This is what the heat, and mites are doing to my blooms, this is the third plant to look like this, and no relief in sight.
This is Kyle's Pink
100+ Damage
Doris I know exactly what you mean! Yesterday they predicted 103 and it actually got to 105. Today it's the same. No rain in sight!
This is one of the reasons I finally gave up on growing brugs..Our summers are just too hot to try to get them to survive. If they do manage to pull through, they really are pretty blooming in the fall, but it was too much trouble to get them there..
Good luck to everyone trying to get through this brutal summer...
Calling for shade, shade for our brugs. I'm surprized that in your zone, it does get to be that hot. Doris. Hope you get those mites under control soon.
Ok, I guess I could take some pictures of my not so happy, drought-ridden, spidermite damaged brugs when I get home. :( It seems that no matter how much I spray these brugs with water (twice a day -- my child is beginning to think I pay more attention to the plants), they are still there. Gee, on the other hand my plumies and some other things are really happy. What's really weird is that I have a few (Isabella, Whiskers, MEM, Day Dreams, Suaveolens Yellow, Cupid's Blush, Everlasting, Day Break, MM, and MT) that are just about to bloom. I can't count Adeline because she keeps throwing her buds in anger.
I feel your pain, Doris, really I do. We keep getting storms that head our way, and they dry up right before they get to us. You just look at the poor brugs, and there's really nothing you can do. It's too hot to feed them without burning all the leaves, you water them numerous times a day, and you spray them down to drown the mites, but it seems useless sometimes, doesn't it?
No wonders how they're nicknamed *spoiled children" in our garden. The brugs! LOL, but I ain't going to give up on them. Shade, shade, shade, and more TLC. Some tough love going along with them. Has anyone tried systemic insecticide on those mites?
Indiana_lily. My plumie's blosoms are getting droopy too, under the hot sun. Whoa!!! Undoubtedly the dog days of summer are doing a number to our tropi-bound garden!
Your picture is so sad, Doris. With all the effort it takes to grow brugs. well, I'm beginning to wonder if they are worth the trouble. We are now watering our larger brugs. twice daily, and spraying the mites with either Avid or Fordib before they can populate beyond control. Once they get control, as in my case last year, they spread to everything and there goes the late summer blooms. Or total death for some plants. I know the brugs. have brought the mites to my garden as they were never an issue before. Here's my best wish for you to get some good rain and see beautiful flowers this fall.
Tussee
I never knew where spidermites were until the end of the winter when I was overwintering these guys inside, but that wasn't too bad. This, is crazy. It's not just the brugs though, it is almost every plant out there, in everyone's gardens. In my area it is normally VERY humid during the summer, with good storms at least once a week. This year, nothing. We did not even have storms this spring, which is very unusual.
I have sprayed my brugs down with some Bayer product that is supposed to kill spidermites, along with other things, and that may work for a bit, but they come right back. I think once the weather gets back to "normal," that's when my real efforts to get everything happy and healthy will start.
Well every evening after dark I go out and water, I also sprayed ALL the brugs with Avid, but nothing has stopped the spider mites, it is wearing me out trying to keep them going, I have brought a few of them into the house, the rest I may have to just let nature take care of them one way or the other, it is so heart breaking to see so many that just may not make it.
If you are worried that you might lose your brugs to spider mites or from some other mite infestation, I would take cuttings and cover them in 115 degree water for 15 minutes. Once they have had the water bath, plant them. There shouldn't be any mites left. I would not leave them outside tho. This might at least give you a start for next year and maybe the weather conditions will be so that you don't have the mites in '08. I have them too. I'm ready to try Floramite next. It sure is a lot of work, and Tussee, I'm starting to feel like you. My garden also is mite infested, no matter how much I spray. Rain would probably help more than anything. We had 5 inches total, but I still have mites...just not as bad.
Good luck. I hope you get rid of the mites and get some rain if that is what you need.
Don't feel bad that is pretty much how mine look this summer too. First I had mites on some of them. I sprayed and sprayed. Got rid of mites but then had practically no leaves. Then it got really hot 115 or so for a few weeks straight. Dropped more leaves. It cooled down a few weeks ago into the 90's and we actually got a little rain. Leaves started growing back and looking good. This week we are around 110, and they all look like crap again...so on and so forth till fall I suppose.
If you can, take cuttings like Brugie said, and bring them inside. I have cuttings of most of mine inside now. Gee they all look great and are getting too big for the plant/light shelves . So now I have the 'indoor brugs' which all look great. and the 'outdoor brugs' that look cruddy'!! Can't put the 'indoor brugs' back out till fall though ~whenever that will be here lol! This is crazy ;P
What is even sicker is I just dropped a bunch more money or more brugs and they are gonna have to stay inside too till fall. Fun Fun.. Shoulda stuck with just cactus, bougainvillea and plumeria here like the 'normal' people do, but its too late now...
