Question
Hi,
I am new to growing plants, especially indoors and need urgent help to save my rose bush and my basil herb. We live in the middle-east where right now the weather is hot and humid, but my plants are inside the house, which is centrally air-conditioned. The room temperature is around 24 to 25 degrees Celsius(75-77 Farenheit). My plants leaves are turning black and curly and eventually fall off. Even the new leaves are not spared. The rose bush is under a florescent light for the entire day plus it gets enough sunlight.(It was also infested with spider mites recently, which seems to have been cured now). I water the plant such that the soil in always moist. I even sprayed Malathion(5ml in 1 litre water) but to no avail.Can you please help me save my plants. My basil has lost all its foliage!

Answer
Hi Anu,
Thanx for your question.  I believe you are watering your plants too much.  In the case of the basil, it may have root rot now.  Stop watering now and allow the soil to dry out somewhat.  It should not be bone-dry but it should not be constantly moist either.  You should water your plants (if they are indoors) about once a week and make sure the soil drains well.  If you have a particularly dessicating air conditioner, you may water twice a day.  How hot does it get where you live?  Many roses will survive just fine in a hot climate.  I live in the lower Midwestern part of the US.  Most summers we will have a series of days where the temperatures exceed 38C and most of the summer will be between 32-38 C for part of June, all of July and August and some of September.  Roses do fairly well here but bear in mind that most roses benefit from a dormant period in the winter.  If they are not allowed to go dormant, they will eventually wear out and die.  There are some varieties bred for warmer climates and there is a noisette variety from California that does well in a Mediterranean type climate.  I am not a rosarian or rose expert although we do have one on this site.  Also visit Gardenweb.com and browse the Rose Forum.  Anyway, I think you are watering your plants too much.  Cut way back on watering and I think you will see an improvement.  I hope this helps.
Tom