to popular opinion I find using insecticidal soap needs greater gardener skill than using conventional non-organic sprays. The toxic effects to the rose can be considerably worse than the reason for applying the insecticidal soap. If not applied exactly as directed, the IS can be very hard on the rose's foliage.

I believe you should leave the rose alone and just continue with good management care. At most, prune dead shoots back to living growth. Leave the damaged leaves there as long as some green is still on the leaves. Let them drop on their own. The green in them is still feeding the bush, even if parts of the leaves are dead.

It should recover very well.

Moses
cmeister419 thanked Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
cmeister419
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you Moses
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If I use safer insect killing soap or spinosad I SPOT spray on new roses to see if there will be any reactions...Always follow directions... Yes I have found some roses take the sprays quite well but others not so much...ALWAYS water your soil under and around your roses well before applying sprays...Like water the day or night before you spray...
cmeister419 thanked jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
cmeister419
Original Author
6 years ago
I did water well Jim but I didnt test the spray. I know for next time. I probably wont be using this spray again
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
One time I sprayed entire rose bushes with Spinosad...Most of our roses tolerated it well except Carefree Sunshine...I had two Carefree Sunshines at the time and both rose bushes had a lot of leaves that turned brown after spraying...And I only shot them with overspray from another bush...I guess just like some people are sensitive to certain things so are roses...

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1707845/michaelg-or-anybody-that-grows-carefree-sunshine-rose?n=15
cmeister419 thanked jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
roseloverinsf
6 years ago
I also have those in my roses and don't know what they are. I researched but can't find anything that resembles them. I don't spray with insecticidal soap.
cmeister419 thanked roseloverinsf
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I've seen a few blackened leaves here just like in cmeister419 1st and 2nd pics and I usually do not spray roses with anything... I have no idea what exactly causes it sometimes...

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