Question
Hi there. I recently purchased and planted two Pope Paul the Second rose bushes. The first couple of blooms were beautiful and large and I cut them for vases in the house. The blooms currently on the bush are closed up and not opening up as large as the first blooms plus they are all tinged with brown. I live in the Atlanta area. They've been fertilized and receive plenty of sun. Why aren't the blooms opening up and what's with the brown color? Thanks so much!

Answer
What you have on the bush are tiny little fly like insects called Thrips. They usually prefer pastel colours and I have heard that John Paul is a favorite of theirs. Thrips suck the nutrients out of the rose petals, killing that area which leaves a brown, dead spot. Any rose spray for these insects will solve the problem. Just make sure you concentrate on the tips of the canes and the new growth. I would snap off any flowers that are left with brown spots on them and put them into the garbage. Also because there could be eggs and more Thrips in the soil at the base of the rose bush, make sure you also spray that area well too.