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First of all, I'm not a gardening expert so I don't know the correct terms.

I bought some roses recently and I've put them next to my window. Their leaves are getting dry and their flowers are dropping, and I have used diazinon to kill the aphids (I apply it every week).

Here are some pictures of them (I've taken pics from behind my window so it's a bit dark):

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pic2

pic3

Mahdi
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  • Indoors or out? and do you mean potted roses, growing ones, or cut roses, in a vase? – Bamboo Apr 30 '15 at 18:36
  • @Bamboo it's outdoors, I don't know the exact name in English, but some say it's miniature rose and some say it's Rosa chinensis. – Mahdi Apr 30 '15 at 18:49
  • bugs sucking it dry? – That Idiot Apr 30 '15 at 19:09
  • @ThatIdiot I don't know why that is, as I said I apply insecticide every week. also I have to say that the weather is so sunny here. – Mahdi Apr 30 '15 at 20:20
  • @MahdiMohammadi Perhaps they are resistant to the pesticide. There are good "organic" methods for controlling them described in stack exchange. – That Idiot Apr 30 '15 at 20:35
  • @ThatIdiot would you please give me a link for one? Thanks a lot. – Mahdi May 01 '15 at 06:35

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Several things to say - first, if they're drying out as you describe, insufficient water might be the cause. Second, roses don't do that well in pots unless they're small roses - if your rose genuinely is Rosa chinensis, that one varies in size between 90 cm high and 30 wide up to 2 metres high and wide, depending on which cultivar you have. Hopefully, you have the smallest version, but even that will need a pot 2 feet deep by 12 inches wide. Roses like to put down at least one very long and deep root, usually 3 or 4, and that's something they can't do in a pot. They also prefer heavier soil, so don't use too light a potting compost.

As for the use of Diazon, can you not find a more suitable spray - this one works by disrupting the central nervous system of insects it comes into contact with. The trouble is, it disrupts the central nervous system of human beings too. It is also not systemic, it's a contact insecticide only, meaning it only kills insects it comes into direct contact with when you spray, and there is no residual effect, meaning you have to use it more often. If you're only using it to control aphid type insects, you'd be better off using neem oil mixed in a spray, at least that won't damage you, and you can use it frequently with significantly reduced ill effects on anything that's breathing. When you do spray, do it when not many insects are about, so around dusk is best, and don't spray when the rose is in full sunlight, best done when its shaded or the sun is no longer directly on the foliage.

With regard to watering, the average rose likes a total of 90 inches of rain per year - increase your watering, but do not allow the pot to stand in any outer tray or container full of water - empty that after 30 minutes and again 30 minutes later if necessary. If, after a couple of weeks of increased watering, the leaves are still drying out, some shade from midday sun might be appropriate, although generally speaking, roses like as much sun as they can get.

Feed your roses too - I don't know what's available where you are, but you need a specialist rose food, one that's formulated only for roses, and use it as often as it says in the instructions on the box. Some are only to be used twice a year, depends what's in it.

Bamboo
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  • Thanks a lot(dont have enough reputation to vote), what about malathion? It's less toxic to human, but how does it work? Does this one need to be in contact with the insect to kill? – Mahdi May 01 '15 at 18:48
  • Yes, its a contact insecticide, not a systemic one, so it'll only kill what it touches. Again, malathion isn't healthy, its an organo phosphate and, as such, if you breath the spray or get it on your skin, it does not leave the human body - if sufficient levels build up, it causes neurological damage in humans, so if you use it, don't do it on a windy day, wear a mask and gloves. I don't suppose you can get hold of something like Roseclear Ultra where you are? That's a systemic, fortnightly spraying, also covers fungal infections on plants. – Bamboo May 02 '15 at 10:01
  • thanks a lot again, I've read somewhere that Confidor is a systemic one, I also didn't find the RoseClear Ultra. Shall I use this one? – Mahdi May 02 '15 at 10:56
  • If you like - it contains imidproclid, a neo nicotinoid which is thought to be killing bees, so make sure you spray when bees have stopped working and only use when essential - it is, indeed, systemic, but doesn't treat for fungal infections - worry about those if they occur! – Bamboo May 04 '15 at 15:06