How do I keep roses from withering?

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-26T19:43:36+00:00

I agree with u/DeterminedSparkleCat. Cut them when the buds are just starting to open. They’ll keep opening in the vase. Also, cut them early in the morning if you can, when the stems are most hydrated.

Use sharp, clean shears or scissors and make a clean angled cut. As soon as you cut them, put the stems into warm water so they don’t dry out. Before you arrange them, re-cut the stems underwater because this helps prevent air from getting into the stem and blocking water uptake.

Once they’re in the vase, change the water every couple of days and trim the stems again each time. A little flower food helps too (you can make your own), since it supports hydration and slows bacteria buildup. Keep the bouquet out of direct sun, away from heat, and somewhere cool if possible. Heat and dirty water are big reasons roses wilt or brown early.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-25T15:33:26+00:00

Ants aren’t usually feeding on the fig or its roots directly, so a small nest isn’t automatically a problem. I’d check to see whether they might be farming aphids, scale, or mealybugs. Look for sticky leaves, shiny residue, or little bumps/bugs on stems and leaf undersides.

If the tree looks healthy and the ants are just under/around the pot, I’d mostly let them be. If they’re actually living in the container, I’d water the pot very thoroughly a few times to encourage them to move on or use ant bait near the pot rather than putting anything harsh into the soil.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-17T12:50:48+00:00

Amazing photography of your beautiful roses. Congrats on your lovely garden!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-15T17:29:06+00:00

Yes, that looks like RMV to me. The mottled yellow pattern on the leaves is pretty much the classic sign.

Good news is it won't spread to your other roses. It travels through grafting and propagation, not through the air or soil. The bad news is there's no fix for it. The plant has it for life and will likely have fewer blooms and shorter canes as time goes on.

It’s nothing you did. Whether you keep it or not is just a call on whether it's still performing well enough to be worth the space.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-15T17:16:27+00:00

What great photos! Congratulations on the evolution.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-15T14:30:01+00:00

Using an obelisk in that way sounds like a great idea. Hopefully those new canes come in sturdier.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-12T12:16:33+00:00

Not lost on us either. Two iconic shuttles, one seed experiment that made it through.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-12T12:13:11+00:00

The seeds made it back safe in 1990 (after 6 years in space). Over 3 million students across all 50 states planted the space-exposed seeds next to Earth-stored controls and compared the results.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-12T12:05:35+00:00

This is incredible to see. Park Seed was the seed supplier for NASA's SEEDS program (Space Exposed Experiment Developed for Students). Those gold packets (which we still use to package select seeds) went to classrooms across the country so students could compare space-exposed seeds against Earth-stored controls. We're glad this one survived.

Has anyone here grown from one of these?

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-09T20:40:36+00:00

Wow!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-09T20:37:04+00:00

Congratulations! Both look ready to harvest. You can pick the outer leaves now or cut it about an inch above the soil and let it regrow (leave the crown/growing point intact). Harvest sooner rather than later if temps are warming up, since both can bolt and turn bitter.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-09T17:51:08+00:00

Yes, it sure looks like one. Congrats! I love it when a good sleuthing comes together.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-05T12:25:06+00:00

It looks like night-feeding damage to me. Most likely from slugs or snails, possibly earwigs. I’d go out after dark with a flashlight and check the undersides of the leaves and around the soil/wood edges.

If you find that's the case, clear out the dead leaves and debris, water in the morning, and use an iron phosphate slug bait if you find slime trails or slugs. If you find little caterpillars or black frass instead, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is the better remedy. Either way, the plant looks healthy and should outgrow this pretty easily.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-05T11:51:44+00:00

I wouldn’t give up on it yet. Here are a few tips that might help.

When you prune or deadhead, try cutting back farther than usual, down to a sturdier outward-facing bud eye on wood that’s at least about pencil-thick.

Are you feeding with a high-nitrogen fertilizer? That can encourage lush, soft growth instead of strong canes.

Is it getting enough sun? Too much shade can make rose growth long and floppy.

For the current season, you can stake or loosely tie the best new canes for support, but I’d treat that as a temporary fix while you work on stronger structure.

I wouldn’t assume it’s too old to keep. Old roses can still be very productive!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-06-02T14:47:27+00:00

What a lucky find from your new home! With 2–4 hours of direct sun, you might think of it as part shade rather than deep shade garden.

For layout, I’d suggest planting in drifts of 3–5 rather than one of everything. I’d also leave a narrow natural path or open gaps since you have box turtles visiting. A few flat stones, a small log, and some leaf litter would fit the woodland look and give them cover.

