How to save rose with damaged stem?

Kels17

 Please help my Rosie! I believe she is still OK? Her smaller stems are still green but it looks like whatever is on the main stem is spreading. Can I please have a recommendation for the type of soil best for potting along with any other types of insecticides etc. Thank you!

EricL

Hello @Kels17, 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your Rosie.

Your rose looks like she might still have some life left in her. The green stems are a very good sign. However, the discoloration and roughness along the main stem suggest either dieback from fungal infection, rot from overwatering, or possible borer damage.

Here’s a careful step-by-step guide to help you nurse her back to health...
 

First, prune back to healthy wood. Use sterilised secateurs to cut away any brown, shrivelled, or soft tissue until you reach firm green growth. This stops rot or infection from spreading upward.

Next, check the roots and repot. Gently remove Rosie from her pot and examine the roots. Trim any that are black, mushy, or smell foul.

Then, replant in a high-quality potting mix formulated for roses or flowering shrubs such as Scotts Osmocote 10L Rose, Gardenia & Azalea Premium Potting Mix. A good rose mix should contain loam, composted bark, and coarse sand or perlite for drainage. If you can’t find rose-specific soil, use premium potting mix and add a handful of compost and a little gypsum to improve structure and nutrients. Make sure the pot has several drainage holes so water doesn’t sit around the roots.

As for insect control, check under leaves and along stems for aphids, scale insects, or mites. If you see any pests, spray with a horticultural oil or neem oil. For fungal issues (like black spot or stem cankers), apply a copper-based fungicide such as Yates 200ml Liquid Copper Fungicide or a sulfur spray according to the label directions. Avoid overwatering and ensure good airflow to prevent fungal spread.

Place Rosie somewhere with at least six hours of sunlight daily, water deeply but infrequently, and feed every four to six weeks with a balanced rose fertiliser during the growing season.

Here is a handy guide that will help: How To Maintain Healthy Roses.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric