Botrytis Control On Roses

By Stan V. (Stan the Roseman) Griep
American Rose Society Certified Consulting Rosarian – Rocky Mountain District

Image by Roberto Verzo
Botrytis Blight Fungus, also known as Botrytis cinere can reduce a blooming rose bush to a mass of dry, brown, dead flowers. But, botrytis blight in roses can be treated.

Symptoms Of Botrytis On Roses

The botrytis blight fungus is sort of grayish brown and looks fuzzy or wooly. The botrytis blight fungus seems to attack mostly hybrid tea rose bushes, attacking the leaves and canes of the subject rose bush. It will prevent the blooms from opening and many times causes the bloom petals to turn brown and shrivel up.

Botrytis Control On Roses

Rose bushes under stress will be extremely vulnerable to this fungal disease. Make sure that you are caring for your roses properly, which means making sure your roses are getting enough water and nutrients.

Rainy and high humidity climatic conditions create just the right mix to bring on an attack of botrytis on roses. Warmer and dryer weather takes away the humidity and moisture that this fungus loves to exist in and under such conditions this disease will usually discontinue its attack. Good ventilation through and around the rose bush help keep the humidity buildup within the bush down thus eliminating a favorable environment for the botrytis disease to get started.

Spraying with a fungicide can give a bit of temporary relief from botrytis blight in roses however the botrytis blight fungus does become quickly resistant to most fungicidal sprays.

Make sure that if you have a rose with botrytis blight that you are careful to discard any dead material from the plant in the fall. Do not compost the material as botrytis fungus can spread the disease to other plants.

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