Hey Everyone;
I know, I know the problems at hand seems to be disheartening. But, don't forget, once all these are past. And the time for these beauties to shine. There is no comparision when these beauties are in blooms! The mites seem to be invincible 'cuz they're so small, and needed to be under constant surveilance (with magnifying glasses) or using white paper and knock them off your leaves test every so often.
We in the SE (USA) has been under severe drought for quite sometimes. But mites haven't been one of the problem for me. So lighten up, if you're all tired of your brugs send them my way. (but to be sure to treat them first, quarantine them before you ship them out). lol.
I think my situation, and maybe Doris's as well, is the fact that there is no humidity this summer. That's certainly throwing me for a loop, because it's not something I've had to deal with before.
Like Brugie said, rain will probably help more than anything.
Here in the San Fran Bay area inland, we don't get very much humidity any summer. We usually don't get any rain from May until late October. I fight with spider mites and broad mites every year. Every late summer, I ask myself if this is worth all the work, but then Fall comes and I see beautiful blooms and then Spring again and the brug. fever has started for another year. What is it about these plants that make us go through so much to have them?
I came home from a 10 day vacation to see some of my brugs. looking just like your's Doris. I guess while we were gone, it got up to around 105 for almost a week. My daughter whom works full time and will kill a plastic plant was trying to keep up with the watering and she did a good job, but it was the heat reflecting off the fences and wall of the house that did the most damage. I have noticed that my pots sitting on the concrete patio's are also getting too hot and having some leaf damage. I am just glad that Fall is almost here again.
Patricia
the heat here is horrible might not make no buds and blooms but i have been watering every day. feeding them. so still hoping.
Hi, Patricia!!!!
I just remove all the leaves from mine when the heat and mites start taking their toll. In the fall, before I bring them in, I treat them with Bayer Tree and Shrub systemic. Then, I spray once a week with soapy water. This fall, when it cools down, they will leaf out again, and begin to bloom. I also keep them in the shade for the most part..
This seems to be the hardest part of the year. It's been a l L O N G and G R E E N summer and with very little rewards to keep spirits up. It is especially hard to constantly get hopes up when a brug starts to load up with buds only to find them on the ground in 105 degrees... but in a couple of months, we are all gonna have pictures galore, and waller in that fragrance that takes the whole world away. The scent filled evenings and beauty for our eyes will melt these days into the back of our minds and make it seem such a small price to pay for such beauty.
Think I'm on the other end of this. Summer turned to fall overnight three days ago. Hit 52 degrees and we've had rain ever since. My first brug had two blooms about 10 days apart in July (no fragrance what-so-ever) and now three which are just about to open look very droopy and as if they won't make it. This weather is very unusual and it should get into the 70s and 80s again. I would really like to know what that fragrance everyone talks about is like but I don't know if I ever will.
You know David_Paul, I read a thread about Butterfly's awesome scent and the first blooms from my Butterfly had no scent at all... but whammo, her second "flush" (which only consisted of 2 blooms) was true to her reputation... That is the first time that happened to me. So there is still hope!
AND there are some brugs that don't have much scent, if any at all.... but give it time, you'll smell it. :)
David_Paul:
Sounds like you've the kind of weather everyone could take a break from the heat of summer down South. Many brugs as I understand, will emit fragrant in the night to attract polinators? You can still detect the scent in early morning, or evening, but during the day? I can only smell them if I get very close up. My white brugs blosoms proved this theory.
ZZsBabiez . . .perhaps this flush will be the fragrant one. All three blooms survived the cold and rain. They should be open in a few days (we're back to normal weather tommorow, in the 80s).
Lily_Love...the first two blossoms had almost no smell at all. Day or night. When dried, I could detect a faint perfume. Its a really healthy plant, the vendor is well respected and sells this as a fragrant brug so I suppose it is only a matter of time.
Wondering now if I should cut off all the new growth on the main stem and make a standard or let if fill out. I would like a tall brug next year for the front porch.
Well I decided to cut my Golden Lady, and make new starts for next year, the mites are not letting up no matter what I spray with, and we still have NOT had any rain, it misses us every time, I have several seedlings started from seed but I am not putting them outside, so far they are doing well inside, with no bugs, out temps are still in the mid 90s, two weeks now, and no sign of a let up, I have to say I sure do miss my blooms, maybe in the fall they will do better.
Ugh. I know exactly what you mean, Doris. Yesterday, it topped out at 103. Today, more of the same. And, quite honestly, I cannot remember the last time it rained. I think around the end of July, maybe?? I water in the mornings and in the evenings, and when I get home from work, the brugs are wilted. I think I've finally managed to get rid of the mites, though.
