just read that chamomile tea, sprayed on clems will keep the mildew away and has other benefits too. not sure i will get around to trying this, but thought i would pass this along......i don't have a lot of mildew as i keep air in the groupings and try to ground water as much as possible.
but those young texensis may benefit ..........
jeanne you have mentioned the alfalfa tea, tho i know it is said to have a strong odor.....
anyone else shave any natural solutions to clem issues or to build health?
if you twist my arm i will natural give you the tonic recipe ( for peakish clems) i bought for 17$ from someone in new zealand a few years ago.
chamomile tea an other natural defenses.....
does anyone want me to give them the recipe for peakish clems to perk them up? i got it on line from someone in new zealand a few years ago..it is a home made concoction. let m eknow. no charge, will jsut pass it on. it includes beer, ammonia and epsom salts.
I'm interested! I grew C. integrifolia a few years ago and it was terrible for getting mildew, and have a few others that just seem to be the same, immature size every year- I think those could use a tonic!
ok here is the tonic recipe
mix together
1 can beer
1 cup epsom salts
half cup ammonia
2 c water
use 1 oz of this diluted in a gallon of water for peakish clems, especially those that are yellow green and do not seem to be flourishing. i do not use this very often, as my clems are not too much in need of it, but have found it to be a boost when i do use it.
for mildew, make sure there is air in your display, and try and ground water vs sprinkle. for clems that get mildew, or areas that get mildew, treat before you see it this year by spraying with chamomile tea or a plant fungicide, of which there are many on the market. do not wait til the mildew appears before treating.
Thanks Clem! That sounds like it may be a good tonic for roses too. From time to time I find a Lily that is pale and fertilize and give it a dose of Epsom salts; sounds like your recipe would be good for that too. A lady I used to to garden work for told me her mother used ammonia solution on her plants, which I guess is a good cheap nitrogen source, but I never could find any info on how much to dilute it and therefore never tried it.
It was only the one Clem I had mildew issues with, and I didn't bother moving it when I moved here. My last garden was in a moist, woodland environment, but now I'm in an open, sunny area on a hill with a constant breeze. I'm thankful that fungal issues rarely are a problem now.
Can this tonic be stored or does it all need to be used at the time of mixing?
I have kept it for a couple of weeks when i have used it. a batch makes a lot! i am sure you can store it longer.
i know relying on fertilizer concoctions like this may not be something to do over an dover, but it is a nice boost for a sickly clem not in the flowering stages.
and i also made half batch, but used a whole can of beer instead of half, as i didn't want to throw it out or drink it!