Has anyone else experienced clear crystals forming on your rose petals, or leaves? (It almost resembles salt) I know I live in Zone 8A but I am not that close to the gulf coast for sea salt. (I'm about 175 miles inland) I have heard of the sea breeze bring salt onto your vehicle, or plants before, but I am not that close to the sea. It is happening on my crimson bouquet.
I assume it is something fungal, so I have been treating it as such. I will keep you posted.
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kevinschoppe
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Kevin ~ Did you, by any chance, apply a water dissolving powder based fertilier to the roses as a foliar feed? Possibly, not all of the crystals were completely dissolved but the water removed the color and the remaining white crystals were deposited onto the leaves and buds. Or, did you use epsom salts in some way? Can a crystal be lifted off in one piece? If you didn't use any product could a neighbor have used something that drifted on to your roses? Will a forceful stream of water remove the crystals?
If any of the above are not the case contact your county extension office for help, sooner rather than later. It is not good practice to expose roses to a chemical they may not need. Doing so weakens roses and exposes them to more insect and disease damage. Know what you are dealing with before starting a treatment. The extension office can refer you to a rose grower thru their master gardener program or have some other source for help. To locate this office - use google and type in the name of your state +county extension office and click on the search link. And/or contact the American Rose Society at: www.ars.org ~ Click on the 'ask the experts' link to contact a rose grower in your area. Do post back with your findings.
If any of the above are not the case contact your county extension office for help, sooner rather than later. It is not good practice to expose roses to a chemical they may not need. Doing so weakens roses and exposes them to more insect and disease damage. Know what you are dealing with before starting a treatment. The extension office can refer you to a rose grower thru their master gardener program or have some other source for help. To locate this office - use google and type in the name of your state +county extension office and click on the search link. And/or contact the American Rose Society at: www.ars.org ~ Click on the 'ask the experts' link to contact a rose grower in your area. Do post back with your findings.
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kevinschoppe
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I will keep you posted. I will check a few things, and check with the local extension agency.
"Kevin ~ Did you, by any chance, apply a water dissolving powder based fertilizer to the roses as a foliar feed? Possibly, not all of the crystals were completely dissolved but the water removed the color and the remaining white crystals were deposited onto the leaves and buds."
I use Ortho Rose Pride spray to control my fungus, black spots, and bugs. The bottle says it ARS approved that is why I choose that. Of course that could be just a marketing ploy. That rose spray is in a liquid form from the bottle, and I mix it in a sprayer. I do live on a water front home, that plus being in the Texas Gulf Coast region we have a lot of humidity.
Another reason why I am thinking it is fungal is because on my ground, (mixture of compost & manure topped off with 3-4 inches of hardwood black much) I have a brown type of fungus growing. It was there about 7 days ago. The Fungus looks like coffee foam about 1 in tall, and 2 in wide (white bottom brown top). I have seen this twice, the first time I removed it from the soil, and removed the exposed area and about a foot around the area to keep the contamination down. Now this weekend I notice it had spread to the lower leaves of crimson bouquet. I removed all of the affected leaves, as well as the lower leaves from the ground.
If you didn't use any product could a neighbor have used something that drifted on to your roses?
I don't think any of my neighbors are doing anything. One of my neighbors is a 70+ with health issues and just runs his sprinklers; he doesn't treat anything in his yard. He has St. Augustine grass, and a line of Azaleas that he cuts into a perfect square. (He is 10 feet from affected rose) I only see my other neighbor one a year. He only visits this house once a year, and that is only for a few hours then leaves. From what I know he is well off, and has many other houses across the country. His yard (if you want to call it that) is about 90 feet from my rose beds, and it over run with weeds.
Or, did you use Epsom salts in some way? Can a crystal be lifted off in one piece?
I have not tried to remove the crystals I will have to get back with you on this. I have used Epson salts when necessary, but I have always applied that onto the base of the plant and quickly watered the salt into the soil. When I apply the forceful stream of water, it appears to go away, but I can not tell until the leaves dry.
Webmaster: May I post a link to my website so anyone can view pictures of what I am talking about?
"Kevin ~ Did you, by any chance, apply a water dissolving powder based fertilizer to the roses as a foliar feed? Possibly, not all of the crystals were completely dissolved but the water removed the color and the remaining white crystals were deposited onto the leaves and buds."
I use Ortho Rose Pride spray to control my fungus, black spots, and bugs. The bottle says it ARS approved that is why I choose that. Of course that could be just a marketing ploy. That rose spray is in a liquid form from the bottle, and I mix it in a sprayer. I do live on a water front home, that plus being in the Texas Gulf Coast region we have a lot of humidity.
Another reason why I am thinking it is fungal is because on my ground, (mixture of compost & manure topped off with 3-4 inches of hardwood black much) I have a brown type of fungus growing. It was there about 7 days ago. The Fungus looks like coffee foam about 1 in tall, and 2 in wide (white bottom brown top). I have seen this twice, the first time I removed it from the soil, and removed the exposed area and about a foot around the area to keep the contamination down. Now this weekend I notice it had spread to the lower leaves of crimson bouquet. I removed all of the affected leaves, as well as the lower leaves from the ground.
If you didn't use any product could a neighbor have used something that drifted on to your roses?
I don't think any of my neighbors are doing anything. One of my neighbors is a 70+ with health issues and just runs his sprinklers; he doesn't treat anything in his yard. He has St. Augustine grass, and a line of Azaleas that he cuts into a perfect square. (He is 10 feet from affected rose) I only see my other neighbor one a year. He only visits this house once a year, and that is only for a few hours then leaves. From what I know he is well off, and has many other houses across the country. His yard (if you want to call it that) is about 90 feet from my rose beds, and it over run with weeds.
Or, did you use Epsom salts in some way? Can a crystal be lifted off in one piece?
I have not tried to remove the crystals I will have to get back with you on this. I have used Epson salts when necessary, but I have always applied that onto the base of the plant and quickly watered the salt into the soil. When I apply the forceful stream of water, it appears to go away, but I can not tell until the leaves dry.
Webmaster: May I post a link to my website so anyone can view pictures of what I am talking about?
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The Helpful Gardener
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The fungus you described is called a saprophitic fungus; it feeds on decomposing matter and would not hurt plants unless they are already dead! That does not rule out another fungus, but it seems unlikely as you are treating already.
No black sooty mold along with your crystals? Crystals means something in solution that has dried; how often are you spraying? Could very well be spray damage; too much of anything is harmful after a while and toxins doubly so...
No black sooty mold along with your crystals? Crystals means something in solution that has dried; how often are you spraying? Could very well be spray damage; too much of anything is harmful after a while and toxins doubly so...
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kevinschoppe
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I have been watching it over the last several weeks, and this is what has happened.
We have had warm weather 90-98oF with 100% hummity, and the crystals have gone away, but the have left behind a fading color where they were on the leaves.
I have pictures of the leaves. May I post a link to my website for everyone to view the photos?
Thanks-
Kevin
We have had warm weather 90-98oF with 100% hummity, and the crystals have gone away, but the have left behind a fading color where they were on the leaves.
I have pictures of the leaves. May I post a link to my website for everyone to view the photos?
Thanks-
Kevin
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The Helpful Gardener
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kevinschoppe
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The Helpful Gardener
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