problem with a rose bush how can i get rid of white powdery substands the new growth that had buds has wilted and died.how can i get rid of the mildew without going out and buying something expensive,,,thanks
You will have to hand pick them off. Wear gloves. I use a pair of sharp scissors just for the leaves. But if it has Powdery Mildew, it has to come off be it leaves, buds or flowers. It will just keep spreading. I found this the other day... One of the easiest ways to control powdery mildew is to give your roses a thorough wash at least two mornings a week. A morning bath raises the humidity so spores can't mature. Free water left on the plants also discourages spore maturation. Plants must be dry before nightfall so residual moisture does not provide favorable conditions for spore germination. Read my blog on Troubleshooting roses for more details and recipes for organic sprays (Im adding them in a min).
