White Scale on Daybreaker

My Daybreaker, so magnificent last year, looks ghastly this year. Just had a closer look and the poor thing is covered in white scale.

Googled remedies include pest oil to smother the scale. I have no pest oil, but I DO have olive oil spray. Would this oil have the same smothering effect, or is scale indifferent to cooking oils?

or you could wash it off with a jet of water...

Betsy, sorry to hear about Daybreaker. I bought one on your recommendation, for a pot, and it's looking good. Good luck, hope it recovers. Olive oil? Dunno, I don't think I'd be game.

Yes, I think I will try to wash off the scale, you all are right. Not really game to use olive oil. Might end up with a rose salad.

Except there are no roses, barely any leaves, and no new canes. I have really scr*wed this beautiful plant. Never have done something so evil to a rose before.

I think I might as well go for broke, uproot theDB, wash it off completely, including the roots, and try repotting from scratch with all-fresh everything. Wish me and poor DB luck.

uprooting will be a waste of time if you are thinking of the white scale......might need to feed the soil some go go juice....fish emulsion or searles 5 in 1

Fish emulsion - got that. Will apply , thank you.

But why can't I first uproot plant, hose off the white scale, and also give the struggling plant teh benefit of a fresh and wodnerfully rich new medium? I think that everything is going wrong for poor DB - and I suspect I have somehow weakened it in the pruning processs, possibly some additive to the pot. Dunno, but I want to try a radical re-set. If you saw this plant, Neptune, you'd be horrified, and believe me, the only thing worse it could be, would be dead.

Betsy, not to go against any ideas that go your way from others, think about this one,
Have you got one of those rectangular recycling bins, dig the rose up and submerse the plant in what ever you have to get rid of scale, leave in it for a couple of days the scale will die, then replant. This is one method used when shipping plants interstate

Yes, yes, I like that idea, David . I'm feeling aggressive measures are called for here. Nothing to lose. Will post a pic of wretched plant in a minute

Betsy if you would like to try Organic Strategies for Scale Control there are a few things you can do. Go to Bugs for Bugs or Green Harvest website if you are interested. I have a maintenance programme that I use as soon as Spring arrives where I let go in 4 weekly intervals 4 times, Ladybugs, Green Lacebugs, and things for Scale, White Fly & Mealy Bugs etc. I seem to have nipped everything in the bud except Black Spot. It is worth a try if you are interested...  

I had some white scale, not badly like yours though. I used a tooth brush to scrub them off. Then sprayed with oil. Worked ok.
On another rose I found I had a little red scale, I used pest oil on that and it's recovering well.

Thanks, everyone. I'm going with immersion, and the total repot. The scale, I think, is only one outward sign of DB's debilitation - no other rose has been attacked, and no other rose has gone into what seems like an overall crash.

Here are pix, last year and this year

Daybreaker 2012 (new plant)
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Daybreaker 2013 - more like Daybroken
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If this recovers Betsy from the shot this year I will be amazed. I say this because of all the short stumpy wood which has been cut off that concerns me. It is my opinion this rose might not see many future years. Bugs and diseases seem to only attack the weak.

That is my feeling, too, David. The DB is beset with multiple issues, and that usually only happens when a plant's general health has been compromised. Never have seen a decline like this before.

If I myself had purchased the rose, it would be in the garbage. It was a thoughtful present, though, and so I feel obliged to at least attempt a rescue.

How are two things in relation to the rose, the grafted area and the root system

I can see no issue with the bud union, (inasmuch as I can see at cursory inspection)but I will have a look at the roots tomorrow when I start the wash and repot. I suspect i'll find trouble underground.

Ok

Oh Betsy, I feel for you. I remember you were so excited when you got DB and it was such a healthy thing. I hope you are able to resurrect it, especially as it was a gift. Good luck with the procedure.

After you repot the rose I would suggest you give it regular doses of Seasol.

Right with you there, Ausrose, and thank you for mentioning Seasol... The descaled, cleansed, repotted Daybreaker has been doused with Seasol with a view to invigorating the traumatised roots, and to generally strengthen the plant. Don't know if it's overkill, but I took Neptune's advice and also added fish emulsion. Generous amount of gentle-acting blood and bone in the mix, and a dash of potash.

More I cannot do. We had 11mm of rain yesterday, so hopefully the curious magic of pure skywater will help, too.

Betsy, how was the root system on it.  

David, there were plenty of roots for such a young rose, sufficient percentage of fine ones (the feeders?), and a symmetry to the bunch that suggested nothing was eating them. In hindsight, I shoulda-woulda-coulda taken a pic, so you coudl judge for yourself and point out any probs, but too late now. I'll give DB a week to show improvement.

It might take longer to show true signs Betsy, any movement in it that quick will be in the stored energy and foods within the plant.

True. And it's out the back and out of sight, so not an eyesore.

Okay Daybreaker, roseman has bought you an extra week of R&R.

Keeping the Yates Scale Gun at the ready.