Question:
I am having problems this season with several plants, one a hanging
Verbenia and one of several Cone flowers... they bud and then prior
to blooming the bud dries up and dies. In the case of the Cone flower
it turns black and dies. Can anyone tell me what is going on?
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Thank you!
Fauxpaslover from Martinsburg
Answer:
Fauxpaslover,
Let's try the process of elimination. Does the rest of the plant look okay? Are there spots or yellow leaves? First check for insect damage (specifically mites). If you don't see anything, move on to checking for fungal disease-specifically botrytis blight. I know the east coast has had some severe weather this summer, although I'm not sure how you've been affected. This fungal disease can occur anytime during the growing season, but is most common after extended periods of wet weather. When flower buds are infected, they usually turn black and shrivel up or fail to open. You may also see gray fuzzy growth on other parts of the plant. If flower buds do open, the petals sometimes appear water-soaked or matted. If this sound like it could be the problem, you'll want to remove affected plants to prevent the blight from spreading or treat them with a fungicide. Also, use trickle irrigation, or water early in the day so the plants have time to dry before evening and make sure they are spaced properly so they get good air circulation. Other possibilities might include severe swings in temperature (hot or cold) or too much/too little watering. Without seeing your plant, it's hard to know, but I hope this gives you some ideas.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
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