Having problems with my Promenea

[camille1585]

It's really bad, the disease is spreading at an astonishing speed! Every day there are 3-4 more leaves showing infection, and they are totally destroyed within 2 days. I'm removing leaves as soon as I see the slightest hint of yellow now. It's going so fast that I'm thinking that it may be Erwinia, but on the other hand it's only these 2 (related) plants infected and only the leaves (bulbs are fine), so seems to be quite specific.

---------- Post added at 08:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------

Anyone know if copper sulfate is toxic to Promenea and Zygos? I know it is for Dens. Howard (BikerDoc) used it (Phyton 27) to treat his Erwinia problem last year, so I was thinking of tracking some down on internet since I had no luck finding it in a store.

---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:47 PM ----------

Nevermind, I just found out that copper sulfate is banned in the Netherlands, and illegal to import as well... Maybe Monday I'll go buy that lone product for diseases, and hope for the best.

[Discus]

It probably depends on the dose rate; copper at a high enough concentration will kill most things. Copper sulphate is pretty easy to get around here, pretty much all pharmacies sell it. Sorry that doesn't help you too much though. Hydrogen peroxide will also make a reasonable surface antiseptic, as will alcohol and perhaps even cinammon.

[camille1585]

Right now I'm mixing up a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water, added cinnamon podwer to it and I'll let it sit 2-3 days. Until then I can try hydrogen peroxide, but I'd need to soak the entire plant in it. I'll wipe down all the leaves with it, and use a different cotton ball for each growth to avoid spreading whatever it is even further....

[RosieC]

Really hope you can get it under control Camille, sounds really bad

[camille1585]

I'm going out to buy the only fungicide (Chlorothalonil) the store sells, and see if that helps any. I now have a Phal showing a similar yellow streak on the edge of a leaf, as well as a Catt. I want to put a fan to get some air circulating, but they are impossible to find at this time of year...

My attempt at making a cinnamon spray failed. Maybe it's because I put in too much cinnamon, but after 2 days of steeping there was hardly any liquid left, only some nasty slimy mucus like junk.

[The Mutant]

I wish I could help somehow, but unfortunately I can't. Me, my cats, and my Phals will keep our respective digits crossed for your chids.

[ezil]

Camille, do you have access to cinnamon sticks or chips? (sometimes you can find them in the spice aisles, or otherwise any place that sells indian/asian spices). You simmer them in water discard the pieces. That doesn't create the mess powder does, and keeps longer.

[camille1585]

Thanks for the tip! I do have a bag of sticks in the cupboard. How many sticks in how much water?

[ezil]

That depends on the size of the sticks. I like to have about 1/2 a liter left once it's finished and usually use 2 to 3 sticks, or a good fist full of chips. I also let it simmer for at least 1/2 an hour. If you find that too long, just leave the sticks in the water until it's cooled off, or until you need it. You can even store this in a container in the fridge (but make sure that it's room temp. before using it) and mix it with the alcohol before using. Cinnamon sticks tend to be expensive here, so I don't like to waste any. I have no idea if the sticks deteriorate with age, so I prefer to get the most "potency" by steeping longer.
I know what you mean about not being able to find a fan at this time of year, but you may want to try to move the plants further away from each other than they are now. Whatever it is that is affecting them: it seems to have taken a good hold already. Hopefully you'll be able to stop the spread. Good luck!

[camille1585]

Thanks! I get my sticks cheap in France at a north african goods store, they sell spices in bulk.

I've spread out the plants as much as I can. A bunch have moved out from under the lights to a nearby table. My worry is that because I have laundry drying this evening, the conditions are ideal for disease: 85% humidity! I'll try to find a fan online tomorrow.