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Don Juan Rose Failing Indoors: Humidity and Hardiness Issues

Your Don Juan climber yellowing and dropping leaves indoors while Golden Showers thrives reveals Don Juan's lower stress tolerance and the fatal dryness of heated homes.

Core Problem

Indoor heat = desert humidity
Roses need damp air (dew, rain, humidity)
Don Juan = zone 5 hardy (marginal for St. Louis)
Golden Showers = hardier, tolerates more abuse

Immediate Fixes

Daily leaf misting (morning best)
Move outdoors on sunny days >40°F (hardening off)
Plant in ground ASAP — pots restrict roots
Check for spider mites (love dry heat) — spray undersides

Compost/Fertilizer Not the Cause

Your soil prep and feeding were appropriate. The environment is the issue.

Don Juan will rebound vigorously once in garden soil with natural humidity. Golden Showers will follow if kept indoors too long.

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