Morning Glories: Awesome!, 1 by EmmaGrace

EmmaGrace wrote:
Hi Martin . . .

Wow, what a horror story! I wish you safety and happiness in your new apartment.

Re your question
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5464394
I don't think the blizzard gene affects colors, but I'm sure Ron can address this better. I say this because I have gotten blizzard patterns in many of my MGs with all colors, including a Gray MG.
Apparently the plant that Melanie got from the seed I sent her that produced this bloom
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5451113
had the 'Orange Tone' gene, however, it is not a true orange as we have seen in some of the Ipomoea hederifolia MGs. In fact, I have gotten several Rose-Chocolate Silk blooms with this color over the years. I will look back and see if I can find one to post.

Regarding Spider Mites, they are a serious problem. I too have to deal with them.
If I am understanding you, you don't particularly like to use chemicals to treat your plants -
so my suggestion is to watch your plants carefully and at the first sign of them to immediately blast them off with water.
When your plants are completely overtaken with them, start pinching off the leaves because they will not go back to normal once the life has been sucked out of them by these little beasts and blast with water on all parts of your plants.
This Hibiscus site has some great information that I have applied to MGs
http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/index.htm

Here is their link on helping to understand Spider Mites and control
GREAT INFORMATION
http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/spidermites.htm

[Water Blasting: Mites do not like water and can be forcefully removed from the plants with water. They live on the undersides of leaves mostly so the water has to be directed upward in order to knock them off. They drown easily so between knocking them off and flooding them out, a good strong water spray can help control them. Unfortunately, many eggs will remain attached to the leaves so it is necessary to do the water blasting every day or every other day for a week in order to effectively control them . . .]
Additionally, this site will also give you organic and chemical recommendations.

I know Ron has probably linked many times to SPIDER MITE PREVENTION AND CARE, so maybe he can tell us one more time.

Hope this helps.

Emma


Here is one of my photos from around 2006 that shows a Rose Silk Blizzard bloom. Also, you can see the color difference in these two blooms