Last month while looking around the garden center at Walmart I ran across this really sad looking rose. It was on clearance and I felt so bad for it I just had to take it home. I planted it a couple days later pruned of the broken & wilted parts. Cut of the few buds it had so it could use its energy for roots and branches. I kept a close eye on it but it continued to decline. Lost just about every leaf it had. Thought for sure I was gonna lose it. I had mixed up a big barrel of alfalfa tea and was feeding all the other roses and decided to give it some. Well low and behold it has made a very nice turn-around. Its not blooming or even setting buds yet but at least its grown a bunch of new leaves and doesn't look like its at deaths door. Please take a look at the picture.
Opinions welcome.

Good for you! It looks great. Look at all of that new growth. So pretty.

Definitely alive! Nice save!

Looks like its off to a great start. Congrats.

Yeah for that boost of alfalfa tea! Always a good feeling to help recover a plant near death!

What does alfalfa do?
How do you make/brew it?

Alfalfa is an organic source of nitrogen which supports the plant in making new growth, specifically leaves and stems. As an organic source it is released into the ground slowly and it supports healthy soil organisms. At least that's the standard theory. Here's an alternative one. http://rodaleinstitute.org/mes... . Why it works may be a topic of heated discussion by some; but evidently it does work. You can buy it as pellets. It's also a component of Mills Magic.

The "meso" sounds rather messy. I think I'd try the plain pellets first.

I agree.

I never heard of the meso stuff. But Alfaalfa tea works good for me. It also fits well into my budget, and thays always a big consideration here.

Update on that rose. Seems to be doing pretty good. I actually wish my other roses were doing as well.

Wow! look at all that healthy foliage! Well done.