Red-brown pustules and dying leaves – rose rust makes a sad sight of magnificent roses. This is how you fight the fungal attack.
A known fungal disease among rose lovers is the so-called rose rust. Once it has infested the popular flower, its seductive splendor is gone. Its leaves are covered with rust-brown pustules and gradually die off – not a pretty sight. In addition, roses die in cases of repeated heavy infestation. This is how you fight and prevent the annoying fungus.
Rose rust and its symptoms
Rose rust forms and multiplies exclusively on roses. The first signs of the fungus are orange-red dots on the undersides of the leaves. However, they do not catch the eye immediately and should therefore be checked regularly from March onwards. Once the mushroom gets stuck, it continues to work up to the top of the leaf. In the case of heavy infestation, the spots on the underside merge with the top, and the leaves can fall off prematurely.
Prevent the fungal disease
In order not to let the fungal disease grow at all, gardeners should think about the location, fertilizer and variety of their roses in advance. Various manufacturers offer numerous types of fungus-resistant roses. The location of the flower is also crucial. Good places are sunny and airy areas with a loose, humus-rich soil. When fertilizing, you should mainly rely on types with an emphasis on potassium, which strengthen the cell walls and give germinating spores no chance of infestation. In addition, fallen leaves must be removed as quickly as possible, because the germs are able to overwinter.
Fight fungus naturally
If you want to do something good for the environment, you should first use natural means for treatment. For example, an effective mixture can be produced from three liters of water, 100 milliliters of cooking oil, two packets of baking powder and a few drops of detergent. Important: Only heat the water lukewarm. Let the liquid cool down, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the affected plant generously and thoroughly.
Also efficient in the fight against rose rust: a brew made from field horsetail, wormwood, comfrey or garlic. Also work with lukewarm water and let everything cool well. Ideally, let the tea steep for 48 hours. Then filter out the ingredients and use the liquid manure as irrigation or spray water. Use the mixture at least every two weeks – and don't forget the undersides of the leaves!
If the fungus returns anyway and the roses attack each year anew, gardeners should use plant protection products. Spray this on the plants every two weeks for two months. So that the flowers do not develop resistance to the remedy, it is best to always resort to new ingredients.