Welcome to rose gardening. I think it is rather challenging to grow roses in pots, and I don't know how to do it very well, since I only keep mine in pots for the first year or so, until they are big enough to plant out in my garden,so I fervently hope that some people who are axpert at this will weigh in. However, you are SO right to want to avoid pesticides-they are a bad deal all around. Like all predators, insects do have a very, very keen instinct and most definitely DO attack plants that they know are "weak"-that is, growing in overly poor soil ,roots too restricted and not able to take up enough moisture, etc, etc, etc. I see this quite clearly in my garden; I know that a rose does not have good enough soil if I see it is being infested by bugs.
It is DEFINITELY quite possible, and augurable, that one cultivates roses without pesticides!!! I do know what I am talking about- as a beginner, I sprayed with a systemic. All the aphids did die, of course-the only problem is that the relatively innocuous aphids help keep away the much, much more damaging thrips!...it's all a sort of symbiotic chain,and applying pesticides just breaks that chain and puts your own health at risk.
So, my advice: first of all, you're on the right track mentally. Secondly, Twilight Zone and Fragrant Plum are just tiny infants for you-even if you purchased them as fairly large, well-developed plants, they are still totally beginners on your roof. I strongly suggest that you research how to grow roses in containers; from what you write it just sounds like you need to learn about cultivating roses in containers; that your roses are only being targeted by the bugs because they are feeling some lack. And no, pesticides are by no means a good idea, nor are they necessary. Focus on learning about cultivating roses in containers! Best of luck; I bet this will work out fine.
