Yellow Leaves on Roses – How to Fix

Maybe you have yellow leaves on roses, and you are getting worried, you don’t know what is happening to it, why it is happening, and how to fix it. Is that so?

The leaves of roses are green, some varieties of roses have a more intense green, even reddish color in their early stages, while other varieties of roses have light green leaves.

We also find that there are varieties of roses with shinier leaves and others with duller leaves.

But always, always, a rose bush is healthy when its leaves are green. Learn all about yellow leaves on roses and how to fix yellow leaves on roses in this article.

What Causes Yellow Leaves on Roses

If the roses have yellow leaves, it is a symptom that something is wrong, it is one of how the bush externalizes the existence of a problem. Yellow leaves on roses indicate that the plant is having a problem.

If we have a rose bush with yellow leaves, we are facing a health problem, which may be due to different problems. The problems of yellow leaves in roses can be due to different reasons such as excess water, lack of nutrients, diseases, and much more.

Below, we will explain everything about yellow leaves on roses and how to fix yellow leaves on roses in a simple and effective way.

Yellow Leaves on Roses Due to Insect Infestations or Fungal Disease

Most of the pests attack the roses, such as spider mites and some fungal diseases, are aimed at taking the sap from the rose bush.

If the sap does not circulate well, the rose does not photosynthesize and the leaves turn yellow.

Therefore, one of the reasons why roses may have yellow leaves is due to a plague, either by insect attack or by fungal attack. You should use the same organic fungicide that we use in our garden (Order it here).

It is common that when we notice that the leaves begin to change color, are becoming paler, or are already yellow, it is because the pest is in an advanced process.

When a rose bush is being attacked by a pest, we must intervene quickly to prevent it from spreading to the rest of our plants, and to stop the deterioration process as soon as possible. So one of the causes of yellow leaves on roses can be insect or fungal attack.

Yellow Leaves on Roses Problems with Watering

Water is an indispensable complement to the life of plants, the lack of water will cause the leaves of the roses to turn yellow and fall.

However, an excess of water has a similar effect, since when there is an excess of water in the roots of the rose bush, we provoke root asphyxia.

Through the roots of the rose bush, it not only acquires the nutrients present in the soil but also needs to absorb water and oxygen.

If watering is excessive, the roots cannot absorb the oxygen present in the substrate, causing them to suffocate.

Either of the two problems, the lack or the excess of water are easy to solve, we only need to be clear about the real cause, because we already know the consequences: yellow leaves on roses.

Nutrient Deficiency in Roses Causes Yellow Leaves

Another cause of yellow leaves on roses is a nutrient deficiency, as they don’t get the necessary nutrients from the soil, or they are not present in the right proportions.

The pH of the soil may be too high (alkaline), or the necessary nutrients are not present: iron, manganese, or zinc.

The solution to fix the yellow leaves on roses is to add the nutrients that the rose does not find in the soil, either by foliar application (spraying the leaves) or through soluble products in the irrigation water. We recommend this product to give the necessary nutrients to your roses (Order it here).

If the problem is due to the pH of the soil, the ideal is to correct it by applying soil improvers. Correcting the pH of the soil is possible with various products such as organic matter, calcium, iron, etc. You should see if your soil is very alkaline or acid to know which product to apply.

Problems with Plant Lighting

Chlorophyll is a green pigment, which is very important in the chemical process by which plants absorb energy through sunlight.

When we are faced with a rose bush with yellow leaves, it is because photosynthesis is interrupted. If the plant is not fed, it weakens, is susceptible to a greater number of diseases, and, finally, dies.

To fix yellow leaves on roses, we must ensure that the rose bush receives enough light to photosynthesize properly.

If you have the problem of yellow leaves on roses due to lack of light, and you can’t have its outdoors in sunlight, you may want to invest in one of these grow light kits (Order it here). They are a little expensive but last for many years and are suitable for all plants in the home.

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Stress From Extremely Hot Temperatures

Yellow leaves on roses can be caused by some kind of stress. The most common cause is heat stress, as the rosebush tries to cool itself by dropping its leaves. The rose will react to the stress by dropping its leaves.

Another problem is that the mulch we have is too dark and it reflects the heat directly on the plant and is too strong. The solution is to place a lighter-colored mulch to avoid heat reflection (Order it here).

We hope you have found the cause of yellow leaves on roses so that you can solve your problem and your rose will grow healthy and strong.

Frequently Asked Questions about Yellow Leaves on Roses

Our readers always write to us with various questions through our contact form. Here we leave the most frequently asked questions about yellow leaves in roses.

Do Yellow Leaves on Roses Mean My Plant Is Dying?

Certainly not. When roses develop yellow leaves, it’s usually due to a nutrient shortage or a lack of water. Both of these circumstances can be swiftly reversed, bringing your roses back to life.

Should You Remove Yellow Leaves on Roses?

Depending on the cause of your roses’ yellow leaves, removing them can help your plant recover its health. Yellow leaves are unlikely to become green again, so it’s best to prune them out, so your plant can focus nutrients on healthy areas rather than dead or dying ones.

Learn more about How to Care Knockout Roses and Grow Roses from Cuttings.