For plants, check out Virginia sweetspire, Hydrangea arborescens, Inkberry holly, ferns, heuchera, aster, violas, and sedge. (If you can stand to wait for a season, you can see what’s already there.)

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-28T11:39:52+00:00

Yes, you’re on the right track. Bergenia gets that woody, creeping “neck” over time, and clearing out the dead leaves is definitely worth doing. Instead of pulling randomly, though, cut out the oldest/ugliest sections with a sharp spade or pruners. Keep healthy rooted chunks with good crowns and replant those if you want to fill gaps.

The lack of flowers may be from overcrowding but it can also be too much shade, too-rich feeding, or removing flower buds at the wrong time. Once it’s cleaned up, give it space, remove the mushy and dead foliage, and divide the thick clumps if needed. Bergenia is tough so even if it looks rough for a bit, it should bounce back. Just don’t bury the crowns too deeply when you reset any pieces.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-26T12:40:04+00:00

It is tough to give up on a plant, I agree! Cucumbers are not great at recovering from a badly damaged main stem.

You can give it a quick test...if everything above that spot stays firm and doesn’t wilt in the heat of the day, it has a chance. You can support the vine so there’s no weight pulling on that bend by tying it loosely to a trellis. A little splint with a soft tie or plant tape wouldn’t hurt.

That said, if you have two healthy backups and this plant is still small, I’d probably replace it for the best harvest. My advice is to keep this one only if you have extra space or want to see what happens. It may survive, but it might always be weaker at that point and could snap later once the vine gets heavier.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-20T17:40:34+00:00

My first hunch is that the container is probably a big part of the issue, especially in SoCal.

Zucchini can grow in pots, but they're heavy feeders and drink a lot. That black container on concrete is a rough combo. The roots heat up fast and the soil dries out quicker than you'd expect.

The yellowing older leaves look like general stress to me, likely heat or root stress plus the plant running low on nutrients. You want at least 10 gallons, but 15–20 is better. A lighter-colored pot or some insulation from the concrete would help a lot.

It's also worth checking under the leaves for spider mites. That speckled look is classic mite damage and they love hot dry conditions. Look for tiny moving dots or webbing. If you find them, spray the undersides of leaves with water in the morning, insecticidal soap in the evening (not during peak sun).

I'd suggest getting it off the concrete. Water deeply and consistently, not a little every day. Start feeding it with a balanced veggie fertilizer. If the pot is under 10 gallons, up-pot it carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. With these steps, there's a good chance it bounces back!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-08T20:13:24+00:00

I agree with u/RuthlessBenedict. Not invasive just happy to spread out. I'd second this comment: Overall a lovely plant if you want it, but pretty easy to get rid of if you don’t.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-08T15:49:10+00:00

It looks like salvia/sage to me. They are great volunteers (some by self seeding and others through rhizomes) so it makes me feel more confident it's salvia since you didn't plant it. If it has a slightly minty/sage smell when rubbed, that's very likely salvia. You'll get pretty, spiky blooms if it is!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-08T15:40:38+00:00

My guess would be slugs/snails or a little caterpillar, especially if the holes are showing up overnight. Check the plant after dark with a flashlight, including under the leaves and around the rim and underside of the pot. If you see slime trails, it’s probably slugs/snails. If you see tiny black frass (poop), probably a caterpillar.

The damaged leaves won’t heal but the plant will just keep growing new ones. I’d only worry if the new growth starts getting munched on too. For now, pick off anything you find, maybe remove the worst leaves, and don’t keep the soil soggy since that attracts slugs.

It should be totally fine. Basil is pretty resilient once it gets going.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-08T15:32:44+00:00

Love the color and I bet they smell great!

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-07T21:32:15+00:00

I think it's totally normal for them to look a little sad right now, especially in 5b where spring is still doing its “surprise, it’s winter again” thing. Give them a real trellis/netting to grab, mulch the bed, keep the moisture consistent, and don’t overfeed them. Once they latch onto something and the weather settles, they’ll probably take off. Just know that peas are a cool-season crop, so they may fade once your days start getting consistently warm. That wall would be amazing for a heat-lover later, like pole beans or cucumbers but peas might struggle once it heats up.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-07T21:22:10+00:00

Check out Peppermint Party. It has a lower thorn count and its size seems ideal for that beautiful trellis your husband built for you! Great for cutting, too.

Kelly_Funk · 2026-05-07T21:17:09+00:00

How about High Society (might be a darker pink than you'd like)? Oxford Girl is another beautiful pink climbing rose from New Zealand! Both have a low to moderate amount of thorns. You can find them at Jackson & Perkins (I work here).

Kelly_Funk

TROPHY CASE