My climbing roses have white fuzzy stems, what is this?

And how do I get rid of it? Also my mom says dish liquid kills aphids, does it kill other bugs too?

My climbing roses have white fuzzy stems, what is this?
It definitely sounds like powerdery mildew, which readily infects some roses, especially when there is high humidity around. Its spores float on the wind, and grow readily on plants. Keep spraying, to prevent it recurring, and it's much easier to keep it at bay if caught early on, and treatment is repeated regularly. The weather also affects its breeding and contamination, so we're at the mercy of what the climate brings us!



It can be controlled cheaply using baking soda, diluted at 1 teaspoon in a quart of water: I add a little dish liquid, to help with distribution over the surface. Two other good solutions are half and half mixes of fat free milk and water - especially before it has really taken hold, or Neem Oil - though this can sometimes be a little expensive.



Your mum is right about dish liquid killing aphids, though there are also insecticidal soaps that you can buy that do this too, as sometimes dishwashing liquid can be a little harsh on the plants. Spray when there is no direct sunshine, as plants can get burned otherwise. Also, look out for beneficial insects- lady bugs, bees, lace wings, as these will also be killed by soapy sprays etc. Sometimes late evening is the better time to spray, when the bees etc. have moved on.



Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
Reply:The white stuff is powdery mildew. Roses need a lot of sun and air circulation. There are products to control this. Maybe it needs to be pruned out a bit. Diluted dish soap will prevent white flies from laying eggs %26amp; staying on leaves, as well.
Reply:is it foamy or fuzzy...new shoots are fuzzy on a climbing rose