Rose Leaves

Rose leaves are a integral part of a healthy plant.  Many diseases and pests can be headed off by properly inspecting a leaf.

When they are strong, good rose leaves can really make your flowers shine.  They capture the sunlight and provide energy for big, strong blooms.  Neglecting issues there can weaken or possibly even destroy the plant.  Good green foliage can give the blooms a nice background from which to explode in color.

Healthy leaves should alternate positions on the stem, and be a nice strong green color.  Dropped leaves may indicate problems with the plant.  You should also take care when handling leaflets.  Some may have sharp edges, and a few breeds may even have a couple of prickles or thorns underneath.

A common issue is mildew, which can be caused by excessive moisture on the leaves.  If they cannot dry out properly, the moist surface attracts it.  This is why watering at the appropriate times of the day is important, so that standing water isn’t left.  Make sure the plant gets enough sun to evaporate the droplets, and don’t overwater.

Leaves with a yellow hue in the veins are most likely infected with mosaic.  Unfortuneatly, there is little you can do as this is caused by using infected rootstock.  It won’t directly kill your plant, but may make it more susceptible to diseases. In certain regions, you may see half circles chewed out of the edges of the leaf, but nothing more.  This is caused by a specific species of bee, which cuts out the leaf as part of its habitat.  The cuttings, while annoying, should not damage the plant long term.  The bees will only chew the plant for a few weeks while in the birth season.  However, if leaves are being mangled and chewed out in the centers, you most likely have a beetle or cane borer issue.