operation save the rose

I recently recieve a miniature rose bush about a week and a half ago from my mom. She bought it at a grocery store hoping i could revive it and brighten the dorm up a bit. At first i thought it only had black spot and a minor aphid problem, but after clearing out the dead leaves and trimming much of the foliage off due to infection i saw the soil top was covered in white dried up weblike stuff. I assume either mold and or mites (i have confirmed the mites little red ones >:( scurrying at the base of plant). I removed the top layer along with the web as it made the top so hard it wouldnt absorb water. And then i found tiny (1/8in to 1/4in long) round white worms in the soil.

Is there any way to save the little bush? Im a really poor college student so buying a bunch of stuff isnt a option for me unless its really cheap. I have sprayed some bleach free soap and water 1 drop for a 5ounce spray bottle on the leaves and soil (i know i shouldnt but im limited on options here and something must be done) and plan to rinse it here shortly. Im not new to gardening, and have grown roses before with no problems but this little bush needs some help fast. Its currently in quarantine in the soft bright light in the bath sadly.

Fuller foliage pic is of when i first got it. I had already trimmed the black spot damage off.
Less foliage pic is current condition. This is when i discovered the web like stuff today.

This message was edited Feb 24, 2015 1:51 PM

Are you growing it indoors? Roses need full sunlight and it will be pretty well impossible to keep a rose healthy or to restore one to health in indoor light, without some quite sophisticated lighting systems.

As stated, it's difficult to get them to thrive indoors. Eventually they need to go outside. Supplemental lighting is necessary (or a greenhouse).

Potted roses sold at this time of year in cold winter areas are, realistically, meant to be treated like a bouquet that just happens to have roots in a pot. "Cruel", perhaps, but that's the intent. Most people don't have the facilities to grow roses indoors properly through the winter in places with cold climates.
It sounds like this has been a pretty limited investment in time and money (you said it was bought a week and a half ago, already in bad shape). Rather than worry about saving a doomed plant from a misguided purchase (roses are not houseplants), it would be better to save your ongoing efforts and limited funds and put them towards buying a healthy plant at the correct time for outdoor planting.

If the worms in the soil are transparent, they probably are the larvae of fungus gnats, which usually don't damage plants much, though they may nibble on the roots a bit. I have kept a miniature rose purchased about this time of year until spring, by spraying it with horticultural oil and placing it on a sunny window sill in a cool back room. The humidity generally is higher under cooler temperatures. You may be able to substitute a little vegetable oil for horticultural oil, which smothers the insects. The plant may drop quite a few of its leaves due to the lower light levels indoors. But, as long as the stems stay green, it should survive.