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mwitt Whitehouse Station, NJ Jul 31, 2010

I planted these Black-eyed Susans this spring and although the flowers look nice, the leaves are shriveled and brown. Did I do something wrong?

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NYGrower Poughkeepsie - Hyde , NY(Zone 4a) Aug 01, 2010

I have Zinnea that has done this. Has a flower and the leaves are browning. I think it is one of two things.... The first you will laugh at, and I don't really know how I know this but I do. When a plant thinks it might die it hurries and puts out a flower that might have a change of seeding to same it's line. I told you, you would laugh...But again, this is something that I just know, where I got it I don't know.

The other thing is low water, dry soil that does not have enough food for the plant.

Both conditions are effecting my Zinnea, so that might be what is happening to yours.

Nancy

NYGrower

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daisylovn (Tracey) Mobile, AL(Zone 8b) Aug 02, 2010

I have this same problem with my Indian Summer Rudbeckia.. They were just beautiful and now they are not looking so good. Everything else in that bed is looking great. Not sure what is wrong.. I need to check and see if the blooming season for this plant is just over.. It seems some black eyed susans I had a few years back starting shutting down this time of year... plus it is anywhere from 98-100+ degrees F in my location.

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mwitt Whitehouse Station, NJ Aug 02, 2010

Thanks for your replies. A friend of mine told me that the plants have been infected with powdery mildew - fungus of some kind. She said they probably got wet and then did not dry out very (no sun, no wind, etc). She said this flower is prone to this disease. At least the flowers look okay.... I'll mark this post solved.

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littlelamb Virginia Beach, VA(Zone 8b) Aug 07, 2010

Not too sure what caused it, but you can cut them back to the ground and they'll put out fresh foliage. Hopefully next year they will be better for ya.

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daisylovn (Tracey) Mobile, AL(Zone 8b) Aug 08, 2010

Thanks Lamb, I'm gonna try that. Mine are just looking sad.

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lorilovesplants Albany, MO Aug 11, 2010

My black eyed susans have done wonderful this year even in the extreme humidity. Your susans look like fungus .I found some great organic 3 in 1 spray at Walmart called Garden safe fungicide. My bearded tongue which is planted right beside my susans, got orange spot fungus this spring and that spray helped wonderfully. Luckilky all my other plants that were next to the bearded got sprayed and so far this summmer have done great. I dont like to use sprays if possible but this one is organic and worked great I keep it on hands all the time now.Good luck

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