HELP - I think I have rust fungus

Can anyone help me here? My brug sanguinea which I grew from seed this year, appears to have what looks like rust fungus, especially around the grow tip area. There are tiny holes all over the leaves and yellowing. I was told to use Captan 50 which I did, but the container doesn't mention anything about rust fungus (if that is what it is). Can anyone give me some advice and/or confirm that it is rust fungus. I feel so disillusioned! I also have this on other plants and it appears to be spreading. I have posted to another forum about the other plants. Any help would be much appreciated as I am worried my brug will die.

Sue

IMO, I don't see any rust ................. But wait until one of our Experts comes along.
We really need a better picture if you can =)

This message was edited Jun 22, 2004 9:53 PM

Prudence, when you turn the leaf over and look at the backside, if it's rust, you should see "orange bumps" of rust spores. The back side of the leaf is where you need to spray and you should get something with chlorothalonil as the active ingredient. Once a leaf shows rust symptoms, there is nothing you can do to "fix" that leaf, but you can keep it from spreading. If you decide to pick or cut off the infected leaves, don't compost them but toss them in a bag and put in garbage. Also remember to wash your hands and disinfect clippers if you used them on this plant.

Scooterbug. Many thanks for your prompt reply.
Calalily, thank you for your response. I have just been out to check the underside of the leaves. They appear to be lumpy in places but mainly holes and at the base of the leaves there is brown crusty type stuff. Does this sound right?

Many thanks

Sue

Lumps sounds like rust, but brown and crusty sounds like a mite problem. Are the leaves deformed and brittle at the growth tips?

I didn't know brugs get rust.

I had leafspot fungus on B. arborea but never have seen rust on my brugs in all those years. The picture is not clear enough, at least not for me.

This message was edited Jun 21, 2004 9:46 PM

I have taken a better pic (I think) of the one of the leaves near the growing tip (front and back). The stem of the leaf seems healthy. This pic is the back of the leaf

I really appreciate your help

Sue

This pic is the front of the leaf.

Sue

Do you happen to see any webs at the growth points? Also, does the bottom side of the leaves feel gritty? These are signs that you have mites on them. Another thing you can do is hold a white paper under the leaf and flick the leaf with your finger. Mites will fall on the paper and make it easy for you to see them. I'm guessing you have a really bad case of some kind of mite. They will keep going to the newer leaves until there is nothing left of your plant and it will die. I'd start using something on it to either kill them or at the least get them washed off. Insecticidal soap helps, just spraying the whole plant with the hose helps. You have to make sure to get under the leaves. A hand spray of half water and half rubbing alcohol will help too. Good luck. I'd hate to see you lose your baby to mites. I actually hope it is mites because they are fairly easy to treat. If not mites...I have no idea.

Monika, I agree, I've never seen rust on brugmansia. I've seen it get on tomatoes, but it didn't cross over to my brugs. I can't tell from the pictures what is causing the spots.
If there is an ag dept in your county, you might want to take a few leaves in for them to look at. Also keep in mind, various chemicals like insecticides, fertilize sprays and even fungicidal sprays can spot leaves.

Thank you shirley and calalily. I will check further for mites although the brug is planted outside and this 'disease' has travelled to the other side of my garden. I will let you know how it goes.

Many thanks

Sue

Maybe it is something that you only have in Ireland. LOL! If so,,,,please keep it there. I'd hate to see you lose your sang. Any buds on it yet?

Yes Shirley, I shall certainly keep it in Ireland!! There are no buds yet. Does it have to 'Y' first? There is a strong shoot from about 2" above the base. Would that be classed as a 'Y'? I am going to spray a load of soapy water on it when it finally stops raining. I can't take all the infected leaves off as the infection is right in the growing tip and surrounding area. I'll let you know how it goes.

Sue

Prudence,if your zones are the same as ours,it may be too hot there for sangs.They don't grow here in zone 8 but are continually heat stressed and attacked by every critter known.

gone2seed - It has been very hot here for Ireland but the sang is in semi-shade and apart from the 'rust' problem looks very healthy. The rust has spread to other plants in my garden, especially my leonotis, which, despite the 'rust' is about to flower. If I can't control it this year, I am hoping that the winter will kill whatever it is. This is my first year of growing brugs (I have another sang which is healthy and 2 other brugs which have not been affected).

Thanks for all your help

Sue