Society Meetings: 7:30 pm on fourth Mondays (except summer), Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach OR online via Zoom. (Zoom links emailed to members before meetings.)

Upcoming Programs and Events


  • April 27, 2024 - "South Florida Roses 101: A Beginner’s Crash Course" with author Victor Lazzari at the Plant-a-Palooza - Mount's Spring Plant Sale, Mounts Botanical Garden, Exhibit Hall A, 11:00 am (NEW TIME).

  • April 27/28, 2024 Cool Roses selling roses on Fortuniana rootstock at the Plant-a-Palooza Spring Plant Sale, Mounts Botanical Gardens, Saturday: open to public 9 am - 4 pm; Sunday: open to public 9 am to 3 pm. Mounts Sale Info HERE

  • April 28, 2024 - Public Rose Seminar by GPBRS at Jupiter Public Library. 2:30 pm. Topic: "Growing Roses in Florida" with ARS Consulting Rosarian and Rose Show Judge, Bill Langford.

  • May 20, 2024 - GPBRS Meeting at Mounts Botanical Garden, 7:30 pm. Program: “Ask the Experts!” with ARS Master and Consulting Rosarians. Bring your questions!

  • July 2, 2024 - Public Rose Seminar by GPBRS at the West Boynton Beach Public Library. 2:00 pm. Topic: "Growing Roses in Florida" with ARS Consulting Rosarian, Denise Abruzzese.

  • September 23, 2024 - GPBRS Meeting at Mounts Botanical Garden, 7:30 pm. Program: "New Rose Sustainability Trials in South Florida" with Dr. Kimberly Anne Moore, Environmental Horticulturist, Associate Center Director and Professor. UF/IFAS, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

    • What’s Wrong With My Rose?

    By: Gaye Hammond Master Rosarian – Houston Rose Society

    Not too long ago I had the great good fortune to attend a lecture presented by Dr. Ed Bush, Associate Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at Louisiana State University titled “What’s Wrong with My Rose?”   According to Dr. Bush, most of the time a rose will send visible signals that something is wrong.  Rose gardeners know to look for disease symptoms like blackspot and powdery mildew and damage caused by insects, but plant changes caused by nutrient deficiencies can be subtle and may go unnoticed in the early stages.  The chart below provides a quick reference to helping diagnose nutrient imbalances in roses.

    If your roses display symptoms from this chart, I would encourage you to send a soil sample to your state’s Soil Laboratory for confirmation before taking remedial action to rectify any nutrient imbalance. A soil test will not only identify nutrient deficiencies – it will also identify any nutrient levels that are too high as well as make recommendations for bringing the soil nutrient profile back into balance. Soil tests are inexpensive and the results are usually received within a week. Contact your local Extension Service or Master Gardener Association for forms/instructions on submitting soil samples.

    Figure 1 Yellowing between leaf veins can be caused by magnesium and manganese deficiencies. 

    Photo courtesy of Dr. Ed Bush, Louisiana State University

    WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY ROSE?

    The highlighted cells in this chart represent the suspected deficient element (nutrient).  Abbreviations for the elements (nutrients) included in the chart are:

    “N”                  Nitrogen                                               “Cu”                Copper

    “P”                   Phosphorous                                        “Zn”                Zinc

    “K”                  Potassium                                            “B”                  Boron

    “Mg”                Magnesium                                          “Mo”               Molybdenum

    “Fe”                 Iron                                                      “Mn”               Manganese

    SymptomSuspected Deficient Element (Nutrient)Over Fertilization
     NPKMgFeCuZnBMoMn Over Fertilization
    Yellowing of younger leaves     XX    XX 
    Yellowing of middle leaves             XX  
    Yellowing of older leaves XX  XX XX   XX    
    Yellowing between veins    XX      XX 
    Old leaves drop XX          
    Leaf curls over    XX       
    Leaf curls under   XX   XX     XXXXX
    Leaf tips burn (younger leaves)        XX   
    Leaf tips burn (older leaves)           
    Young leaves wrinkle and curl   XX    XX XX XX  
    Dead areas in the leaves   XX XX XX  XX   XX 
    Leaf growth stunted XXXX          
    Dark green / purplish leaves and stems  XX         
    Pale green leaf color XX        XX  
    Leaf spotting       XX    
    Spindly plant XX          
    Soft stems XX  XX        
    Hard / brittle stems  XXXX         
    Growing tips die   XX     XX   
    Stunted root growth  XX         
    Wilting      XX     
    Chart courtesy of Dr. Ed Bush, Louisiana State University