Kareoke;
Several days ago I went looking for some chemical to help control rust on my other plants. I found this product 'SureFire' at HD. It's called 3-in-1 Garden spray. That kills fungus,mites and insects. The label say that it's safe to use on flowers, trees, Fruits & and vegetables a day before harvest. The ingredients listed; 0.75% Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids, 0.40% sulfur. And Others 98.85% (non-listed ingedients). Hmmm, has anyone tried this? Has experienced with this product to share?
Brugie and angel_tree,
Why would you bring your summer cutting inside for rooting? I just started some 2 days ago and have left them outside. Should I bring them in?
LoraB.
I mentioned bringing them inside to give them a water bath and to keep them away from the mite infested plants outside, when you can't get rid of the mites. They have been a big problem for several people this year, including myself. The bug blaster sure helped my brugs and I've only used it one time.
We just had a massive downpour, streets flooded, cars stalling, trees down, tons of lightening, power out for about 2 hours, and golf ball sized hail. Before it started it was 104 degrees, now it is 73 degrees. Man, did we need the rain, but not like that!!!
That doesn't sound like fun, but after all is said and done, you will enjoy the moisture and cooler temps, I'm sure. I'm glad you finally got some rain, even tho it did come in buckets. I hope the hail didn't do a lot of damage.
Amazingly, three was absolutely no damage to the brugs. I didn't even think about it until I read your post!! Just had to go back outside with the flashlight, and nope, no damage. Maybe the hail skipped my house and only hit at my daughter's school, that's right across the street.
The best part is, I don't have to water anyone in the morning!!!! :)
indiana you were the lucky ones, it still missed us, no rain in the last three weeks not even a light trickle
Lily_love, the 3-in-1 product is basically insecticidal soap for bugs with some sulphur for fungus. It's very mild and works for your average home garden problem.
The best miticide is malathion, if you can get it (it's a strong poison). My advice for you in a hot climate would be to spray it on your plants, at 1/2 strength with some dishwashing liquid in the mix, when your plants are in shade in the evening, until it drips off. Do this for three days.
If the sun causes your sprayed foliage to burn, rinse it off each morning, and re-apply in the evening.
The strategy is to poison the mites on your plants and prevent them from laying more eggs. If you keep this up for 10 days to two weeks, you will break their reproductive cycle. After that, you're fighting incoming, not residential. So to speak.
Check out extox.net.
Hope this helps.
Andycdn;
The best advice I've received so far while on DG! Thanks for taking the time to share.
Best regards
Kim
Hey, Andy
Hope the spray will take care of the catepillars and slugs, at the same time I spray for mites!! Thanks!
Doris, so sorry for your troubles with the heat and no rain. My brugs are mostly in the ground but many wilt in the sun til the shade kicks in about 2:30. And my brugs in pots are in more shade, so I'm keeping them going, despite no rain and heat in the 100's, breaking lots of heat recoprds. We are coming down into the low and mid 90's this coming week- I hope you get the same break! Good luck with all your cuttings! I can send you some this fall, too, if you need any more.
Brenda B
LoraB,
The reason I bring my cuttings inside to root this time of year is because it is
116 +degrees outside here with no humidity and hot blow dryer winds that will fry new delicate growth on my cuttings. They do much better started out in the house this time of year. Now come fall/ winter/ spring they can grow outside to thier heart's desire -unless it freezes- which it rarely does here. I am having to keep most of my seedlings in the house in this summer too-taking no chances with them. We have sort of backwards seasons here lol. Grow in the winter not summer :)
Hope it cools down for you all. Think cool thoughts.....
YES, YES. YES it is finnaly raining, doesn't look as though it will last long, already letting up but it will help, and it is now in the 80s
Good deal, Doris. I hope you get more rain. It's in our forecast for nearly the whole week. I'll see if I can send more your direction. We really don't need a lot more in Iowa right now.
My Species has lost all its leaves from the heart and the ends are getting soft, so I took cuttings and brought them in.
Took the pot and picked it up to tap out the root ball to repot and found out it was a fire ant bed. That was after I had it held up with one arm and tapping it with my other hand to get it out. They got me good. Dropped the whole thing and did a war dance. LOL
Gosh Ted, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun. So far the fire ants haven't made it to Iowa.
I live on the south east side of Houston and have 7 brugmansia of different varieties. They droop a little and I turn on the automatic drip system. All of the brugmansia are in the ground. They did freeze to the ground, but they have come back and been glorious this summer. I can't grow brugmansia sanguinaria because it needs a lower temperature than we get here in the summer. I did have a leaf drop, but with a little TLC, they are back to blooming again. Do you feed your plants at least every 2 weeks with a high middle number fertilizer and water them daily? If you have the brugmansia in pots, make sure that they get watered several times a day and that the drainage is good. Use light colored pots that do not absorb heat; this lets out terra cotta pots. White flies and spider mites are a sign of plant stress. Take the stress away from the plant and the critters will disappear.
Well we got 1/4" sure need more, it barely made the road wet but it has turned cooler only in the 80s now so that could help