AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HELP!!!

As most of you may know I have set up a new shelf with lighting in my breakfast room. Well, I was looking at my AVs tonight and noticed somethings I don't think ar right.

I have found some white powdery spots on a few of the leaves I'm trying to root. I'm assuming this is powdery mildew. What do I do? Are my AVs lost?

The other thing I have noticed is some white "bleach" spots on some of the leaves. I'm worried this is from the light. Any help you guys can offer would be much appreciated.

First picture of powdery spots:

Next pic

This leaf has the powdery stuff along the edges

Pic of spots

More discoloration

another picture of discoloration. It is on the tip

Last pic of spots

Okay here is what I think. To much fertilizer, cool water on leaves or clorine city water. I am sure others will either confirm or add what they think it is. There are others with more knowledge than I.

Where do you have your plant shelf? Is it in a cold room or near a cold window? It seems to me that all the problems in your photos could be due to cold...

Powdery Mildew often seems to be associated with low temps (especially if there's not enough air circulation -- a fan might help).

Those pale spots on the other leaves might be due to water or condensation on the leaves, especially if the plants get cold (it's not the water that causes the spots, it's cold damage).

It looks like you're wick watering. I think Nannanavarro is the one who mentioned discovering last winter that wick watering caused problems when the temperature got lower.... Too much wet/cold for the plants to handle.

Thank you both. I definitely think it is powdery mildew and probably from not enough air circulation. I have the shelf in my breakfast room bay window. We have a screen porch on the other side so they don't get the afternoon warmth from the sun. I don't think it is too cold because the two shelf that are affected are below the window and the plants at the window are fine. I'm really concerned my lights are too close to the plants though. If this is the case, I don't know what I'm going to do.

I do think the winter wicking problem you mentioned makes sense. Maybe I'll just pour all of the water out and add water when they all look dry. That way they won't be sitting in water. I will try and put a small fan near the shelf that can help the circulation.

I was reading that Lysol can get rid of the mildew. I can't find my aerosol can so I was wondering is the Lysol wipes would do the same. The ingredients are 0.28% active ans 99.72% inactive so i'm not sure if this is the same as the spray.

Again, thank you both so much!!!!

Jeannine

I think they mean the liquid lysol you know the brown in the bottle that smells like a hospital. Just a few drops in room temp. distilled water.

Other treatments you might also consider for powdery mildew -

*Greenlight Fung Away (3/4 teaspoon to a quart of water) and spray affected plants.

*Q-tip dipped in alcohol. Swab affected areas.

has anyone tried the milk spray? I forget if it's the milk+baking soda spray or if the two are different... but anyway, others swear by it. I've just never had the opportunity to try it.....

The fan works for me. I get Powdery mildew in winter weather it is cool or not. It sets in right when the windows in the hosue get closed for the winter. But if I forget to turn the fan on two days running, it sprouts up. on buds or old leaves.

Your stand, being near a window can certainly get chilly. (I actually had an orchid freeze once in teh right place near a window, no joke) You might look into ways of sheilding your little friends from the cool draft that pours down from a window at night. Just go in late at night and hold out your hand to feel the temperature and how it probably flows under your top shelf and onto the lower ones. Just a possibility, but check into it.

The discoloured plantlet looks sunburned to me. Mine are more apt to do that if they get too little or too cold of water.

Good luck! It's an endless game, isn't it? Just when things seem in just the right place to relax and enjoy...
Kenton

You might just try bottom watering in the winter... Leave the wicks in, but take the grid out and place the pots right down into the tray. I bottom water weekly by adding 1/8 to 1/4 inch of water to the tray (as much as the plants will soak up... it's OK to have a tad left in the tray, but you don't want them sitting in water). I've recently added capillary mats to the bottom of my trays, but I bottom watered last winter with no matting, and it worked fine. Taking out the grid would also give you a little more space between your plants and the lights, if you think too much light is a factor. Some varieties just like less light (particularly girl leafed and variegated ones, it seems), and you can put them at the edge of the shelf and/or towards the ends of the light tubes.

Good luck! You'll find a combination that works for your plants... everybody's growing conditions are different.

