What’s up with these minis?

last year

I bought Bees Knees (below) and Scentscational from Burling a few months ago. They went into these pots and were doing beautifully in the rain. So why the yellow leaves now? Chlorosis? What to do for it?

I sprayed them with insecticidal soap last week to keep the thrips down. Could that be a factor?

Featured Answer

Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA

last year

last modified: last year

With Bee's Knee, I would take a super sharp knife, and score about 3/4 inch deep slashes straight down every two inches or so all aroundaround the soil mass. This will prevent root circling fiffifthe inside of the the soilsoilso

ototpot.

it wiwith?l also encourage new roots. Being that the roots reallyreachreacheded the pots boundary, I would pot up to the next sizesize, but with quick draining mexiumemedium.

Remember not to over water. I have damaged more potted roses than I care to admit with over wateringwatering,,soso the rosesroserosesroses' symptoms you had are well familiar to me.

Moses

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Comments (11)

SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
This is Scentsational. Withering leaves and dieback! Why? i really want these to succeed.

Anothet photo. You can see where the dieback happened/is happening on the right side of the plant..(blue circles).
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
Here is Bees Knees again. Blue circles. Lovely bloom about to open, but I dont want it to be my first and last! Thx.
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Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
last year
last modified: last year
Too much water rotted feeder roots, which caused the leaf yellowing and resulting drop. This condition is serious often fatal. Repot in a much smallersmaller pot for now in a very fast draining potting mix. The pot should just accommodate the root mass sizesize, no bigger. Part shade is mandatory now until and if the minis recover. Minis are very sussusceptiblesussusceptible to root rotting from foo michmuchmichmuch water.

Moses. (I'm sorry for the gremlinsKremlin's contributions to this post. Correcting its handiworkhandiwork makes matters worse! 🙄)

P.S. ScentsationalScentsational is just that,,Scent sensational,,but was a poor grower for me withwith weak necksnecks.

I also suggest plastic pot inside those terracotta potspots (if they are indeed terracotta...they look like itit).
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal thanked Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
Yikes! and here I thought all the rain we’ve had was good for them.

They are in part shade — I just moved them out to be photographed.

Tomorrow I’ll be repotting as you’re suggesting.
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
So here is what I did.

When I unpotted Scentsational, the root ball was indeed smaller than the pot.

I repotted it in a smaller container, as shown:

I used a LOT of Perlite with the MiracleGro Moisture Control soil, and placed it a location that gets morning sun only.
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
Thngs were different with Bees Knees. The root ball completely filled the pot, and in fact normally I would have chosen a larger container and repotted it.

The root ball was distinctly damp. I couldnt see repotting it that way. I’m leaving it overnight in a sheltered location, the rootball resting on a layer of soil and Perlite but not fully potted…

What should I do? Let my potting soil dry out, then put it in a bigger pot? Repot it anyway and hope?

Putting it in the ground isn't really an option at this point...

The rains appear to be over and gone, so no fear of overwatering from here on in.

I await wise counsel. God knows, I need it.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
last year
Sylvia, I would repot it in a bigger pot like you usually would. Since the rain stopped you can control moisture better now. I just got a few Digging Dog Nursery plants and I haven't sorted where I want them so I plan to pot mine up too.
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
Got it! Sheila, thanks for the vote of confdence. Moses, your method sounds drasitic, but it makes sense. Keeping fingers crossed .
susan9santabarbara
last year
I agree with Moses... slash the roots and up-pot. Bee's Knees is very vigorous for me :-D
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal thanked susan9santabarbara
SylviaWW 9a Hot dry SoCal
Original Author
last year
Done! I’ll post as they progress.