I posted this in the rose forum, but thought some one in this forum might have some ideas.
I planted 4 Belinda's Dream bushes in February. They are doing wonderfully. Nice full bushes, very little blackspot, and full of buds. My problem is that as the buds open, they begin to drop their petals. The first opened fully, but then only lasted a couple of days. The bloom that opened Friday has dropped all of the petal on the bottom half of the bloom. One further note, the weather here has been high 70's to low 80's during the day and the 50's at night. Didn't know if that might have an effect. The plants get full sun for most of the day. I am watering with a soaker hose to avoid getting the foliage wet anymore than necessary.
I haven't noticed any pests or any obvious evidence of pests, but I am new to roses, so it is very possible that I would miss it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to start putting chemicals on my bushes when I don't even know what's wrong (actually, I don't want to put chemicals on them at all, if I don't have to). I am in Houston.
Thanks.
Premature Petal Drop on Belinda's Dream
I'm not sure what's wrong with your roses, but I'm glad you don't want to use chemicals. I don't know who the organic gurus are in Houston. I could be the problem is that something is missing from the dirt that the rose needs. When I have a problem like that I called Malcolm Beck at Gardenville in San Antonio. He might be able to tell you who you can call in Houston. Good luck. Mary Lee
shuggins, did the petals turn brown or grayish before they dropped?
The petals don't really turn brown, maybe on the very edges.
Here's the advice that I got from Antique Rose Emporium.
"Our Belinda’s Dream flowers typically last three days from opening bud to falling petals. I think your performance is not unusual. Keep the rose well watered and flowers may last a little longer. Cut flowers kept in a cool room can (at times) last for 5 days."
I guess my expectations were incorrect. The last two that have opened on a different bush have lasted 2 days and holding. Have you had a different experience with this rose? I would certainly be interested in any advice.
The bushes appear to be very healthy and I am still looking to be sure that there are not obvious pests.
Thanks,
Sheila
Sheila,
I have 3 very small bushes that I rooted after a great DGer sent cuttings to me last year. They haven't bloomed yet, but as I recall, the blooms lasted for at least 4 days if not more. It might possibly be the strange weather that we are having, but my other roses are loving the cool weather. 'Belinda's Dream' is more able to withstand our Texas heat and be more resistant to black spot than the others that I have. You may want to contact Moonlighting who lives in Needville (Zone 9a) on the 'Belind's Dream' entry who has been growing them longer than I have.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/56186/index.html
Sheila, the blossoms on the Belinda's Dream that I have don't last a very long time, either. I hadn't really noticed it that much before, because there are always so many blossoms that I had not been tracking individual blooms. After reading your post of the 18th, I started watching a couple of buds - they're now fully open and judging from some others a bit more advanced I'd guess that after 5 or 6 days the blossoms are about ready to shatter. This is not a rose to be be used in the florist trade, but is gorgeous in the garden. My bush has been in place for six years and I have not pruned it a great deal, so it is really big. I've had no problems with it whatever. It is a treasure! Yuska
Hiya Shuggin's ,
I'm just 50 miles or so south of you and my 3 yr old Belinda's Dream seems to be doing the same thing at the moment. It has been very dry here and windy as well. Seems like in the heat of last summer they lasted around 3-4 days .
Mine is putting out blooms as fast as they fall though so I guess it's a nice give & take. Mine are in full sun for most of the day but are lightly shaded in the hottest afternoon sun.
Just a note, you can use the fallen petals for potpourri & they are terrific at holding the rose scent nicely. They make a nice rose water bath too.:)
Hope the info helps.
MsC