Marianne's Response

Thrips on rosebuds

My roses are in very poor condition. The buds form but don’t open. There appears to be a little insect inside, but it’s very tiny. Also probably a separate condition, the leaves on some of the roses start to curl and wither. I have treated them for the insect “treps”—not sure if that’s the correct spelling. Any suggestions?

Posted by Alice Healy on July 7, 2014

Marianne's Response

Sounds like you have thrips eating the rosebuds, and the curled leaves could mean other problems as well. If the plants look very poor I suggest you cut them back to a few feet tall, fertilize, add a compost mulch, and let them start fresh. Do this before the end of July or it will be too late to let them try for a fresh start. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti