Powdery Mildew On Zucchini

/Powdery Mildew On Zucchini/

Powdery Mildew On Zucchini

The white spots on your pumpkin are probably powdery mildew. This fungus is common to squashes especially if the foliage is wet at night. Drier weather will help. The warm days and cool nights of late summer create an ideal climate for spore growth and dispersal.
Powdery mildew can be prevented, and it can be controlled once it appears, but it can't be cured. The key to preventing it is planting mildew-resistant or mildew- tolerant varieties. Resistant varieties get less mildew than susceptible varieties; tolerant varieties may get some mildew, but it shouldn't affect the performance of the plant. Prevention also includes siting plants where they will have good air circulation, and exposing as much leaf surface as possible to direct sunlight, which inhibits spore germination.


By | 2016-03-17T15:20:25-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Leaf Spot

There are several fungal diseases that cause leaf spot. "Leaf spot" is a common descriptive term applied to a number of diseases affecting the foliage of ornamentals and shade trees. The majority of leaf spots are caused by fungi, but some are caused by bacteria. Some insects also cause damage that appears like a leaf spot disease.Leaf spot may result in some defoliation of a plant. An established plant can tolerate almost complete defoliation if it happens late in the season or not every year. Small or newly planted that become defoliated are more at risk of suffering damage until they become established. Keep the leaves picked up that fall and destroy, do not compost them. Spray with a fungicide now and when new leaves emerge.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:19-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Vegetable Plants|0 Comments
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Water Quality

Flytraps and many other carnivorous plants require good water quality. They can decline and even die if wateed with tap water, which has high salt and heavy minerals. Using rainwater, distilled water, or similar is ideal. I have seen a carnivorous plant decline from a single watering months before it finally died. It was such a gradual decline that it was difficult to recognize that the tap water was the issue. Fertilizer and soil type is also very important to their health. No fertilizer should ever be used and only peat moss should be used for potting. They are very demanding in their care. Here is a website that can provide more detail on how to grow them and what issue can impact their health: Http://www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/GrowingGuides/Dionaea.php

By | 2016-03-17T10:41:48-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Rhododendron

At least 1,000 species of Rhododendron exist, varying from dwarf ankle-high mini-shrubs to trees 100 feet tall. Hybrids are legion. Most are evergreen, few deciduous. Some are called azaleas. Leaves can be 3 feet long, or less than an inch. Most need moisture during the summer. Many are not cold-hardy. They are native in much of the world but especial the Sino-Himalayan region. They are beloved in ornamental garden and unfortunately because there are so many species and cultivars, we cannot identify it any further for you. Suggest you contact the San Jose chapter of the Rhododendron Society and perhaps they can identify for you. AMERICAN RHODODENDRON SOCIETY - San Jose, CA ...
greatnonprofits.org/org/american-rhododendron-society1

By | 2016-03-17T08:22:09-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Springtail

These insects look very much like Springtails (in the Order Collembola). There are several different species. Its hard to classify these insects as either pests or beneficials because they can be damaging, but they also can consume plant pathogens and aid in the breakdown of organic matter. They carry their tails under tension beneath their bodies. When threatened, they "pull the trigger" and their tails launch them into the air and away from the disturbance/danger. Some kinds cause trouble with crops, but most kinds do more good than harm. They prefer moist environments and may become abundant in soils with excessive organic matter. There's more info at this web page. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74136.html

By | 2016-03-17T04:28:22-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Beneficials|0 Comments
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Harlequin Bugs

These look like harlequin bug nymphs (immature bugs). Their scientific name is Murgantia histrionica. They are "true bugs" in the group called Stink Bugs. They can attack a variety of food plants/crops (all plant parts except roots) and ornamentals and can be very damaging in large numbers. Their true preference is plants in the brassica / mustard family. They are sap sucking insects (not chewing) so they make white spots on the leaves rather than holes or other chewed parts. Hand removal is effective; you can also use insecticides, but be sure to use something safe for edibles. Here's a web link with more info:
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/hemipt/Murgantia.htm
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/PESTS/harlequinbug.html

By | 2016-03-17T04:26:42-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Pests|1 Comment
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Powdery Mildew On Zucchini

Your problem is likely powdery mildew, an opportunistic but difficult disease. Powdery mildew first appears as pale yellow spots on stems, petioles, and leaves. These spots enlarge as the white, fluffy mycelium (fungus) grows over plant surfaces and produces spores, which give the lesions a powdery appearance. If not controlled plants may die. There are remedies ranging from selection of resistant varieties to sprays of neem oil in the early stages. At this stage, suggest you take off the affected leaves, begin spraying the plants, and try to arrest the disease to save the crop. When you do spray, spray in the late afternoon or early evening to prevent sun scald on the foliage. It may be too late, but we hope you can save your zucchini plants.

By | 2016-03-17T03:56:37-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Vegetable Plants|0 Comments
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Transplant Shock

This is likely the stress of the transplant and damaged roots. Make sure the soil is not too soggy which could reduce root function and lead to fungus problems, but give them regular water. Also, it is important to plant at the same level as its original site. Hopefully they will recover in time but make sure you selected a cultivar that does well in mild weather/low chill conditions such as a southern highbush blueberry variety . Consider fertilization with a slow release or organic food formulated for blueberries. Next time you divide and/or transplant use a root stimulator product containing indolebutyric acid to help mitigate transplant shock (stay away from vitamin products touting helping transplant shock as these are ineffective).

By | 2016-03-17T03:41:10-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Fruit Plants & Trees|0 Comments
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Prunus Need More Info

From this photo it's hard to identify what you have. Because of the leaf shape, edges of leaves and arrangement on the stem this could be in the Prunus family, such as a chokecherry tree. It's impossible to know from your photo if this is a shrub or a young tree, or the shoots coming up from an older trunk. Since there are many trees and shrubs that have similar leaves and leaf arrangements, any other information you could supply would be helpful. For example: is this a plant in the wild or in a garden? Is this one plant or shoots coming from a stump or cut tree? Is this stem pictured coming out of the ground or from a trunk or larger stem? Is there any sign of old fruit or flowers? Please send more information so we can better help!

By | 2016-03-17T03:20:35-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Eves Needle Crested Form

Your cactus is Opuntia subulata. It can be grown indoors if given sufficient indirect light or outdoors in full or partial sun. It requires well draining soil and infrequent watering. More water during the hottest months will keep it looking its best. Can grow quite tall under the right conditions, but will remain smaller in containers, protect from hard frosts. This crested version O. subulata cristata will not get tall like the normal counterpart but will rather continue to make twisting and spreading fan-like growth. Occasionally it may put out a normal cylindrical branch known as a reversion. You can cut this off to preserve the crested appearance of your plant and pot it up by itself and grow the larger, branching normal form.

By | 2016-03-17T02:53:55-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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