Re: poss. stem borers and slugs was: Losing Salvia officinalis
- To:
- Subject: Re: poss. stem borers and slugs was: Losing Salvia officinalis
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 00:24:31 -0400
Well, Holly, this does, indeed, sound more disease-like than insect-like;
seem to remember that death from borer is much slower than what you
describe, preceded by a week or so of wilting. I'm sure you've cleaned up
the mess by now, but if there is a lone sprout, there could also be live
roots under the soil. Could be the problem only affected the above ground
parts - rather like Clematis wilt.
Anemone can be propagated from root cuttings and your roots may still be
alive and well - one reason you couldn't pull anything out.
Can you scrape away some of the soil immediately around where the plant
stem and mysterious granular stuff was and discard it in the trash, in case
it is full of fungal spores waiting for more new green growth. Replace the
soil with new and see if the plant comes back from the roots...worth a try
at any rate, I should think. Perhaps a dousing with something fungicidal?
Dunno on that as seldom use fungicides, but your mystery sounds virulent,
it acted so fast!
Re-reading your post, I see that some of the Lobelias are showing this.
What about cutting one of the affected stalks close to the soil line and
slitting it up to see if there is an insect larvae in there. If not, then
you can be pretty sure it's a disease problem, probably fungal in nature.
If this is the case, application of fungicide ASAP may save the Lobelia.
If you find evidence of a borer in residence, then it is also likely that
the Anemone was infested and you would not need to bother with soil
replacement or fungicides...
Anyway, since death seems to come quickly, devoting one stem to some
dissecting investigation does not seem to great a price...
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
current article:Vines - Part 2
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Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
current article:Vines - Part 2
http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
All garden topics welcome page:
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----------
> From: PolarisOn@aol.com
> Date: Friday, August 27, 1999 8:35 AM
>
> Jean, I'm looking into the blight possibility. This beige stuff encircles
the
> plant, it is slightly frass-like, but no dark coloration or goo that
> accompanies the frass common on squashes. Marge, you're absolutely right
> about it being a different culprit from the salvia's. They had none of
this
> in their withering process. This is very granular, a fine beady substance
> that doesn't disintegrate quickly in your fingers. Strange and deadly. I
saw
> a bit of it on a Friday at the base of the really large established
anemone
> -- the plant had at that point lost one entire stalk. I thought slugs and
did
> nothing. I was away for the weekend; on Mon. morning I couldn't believe
there
> was nothing left but the whole mass lying brown in a crumpled pile. I was
> shocked. The "plant" couldn't be pulled from the soil, as it had totally
> dissolved at the base. There is one lone sproutling from the parent plant
--
> happy and green about 6" from the gravesite. This made me very grateful
as
> that was my first Japanese A. bought years ago. Sentimental value
certainly
> takes a toll in the garden survival system. The large
> Lobelias that are still living exhibit the same weird stuff around a few
of
> the stalks. Most of them are in fairly close proximity to bearded iris
beds
> which do have borers as this spring I let the Clorox treatment slide and
have
> subsequently lost quite a few iris to those really nasty borers. I gave
up
> the Lindane treatment as well -- the borers are ecstatic,
> The smart thing to do is pack up what mess is
left
> and send it to the lab. It takes 4-6 weeks to get any results but
whatever I
> learn will (hopefully) help next year. I really appreciate both yours and
> Marge's input. And I even got the advanced slug prevention course --
thank
> you Marge! Holly
>
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