I buy a lot of my plants at a wholesale grower here in Houston that is open to the public on weekends. The lady who owns the place recently told me that the best thing to spay on roses for black spot and other fungal problems is a milk and water mixture. Has anyone else heard of this? It would certainly be an environmentally friendly solution, if it works. I guess it can't hurt to try it. The worst thing that could happen is the garden smells like soured milk for a day or two! I'm gonna' try it and I'll let report back.
Milk for roses?
I have certainly heard of it but I'd rather use neem oil. Enviro-friendly, easy to use and works!
I use the milk and water spray when necessary, in a 1 to 10 ratio using low fat milk.
The full fat milk might leave a greasy residue.
Just spray it on, it works great, and so safe, you can get it on your hands and no problem, it works great.
Josephine.
Thanks Josephine, I'm going to give it a try. My Knockouts don't have a problem and have never been sprayed with anything, but the Nearly Wild isn't quite as black spot resistant. I'll try it on them.
I mostly use the original Cornell formula
2 tablespoons of ultralight horticultural oil (Sunspray oil is the brand they used) and 4 teaspoons (one heaping tablespoon) of Arm & Hammer baking soda in a gallon of water.
I substitute neem oil for the Sunspray oil.
I do occasionally tweek the formula a bit by adding some liquid soap (an ounced or two to the sprayer) and/or milk (same 1:10 ratio Frostweed mentioned). The soap will help emulsify the oil (hydrophobic) and helps the solution "stick" onto leaves.
I started to make my own natural liquid soap (theoretically less harsh than detergent based soaps). I buy a three bar pack of natural Kirk Castile soap from the grocery store (seen it at Tom Thumb and Walgreens). I then cut a bar up with some scissors into a container. Then add water. Close container and shake. Let it sit for a few days, shaking occasionally. You now have your own "natural" liquid soap-perfect for spraying.
I've noticed that location is very important for roses. The roses out in the open with full sun tend to have less problems than those close to other bushes. Roses put in a container may not be as healthy.
Hope you all are enjoying the mild spring we are having,
Richard
I have used the milk formula on rock rose leaves that Josephine mentioned with no other ingrediemts added. It works great. The fungus died so fast that I could not believe it. I didn't have to worry about any type of oil hurting the leaves in the hot temperatueres existed when I applied it. My rock rose is just starting to have a problem again. Wth the wet weather and very little sunshine, we are having, black spot and other fungi will surely pop up on the regular roses.
I DRINK low fat milk! tee hee hee. Call me over when you're spraying and I'll bring my Cheerios!
Hey Vossner!
Hey Crowelli! I hear we're in for some rainstorms tonight. You think I need to cover over my tomato plants? They're in the EBs.
howdy gymgirl! are you telling us your blackspot's gone since you drink milk????????
I' not covering anything but I am closing my patio umbrella lest I want to go get tomorrow at the neighbors.
that milk remedy is certainly cheaper than neem oil.
I have a question. I know this is about roses but do you think it would work on fungus that grows on irises? Any thoughts about this?
It works on all kinds mildew, I use it on my phlox, but it is good on everything.
Voss,
I use the NEEM for the Sagos. The leaf scale. It seems to put it on the run, and shines up the leaves really nicely.
If I could I'd put the EBs under the unbrella on the patio. But those boxes are HEAVY!
Well, my plants survived the weather. Had a few claps of thunder last night loud enough to make me jump straight up from a sound sleep, but no plant damage.
Doodlebug, as to the iris and milk, I don't know for sure what you have, but it might be rust. It shows up on daylilies, plumeria and iris and is difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of. I've never had it on mine, but a friend wound up pulling out and burning all her daylilies because of it. I'm very careful of new plants because of this. It shows up as rust colored splotches, almost like freckles, and they get slimey and spread, eventually running together. Hope this isn't what you have. Someone on here can probably help you diagnose your iris problem.