Any Rose Experts?

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

My White Iceberg roses are turning pink!!!!
I hate pink (the colour, not the rock star)!
I've read that a sudden cool change can produce this, but also the rather vague and unhelpful "Soil Conditions".
Does anybody know what 'soil conditions' would cause this ghastly mutation? Any remedies for this horrific malady? Is this condition permenant? Do you think they're doing it just to p*ss me off?

They're planted in what I'm told is "sandy grey loam" with a decent bit of compost mixed in. Gave 'em a shot of dynamic lifter and B&B at Christmas (pweeeew!) and recently a shot of Mortein to kill some aphids.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Peter

[Octane (Humayun)]

A rose by any other colour...

H

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

"NAME". man, "By any other Name!
You're no help!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Doesn't your local ABC radio station have a gardening show?

If you were in Sydney, 702 on Saturday at 9am often have the guru of gurus of rose growing - Ben Swane.

[JimmyH155]

Advice from SWIMBO, who is an "expert". Usually they have a pinkish tinge, then as they open out, they go white.
Keep plenty of water up to them
Give 'em a dollop of lime - they love clay soils which are very limey
I wouldn't put Mortein on them - they might mutate into a triffid. Kill off those pests with natural pyrethrum.
If all else fails, get a spray can of brilliant white paint....

[DavidU (Dave)]

Is there anything you folks don't know?

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Peter,
The only things I know about roses are:

1. They don't last long in a vase in hot weather.
2. Only pick them from a stranger's garden if you can run fast.
3. In Qld, roses are grown at the end of vineyard rows. They are more suseptable to fungal attack and when they show signs, its time to treat the grape vines.

Yeah I know! A waste of oxygen.

Cheers Marty

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by DavidU

Is there anything you folks don't know?

Probably, but it can't have ever been important.

Anything we don't know, ask a teenager. They do know everything.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Thanks guys.
They've just been soaked with about 40mm of rain. I'll try the lime, Jimmy. Pink! Eurrrrgh!
Hopefully the treasonous little rat-b*stards will get the hint - otherwise I start lopping heads! Pour encourager les autres!