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enterotoxigenic00

I Think I Have A Problem

Approximately 2 months ago I went on vacation with
daughters and granddaughter. DH stayed home to care
for dog, chickens, garden, and water plants.
Today as I was happily watering, cleaning, and repotting.
A few leaves on two sans snapped off. What looks like
bite marks were on the inside bottom part of leaf and crown
(inside part of plant) looked dried, dead.
When the leaves came off it smelled moist but not rotted.
I don't see any fuzzies, legged critters, or fliers.
once in awhile maybe a leaf hopper or grasshopper.
And a time or two black widows and a snake here
and there. This happened to sans that are in the house.
What I'm hoping is this is from water sitting in the
crown or inside of plant.
I am not pleased.
Karen

This post was edited by Enterotoxigenic00 on Thu, Sep 18, 14 at 19:18

Comments (17)

  • barbmock
    9 years ago

    Hi Karen,

    I can sympathize, I had the same thing happen to several sans. I really think it was water standing in the crown. The good news is, the plant may live and put out some fresh new growth. Don't throw them out!

  • Michaela
    9 years ago

    Yes. I agree with Barb. The brown looks like a sign of too much water. The affected leaves are probably 'toast', but if the rhizome remains firm you are still good to go for next year. If you feel any softness in the rhizome, cut it out ASAP.

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    Karen,
    Don't worry, we have more. Looks like a Whitney that bit the dust. I have some. Also the Eve your looking for. Also I have been using sulfur on my plants to lower the ph. It prevents rot. Flowers of Sulfur is best. Also to sprinkle on the affected area. Also feed with phosphate to help the roots recover. It is helping me so far.
    Stush

  • Enterotoxigenic00
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thank you, my panic has lessened to a minor roar.
    Yes, it is a Whitney. It is not mush so perhaps some
    of it can be saved. Believe it or not further along the
    rhizome there's a new lil sprout.
    Heading out to garden center/ feed stores tomorrow.
    Gosh, you would think that one of my kids was sick!
    Karen

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    They are our kids now. I hope the plant didn't hear you say that.
    Stush

  • roberto2
    9 years ago

    Sure You didn't read this:
    While talking with one of the biggest Sans growers in the world (no, it is not Alanâ¦.) he told me he stopped growing all the S.trifasciata varieties, because of a nasty fungal disease that nearly wiped out his entire collection. I also experienced a new kind of parasite , which attacks S.trifasciata only. After some months of head scratching I realized that the culprit is a diminute mite (nearly invisible) of a bright orange colour, which thrives, well hidden, inside the leaf base , at ground level. Its bites cause a necrosis which soon develops in a wet rot that eventually kills the entire shoot. When You see these orange ��"brownish spots at the base of a shoot, it is often, too late. As the rotting leaf is immediately colonized by fungi (usually the black powdery Aspergillus) , I , at first, thought this was a fungal disease. Now I keep this plague under control, by thoroughly spraying any two ��" three weeks with an acaricide. It seems that a moist, airless, place and the hot weather in the Summer months favour the mite. Only S.trifasciata and all its varieties are affected.
    If You like, I will post some pics of my affected plants. I posted this comment in the FB european groups.

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    Thanks Roberto. Can you please explain the way you treat it. You mentioned an acaricide? Please explain more. Like brand names and where I might get this. So far I think I am ok. This year I had no base rotting problems. I believe the sulfur is helping a long with super phosphate. A lower ph seems to stop rotting. I wonder what effects a lower ph has on this new bug.
    Stush

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    From what I was able to find on the internet;
    Acaricides are pesticides that kill members of the arachnid subclass Acari, which includes ticks and mites.
    They even show sites that sold the poison.

    Diminutive mite;

    The Australian Strategy
    Applying wettable or flowable sulfur at precise timing and high spray volume should result in good control.
    So it seems the sulfur is working.
    Karen, Search the web for 'Flowers of Sulfate'. Can't hurt.
    Stush

  • Enterotoxigenic00
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thank you Stush I did read up.
    Evidentaly it also works on human scabies!
    Also I found info that states to apply dry.
    Seems easy enough.
    Karen

  • roberto2
    9 years ago

    Look at the pics, and see if this is Your problem. You can spot the tiny White (exuvias) or orange (living mites) acars. I spray with Bermectine (Abamectina 1.8%) . You easily find it in any Grow Shop (!) as it is considered a 'biologic' non toxic product. (This is not true, anyway...). Unfortunately, there are no effective systemic acaricides in the trade. I spray on a two weeks routine, better safe tan sorrow. Only trifasciata and all its var. are affected, and in the hot months only.

    C:\Users\Roberto\Desktop\trifa acari\P9170008.JPG

    C:\Users\Roberto\Desktop\trifa acari\P9240035.JPG

  • roberto2
    9 years ago

    One only pic was accepted. Where is the problem? Well, this is the second one............

    C:\Users\Roberto\Desktop\trifa acari\P9240035.JPG

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    Thank you Roberto.
    Do you think appling sulfur to stop the rot will help?.
    I'll take notes on what you are saying for my records.
    Also Garden Web will only accect one picture on their site unless you go on a 'photo bucket' or something like it.
    Stush

  • roberto2
    9 years ago

    No, sorry, sulfur is completely ineffective. The only chemicals I use for sterylising necrotic tissue are sodium hypochlorite and Triclosan.

  • Enterotoxigenic00
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    roberto2 & Stush,,
    Believe me when I say I was totally crushed when I found not
    only the Whitney but a moonshine that was affected by mites.
    The pictured evidence posted by you roberto2 was classic.
    I did not however find rot.
    I found Natria in Lowes made by Bayer that contains 20% sulfur.
    I figured what could I loose both would be goners if I did not act.
    Not only were those two plants sprayed but the whole collection.
    I didn't want to take a chance on something I could not see.
    I also sprayed the entire surface of the exposed soil.
    Now, I've sprayed a few times working on a two week schedule.
    I'm happy to report that new growth doesn't show any damage.
    Damaged foliage has grown out not showing any further damage.
    Tips that were damaged are the same but new growth is pristine.
    I will continue my vigilance and destroy any invaders.
    I can't, won't, and don't give up easily.
    I'm still looking for Bemectine as a back up.
    Karen

    This post was edited by Enterotoxigenic00 on Fri, Nov 7, 14 at 15:14

  • Enterotoxigenic00
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    To the super person who sent me a great collection earlier
    this year, not to worry, those sans were not affected.
    The white Parva has really taken off! Such a sweet thing. All
    the others have sprouted several offsets and new leaves.
    Thank you again!
    Karen

  • Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6
    9 years ago

    Karen,
    I want you to be our new Sec. of State. We need you. Your not the first or last to have invaders. I think the rot starts first then the mites show up for the feast. Good job on your part. So far mine are ok but never know.
    Stush

  • Enterotoxigenic00
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Ah ha! Stush,
    I understand what you're saying about the rot hmmm,
    makes one think. I will watch more closely.
    I thank you,
    Karen

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