Caring for plants during rainy seasons

If you have found this blog, thank you. Yes, I can be blunt, though my experience in my garden should make up for anything you may find out of the ordinary.

Here in Central Florida, were are in the middle of the rainy season. This is great for our water supply but can reek havoc on our plants. With extensive watering or rain plants are very susceptible to disease and fungus. Some of the symptoms are black spot, falling leaves, yellowing of the leave or simply a powdery mildew. The pictures to right are examples of what the fungus can do. The one on the left is very sick. The right has yellow leaves but if untreated can look the same way. Many times, people have the misconception that these symptoms only effect roses but this is untrue. It effects most scrubs, flowers and vegetables.

You should apply fungicide often during the rainy season and less frequently the rest of the year. Though we know it is important to water plants on a regular basis, timing is very important. It is best to water in the early morning or at least an hour before sundown to allow the foliage to dry. It you water before dark, the moisture in the air and water on is on the plant, this is the ideal conditions for mold and mildew on the plants. You should also remove the infected leaves and ones on the ground to prevent additional infection.

In the Department of Agriculture information site (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP154), Harmon, Palmateer, and Ribbeck , write: "Plants die for many reasons, not all are diseases. Many environmental stresses cause disorders that mimic diseases. For example, drought stress can kill a plant; this isn't a disease. Disease occurs when a pathogen infects a plant and disrupts growth or kills that plant over time. The most common plant pathogens include fungi, bacteria, and viruses. What else do you need besides the plant host and a pathogen to get disease?"

There are many good fungicides on the market. I use several different ones including copper sulfate, Dacinil and Captain. There are many on the market and are very simple to use but carefully read the instructions before use. With some diseases such as rust, it may take alternating different ones to cure the disease. Last year I had,I had a sever problem of rust on many daylillies that came from other states. Some were big dollar plants. The plants caused a spotty rust color marking on the leaves, prevented growth and production of flowers and possibly spread to other beds. Fortunately, it was restricted to this only bed.

I first treated them with copper. This did not take care of it. After extensive research and talking to other gardeners and the country extension, I found that alternative applications of different fungicides over time will eventually cure the plant. Though the greatest tool is patience. I began alternating treatment with copper, dacinil and captain and did not see results. Before winter came, I cut the foliage down to the ground leaving the root system in tact. I decided that in the spring, if the rust continue, I would pull all the effected plants and discard them. When spring came and the plants began to put out new leaves, the plants were cured.
If the extreme alternative is to remove the plants, it is always important to put the infected foliage and plants in a garbage bag and send them out with the trash. It is important to continue treatment of the soil to prevent future spread of the disease.

Though, it is frustrating when your plants have a fungus or disease, patience, research and speaking to the experts at the local county extension to get the most accurate information. Do not depend on clerks at stores such as Walmart or any of the major hardware stores because they may have no knowledge or very little training in dealing with such problems.

Granted, it is easier to just discard the plant but it just takes a little education and patience and you will be happy with healthier plants.