Question Hi my name is viney breakfield I live in Illinois but am closest to St Louis. It is spring and I started a Don juan rose bush in the house next to the window along with a golden showers rose bush, because it is too cold to put outside yet. The golden sowers is doing great and even has two blooms on it, but for some reason the don jaun is small and it's leaves have just started turning yellow and falling off. Do you Have any advise for me? When I planted it I put compost in with the soil and about a month ago I put rose food on the top. I don't know if any of those things could be the culprit.
AnswerWhat you planted the roses in, plus the rose food is fine. It is the lack of humidity in the house that is the problem. Roses like dampness and so do much better outside where they get dew or water on their leaves. In the house the heat dries the leaves out. What is happening to your Don Juan will in time happen to your Golden Showers. If possible try and place the roses outside when it is sunny for a few hours. If it is really too cold, such as below freezing, then spray the rose leaves daily. Try and get the roses in the ground as soon as you can. Placing them outside during the day for a week should harden them off to go in the ground. Golden Showers is a hardy climber and will take more abuse than Don Juan. Don Juan is only hardy to zone 5 and will re-act quicker to any stress then the other climber. Also plants grown in the house often get spider mites as spider mites love a dry atmosphere. Check to see if there are any very tiny spider looking insects. Spraying the rose will discourage the mites.
