I just noticed that one of my roses is showing signs of crown gall. It was transplanted into a plastic pot from a drift rose about 5 months ago. I'm thinking that I may not have washed the pot with bleach. The plant is about a year and a half old - maybe 2 years old.

Is it likely that the plant contracted the crown gall for an unsterilized pot, and I am seeing evidence within a few months, or is it more likely that I bought a year old plant that had crown gall in the making, and is just now showing itself?

Thanks,
Gracin

Michael is very likely right that the cutting from which the plant was grown, was infected by the "wound" of being cut. I have own root polys which have never been in native soil here, only bagged, commercial potting soil, with galls. The same goes for a number of minis and other types. The bacterium exists virtually everywhere and is quite opportunistic. Despite your best efforts, it is very likely to show itself. About the only thing you can do to "prevent" it is to use products like Galltrol. These products have been commonly used by many rose producers to reduce the complaints of "sick plants" from their customers. If you haven't seen galls on your roses, it's likely due to conditions there not encouraging their growth, rather than the absence of the bacterium. Kim

But, as Michael previously pointed out, anything produced by any kind of "cutting" inheritantly begins with a wound subjected to whatever pathogens contained in the soil and water. Kim

I destroyed my affected plants and then sat down and ate half a bag of chocolate to drown my sorrow.
It's comforting to learn that I probably did not spread the problem with an un- sterilized pot. I always rinse my clippers with 91% alcohol when I finish working on a plant, so I knew I didn't spread it that way.

Cheers!
Gracin