Indoor rose

Zapperzy

I got an indoor rose back at the beginning of the year. It came on mighty for a few months then got a bad greenfly infestation. I tried hygeia greenfly spray and a mild washing up liquid solution along with manually picking them off but nothing would do the trick. Put it out the back door in the good weather and the greenfly disappeared. Then the leaves started looking bleached and getting black spots so I got a blackspot fungus spray. Seemed to help until a particularly stormy night nearly killed it. I had to cut it right back after this.

Brought it back inside but the greenfly have now reappeared again and it's just not looking healthy. A lot of the lower leaves start turning yellow and weak. I've got a few more flowers coming on it again for the first time in since may but they've gone from a deep pink to a very pastel pink.

Throughout all this I'm careful not to over water and maybe once a fortnight I feed with tomato feed. Anyone got any advice to offer on how to get rid of greenfly once and for all? Or how to strengthen it up?

Zapperzy

I've attached a photo of it back in may versus what it looks like now.

lottpaul

First of all, roses are not an indoor plant - they just won't get adequate light, and if at all possible they are better off in the ground. It's possible to grow them in pots but you'll always have to monitor their moisture levels etc.
Roses everywhere have been wonderful this year - lots of sunshine, heat and below average rainfall, which preserves their blossoms. You need to give your rose the same conditions.
Your main chance of saving it is to put it outside permanently, in a sunny spot, and keep it moist, but not wet. The leaves would have reacted poorly in the beginning to being outdoors, especially if going from a low light environment. Keep it slightly moist to start with but don't over water. It's better off being on the dry side rather than on the wet. Get a proper rose food instead of tomato food, and follow the instructions, once you see signs of new growth.
When outdoors you will get far less greenfly - natural predators will help a lot and a mild washing up liquid treatment will take care of the rest. Blackspot and other problems may need a spray, but I'd leave things alone until/if it begins to recover.
The storm will just have scorched the leaves, which would have been very tender due to being indoors. It was already struggling at that stage. Roses generally have been through a lot in the last 12 months - hurricanes, frost, snow, deluges, droughts, heat etc and they are thriving.

looksee

Definitely what lottpaul said - if you want to keep a miniature rose as a house plant you have to regard it as disposable and replace it every couple of months - they grow really well in the garden and will grow for years with minimum attention.

Zapperzy

So put it back outside and persevere through it? Will the leaves just eventually harden up to the elements? I'm renting and there's nowhere in the garden suitable to plant it so it'll have to remain in the pot.

looksee

To be honest, it could die on you, bt it is more likely to live if it is happy in the spot you put it, and yes, if it lives the leaves will perk up and be good again. That very bright green when it was newly purchased is not really how it should look, they were forced in a controlled environment. They will be like small, ordinary rose leaves.

Zapperzy

Cheers all. I've it outside the back door in a sunny spot somewhat sheltered from the elements. Got some rose food for it today so hopefully it survives and thrives again.

Zapperzy

Thanks for all your advice folks, my rose has come on leaps and bounds outside the back door. It's a lot bushier and sturdier looking now and doesn't look quite as close to death.

I have a new problem now with what I think is a type of aphid. It's like a greenfly but kind of brown/maroon in colour. I was surprised with how infested it is given that it's looking quite healthy. I absolutely doused it in greenfly spray yesterday but they don't seem to be dying. Maybe it's a crap spray or for the wrong type of aphid, I've attached a photo of the bottle. What else can I use on it? Will a fairy liquid solution work on these lads?

looksee

I can't open those pics but any greenfly/rose aphid spray should work. Give it a bit more time.