Begonia mold?

I just got some new begonias and Im getting spots of mold..not sure if thats what it is...anything I can do?...Judy

Judy, I've had the same problem with mine. I sprayed some of them with Lysol, which is a remedy I read of here. Some it worked well on.. some it didn't. It seems to be a balancing act of high humidity and systemic fungicide that works best for me. I picked up the systemic fungicide (beconyl, I think) at walmart and haven't seen any new mildew spots since I started using it.
I'm going to use the leaves that have the spots on them for propagation purposes since they detract from the appearance of the plant.
Good luck with yours.

Barb

Judy, are they white spots? If so, it's likely powdery mildew. You could increase air circulation and use the lysol (from a distance, not directly on the leaves) or neem spray as well. Some use baking soda and water too.

I concur-
Sounds like powdery mildew.
I've found that using a fan for good air circulation in the winter time works.
If I have a problem with p.m., I de-foliate the whole plant, and start over. works great for me.

OH man, I"ve been fighting powder mildew on my begonias for weeks now, so much rain, it's unbelivable. Can't get it off either, I've switched to a fungicide now and keeping my fingers crossed that it will work. My big beautiful begonias have all dropped their leaves and they look like sticks with white spots all over them. I've set them all out in the sun to help. And I've lost a couple too to rot, I'm sick about it.


kathy

Kathy,
My experience in my flower shop taught me a lot about what begonias love and hate.
#1-They love (dry) heat
#2-They hate cold
#3 They like to be on the dry side
#4 They hate to be overwatered
#5 They especially hate to be wet and cold at the same time.

This message was edited May 19, 2006 3:00 PM

Great synopsis Deanna.

I bought some non-stops in 4" pots which I intend to use in an planter. They have been sitting on a partial shade porch for several days in preparation for re-planting. Yesterday I noticed that many of the flowers have black, wilted edges and some of the leaves also. The plants are way too big for the pots so I need to get them replantd ASAP but I don't recognize this affliction. Is it possibly just the way begonias respond to insufficient water?

Alexh,
I think I can help you out here.
I've seen this hundreds of times over the years, on many plants. Once again, referring to years of mass sales of plants in my shop.
First thing you need to understand is how these little gems(any of those beauties that catch your eye in a retail setting) have been treated prior to being shipped to the retail establishment from which you purchase it.
Unless locally grown, which is rare, these plants have been mass produced by the millions, in near perfect growing conditions-especially the tropicals and house plants. I'm generally not refering to perennials in this post.
They have been coddled and "force-fed" water and fertilizer and light, or the lack therof, under perfect growing temps.
Next thing those poor little plant "young'uns" know, they are being packed in boxes, put in the back of semi's in total darkness, shaken and stirred over highways for hundreds and maybe thousands of bumpy miles. They are tossed and thrown around in those boxes until they finally reach their new destination. Put yourself in their place. Would you be stressed and unhappy?
Next, they are unpacked-most of the time by people who have no idea-and could care less- and displayed. Many times they sit for days on some back dock still left in that dark box and maybe in the cold-until someone can find the time and the space to display them.
All their young lives thay had been coddled-fed the perfect food, the perfect amount of light and water and heat. All of a sudden they're shoved on a shelf, out on an open parking lot, out in the wind and full sun. The nights may be very cold, the days way to hot. And all of a sudden, they are literally "dying of thirst." The one thing they still have stored in their soil is lots of fertilizer. Without lots of water, and intense lighting to convert that fertilizer into lush growth, the plant gets burned. The first signs are black leaves, wilting and black edged blooms. Immediate faithful watering, proper light and heat are the only things that can prevent this.
I know this was wordy, but I think the more we know, the better we understand what out plants are trying to tell us.
I hope you all may have gained some insight into why plants act this way, and if not, hope you at least found some humor in my inept attempt to explain this problem.
There. I feel better now. ha.
Deanna

Wow Deanna,

You are a wealth of knowledge. Makes perfect sense.