:-)

All great help !
Here in Florida I have not had the problem bad. But during the cold weather I water with hot water and cap of Lysol in a gallon of water. I water less you'd be surprised taking a wicked plant out of a pot how wet and cold her feet might be. Very light sprays of Lysol helps too. Some people use milk and even cinnamon !
Circulation very important have no plants touch and fan going. I do this year round .
Less fertilizer is always best. Good to use 1/2 or less than recommended on box and in the winter even half of this. When ever the weather changes watering, and feeding needs will change/
Try to keep mildew gone as soon as you see it and any fungus , green algae. Though it may not harm your plants the reason it is there can. Also if it is built up on top of pots best to scrap off , or re-pot with fresh sterile soil. Watering it threw can clog up and damage delicate roots or kill them. This is the same with fertilizer build up. Fertilizer does not evaporate so when bottom watering, or wick watering all this food , salt build up , is coming to the top of the pot. This watered threw can be poison to the plant. Best to take top off and give new soil Leach pots out once a month helps with wicked or bottom watered pots too .
Picture 7:46 is that a leaf pot of baby ? Is the leaf mushy, soft ? Leaves like this are most likely too wet and cold and need to be cut off and discarded . Good grooming and bashing of plants is important taking off any old damaged foliage and spent flowers helps keep your plants happy and healthy :))

Also great help !
Physan 20 is a must have item
for ALL African Violet and Orchid growers.


Physan 20 is a broad range disinfectant, fungicide, virucide, and algaecide.

Physan 20 works GREAT on Powdery Mildew.
Mix 1 teaspoon per gallon of water and spray.

Physan 20 have so many other uses, you can read more at physan.com

http://www.reedsgreenhouse.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=135

I had powdery mildew last year. Circulation was my problem. Happened only on the plants that were on the back of the shelf toward the wall. I think it wicking had something to do with it as well. The water in the wells drop to room temperature or below. I have cleaned the wells and no refilled them. I water from the top as needed. The house has been at 65 off and on for about a month and no signs of mildew. But, the winter is young.

Just a caution. If you use the lysol use a very weak solution---less than a teaspoon per gallon of water. It can really damage leaves.

WOW!! Thanks everyone! I will go out and get my lysol pronto. I do think the circulation is the problem so I will get a small fan that can blo on both shelves. I will keep you posted!

Thanks again!
Jeannine

I have been using a product called Dithane and it works great as well...not sure if you can buy it anymore though. It does stain the leaves somewhat but it washes right off. I bought mine for an orchid greenhouse years ago. I use it anytime I have to cut a leaf as well.

Joanne

Has anyone used the Safer 3 in 1 garden spray? It has 0.40% sulfer & 0.75% Potassium salts of fatty acids. Would this be ok to spray on my AVs for powdery mildew? I also bought the Lysol but don't know how much to use. I am so afraid of messing up my plants, I haven't done anything!! :(

Does the bottle mention if the product is safe for african violets?

Powdery Mildew is caused by a fungus, which likes sudden changes (drops) in temperature and poor air circulation. In addition to being unsightly, powdery mildew will mar flowers and leaves -- and eventually kill your plant. One of the most effective treatment of powdery mildew on African violets is Green Light Fung Away. It does not harm either the flowers or the leaves. Remove plants from lighted areas when spraying and wait until they dry to put them back. Make sure to get the spray all over the plant. Don’t miss any spots. Green Light Fung Away can be found in garden centers or online.


Lysol will help control powdery mildew but it also damages the flowers so it’s best to disbud your violet before spraying. Once again, remove the plants from the light and wait until they are dry to put them back. Hold the aerosol can at least 12 inches or more from the plants. In a sweeping motion let the spray mist fall on them. Don’t spray it directly on the plants because the Lysol is very cold when it comes out of the can. You may need to spray repeatedly.

It can actually kill a violet? That is an ugly image...

LOL, JamesCO! Really "ugly" and would take a bit of time if left uncontrolled in ideal fungus growing conditions.

For an occasional light outbreak of powdery mildew, you can take a Qtip or a bit of paper towel soaked with rubbing alcohol and swab the affected leaves. The weird thing is, some varieties are more prone to powdery mildew than others. You can have two plants side by side and one will have it and the other won't. Knock on wood, none of my plants have had any problems with PM even though the plant room is very humid. I think it's because the room doesn't drop suddenly at night and stays somewhat warm is my guess.

Seems to me the dark-leaved and Wasp types get it first. They're my indicators what I forgot to leave the fan on yesterday...

Yes, it's usually the dark leaves....

Dr Optimara has a lot of good information on this too. !