The WORST ipomoea...

Everyone has a problem child, and mine seem to be my I. batatas (sweet potato vines). They seem to be a magnet for spider mites as well as having a problem with leaves drying out, yellowing, and falling off. A cutting I rooted even started a whitefly infestation, but I already have taken care of that. What is the problem with these plants? Is it because I am growing them in winter? None of the other MG's seem to care. What should I be doing differently?
Beth

Beth, I have read that spider mites and other pests attack when growing conditions
are too dry (low humidity) and dusty. That occurs in the ghouse for me in the winter
with the gas heat on which of course dries out the air. You might try pebble filled
water trays to increase moisture or simply spray your lvs off at the sink, very gently
once or twice a week.
Also, sea kelp or sea weed, one of them, makes an
excellent spider mite deterrent. Make it up as a spray but I don't remember
the ratio of water to sea kelp. I think it's about 1 teaspoon to 16 oz of water
Google sea kelp or sea weed as a natural treatment for spider mites and see
what hits.

Jackie

Jackie

I will try increasing humidity with a pebble tray, but hey, I'm in Oregon where it is raining all the time in the winter! Humidity has to be naturally high, right?

What type of heat do you have in the GH ?

Oops, I forget you're in Oregon. But if you run the heat, it still dries out the air.
So it's worth a try. You could collect rain water and use it to spray the lvs. I
think I need to do that too.

Jackie

I actually have this one in the house, and we have electric heat. I think I will go out and buy a temp/humidity combo guage and see what it reads.
beth

Paul, I'm using an old gas heater with a thermostat. The thermostat is great as
the heat kicks on when it gets below 55 and shuts off after it raises the temp a few
degrees. It is huge, an old monster of a heater. I was tired of the trips to the g house
when its 25 outside.

Jackie

I am trying to catch up on the forum reading so some of my posts are late.

I am having trouble germinating I. obscura from the U.S. and from anywhere.. has anyone gotten this to germinate? Seems that I had that problem for a couple of years now.

Could it be the have to be very fresh seeds?

Anyone know?

Thanks.

A.

A.

Antoinette,
I have had success germinating I. obscura Fresh and old seeds with out a problem. Each time I used the zippy bag/coffee filter method. In fact, I've had 100% germination with them.

You are talking about I. obscura? Or are you asking about I. ochracea?

I have had the same success germinating I. ochracea as well. Fresh and old seeds.

I owe you an email and will write you in a few minutes.

Emma

Gourd, I've gotten a few batches of seeds where I got zero germination and have never been sure why. This seems to happen with all kinds of MG's. I think they must have been overheated or stored improperly. I don't think the age of the seed has as much to do with it since these seeds are viable for years. I think it is a seed storage root cause.