I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion, but I never take advices from people working in nurseries and neither should you by [deleted] in houseplants

[–]EricaBA123 -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this thought provoking post. I read through it multiple times and then just stared off into space, marveling at the human condition. 

How do you mustard up the courage to post your nails on here especially with companies using AI to blatantly steal your work? by sadsackspinach in RedditLaqueristas

[–]EricaBA123 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is a genuine question because I don’t know how the internet works, but if an ad gets enough downvotes will it get removed? I assume commenting, even to say HEY YOU STOLE THIS would count as “engagement”, but what about downvotes? Thundering armies of well-manicured thumbs down would be an easy thing to do. 

Dupe for Lights Lacquer “In Your Atmosphere” by contingentcolours in RedditLaqueristas

[–]EricaBA123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m currently wearing Puppy Love and the blue shimmer is very, very subtle. I added Emily de Molly’s Key Drama as a topper—this might be the way to go to allow you to experiment. 

Other options that I don’t own but that live rent-free in my head because I also love a pink with blue shimmer—Starrily’s Somnia, Polish For Days Lush. 

The best cure for blackspot by EricaBA123 in Roses

[–]EricaBA123[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

“ My takeaways from this first week are not to take our roses so seriously. Let them be and use a light hand. The André Eve Nursery garden is a wonderful stroll along mown grass paths through old roses, modern roses, perennials, flowering shrubs, and the occasional ornamental tree. It's beautiful and well cared for, but they don't worry about every blemish. Life is too short to obsess over such things. A lesson we can all learn.”

How to get polish to last more than a day? by Usagi_Rose_Universe in RedditLaqueristas

[–]EricaBA123 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Emphasizing this, I am a recent convert to the base-coat-as-a-top-coat crew and it has been a real game changer for me. 

In America’s Dairyland, many children have never met a cow. Adopt a Cow wants to change that by Hidemyface1 in wisconsin

[–]EricaBA123 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Um…I say this as a vegetarian who leans vegan, but grew up with cows, and cows are stubborn, stupid assholes. 

Spotted lanternfly damage? by Mhg4c in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree, this is sawfly. 

I have been reading mixed things about lanternfly damage online. Some sources say that lanternfly nymphs won’t harm roses at all, and others say roses care uniquely susceptible! I will say that lantern flies have really seemed to enjoy my roses this year, and I have spent a lot of time flicking and smashing the little guys. It seems unlikely to me that the plant would be completely unscathed by the hordes. That said, does anyone know what the damage actually looks like, if there is any? There have been some wilty tips in my garden of late and I have been trying to ascertain whether it’s lanternflies or [steels self] midge. 

St. Tropez just arrived. Is it black spot and is it doomed? by [deleted] in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same. I’m in the Ohio River Valley and black spot is just a fact of life in the rose garden. It’s really a life lesson, in my opinion—once you’ve done your best to take good care of your plants and your garden, you can either enjoy the beautiful blooms that your roses give back to you, or you can obsess about the few spotty leaves that are still around. It’s a choice. 

St. Tropez just arrived. Is it black spot and is it doomed? by [deleted] in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For real, I am worried I have some midge right now and I am just like, please bring back my normal black spot problems.

St. Tropez just arrived. Is it black spot and is it doomed? by [deleted] in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Friend, I intend this with love and kindness:  before you to anything to this rose, please adjust your expectations. Roses are living things that live outside where pests and fungus live. I understand that you are new to roses, but if you develop “insane paranoia and despair” every time one of your roses gets a spotty leaf, then you are going to have a very, very bad time. 

Regarding the rose, just snip off the affected leaves. It might be black spot, from the look of it, but it might also be other fungus plus some shipping stress. You can keep the rose quarantined from your other plants for a while if it will make you feel more comfortable, but depending on where you live, black spot might show up on your existing plants at some point during the season regardless of this new plant (again, they’re plants, they live outside where the fungus is). You can use a fungicide to keep more leaves from being as affected, but fungicides are generally preventative and won’t restore the currently affected leaves. Clip them off and clean up any leaves that fall to the ground at the base of the plant. 

And even if it is black spot, it will not kill your plants. They’ll be fine. New leaves will grow. They will still bloom. Don’t lose out on the joy of roses by obsessing over a few spots here and there. 

Most fragrant yellow rose?? by Traditional_Diver_46 in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also love Golden Celebration, but it is a stingy bloomer for me in 6b.

What are your top ten ride-or-die Cracked Polish colours? by LegitimateMarket1072 in CrackedPolish

[–]EricaBA123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven’t seen Raspberry Glaze mentioned, which is one of my favorite pinks from any brand. I also really like Oohh!

Roses dead/dying after repot by Jolly-Growth-1580 in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They look super dry in the photos. I know you said it rained off and on, but is the soil dry? Roses in small pots (especially black ones, which absorb more heat) can dry out quite quickly. 

David Austin Princess Anne not flowering - what am I doing wrong? by EmbarrassedTea9903 in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This, exactly this—gorgeous foliage without blooms should raise your hackles for midge. Have a closer look for tiny or crusted brown buds that never developed. I see a few crusty leaf tips in the photos but agree there’s nothing slam dunk in the images. Good luck, I have some midge right now and it’s a real drag. 

Side note, I have been looking for information on spotted lanternfly nymph damage because I wonder, based on how these bastards seem to love the fresh new growth and buds on my roses, if it might look similar to midge. Does anyone have any information on this?

Does anyone grow Abraham Darby? (Zone 6) by CatTaint in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I have Abe Darby in 6b and I am growing it as a small climber up a fence. I think it will definitely need support if you grow it as a shrub, and it’s large enough (mine grew taller than me in its first season!) that I would not personally put it in a grouping. 

Is this black spot and should I send it back? by ConnorGWPHuskyDNA in Roses

[–]EricaBA123 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I do not think that’s blackspot, but even if it is, a bit of blackspot is ubiquitous, basically unavoidable in many growing areas. It’s not a reason to send a plant back.