Roses Quite Contrary

I think I need to develop a new flower love. One that at least tries to reciprocate.

I adore roses, especially the old English roses with millions of petals and loads of scent. The colors are beautiful, the form charming, and if a rosebush is happy it just grows and grows and grows.

My poor little rosebush is not happy, and I don’t know what to do to help it.

This is it, a Queen Elizabeth tea rose, right after transplanting into the pot.

Aphids attacked it as it tried to set it’s first bloom. I managed to get rid of them with some soapy water spray, and cut this bud off to let it have a little more energy.

Then black spot set in. A spray of a little soap and baking soda in water seemed to help check it.

Now some dreadful invisible something or other is putting tiny holes in all the leaves. It is so terribly sad.

I am honestly clueless. I thought for awhile the failure to thrive was due to too much water, but that didn’t seem to help either. Poor little thing did bloom, but it was such a sad, dilapidated looking flower.

Maybe roses just aren’t my thing. Maybe they just don’t do well in pots. Maybe it needs a soil amendment or some fertilizer. I don’t know! I don’t remember ever having trouble with roses like this at my mom’s house so I’m really at a loss. I don’t want my rose to die. If anyone has suggestions, please feel free. 😦

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