Hello OGDers --- we are starting to grow large quantities of the
Catasetinae and have seen the actively growing plants develop a lot of
black mildew primarily on the under leaf surfaces. There is also an
occasional glob of the black fungus on the flower buds. There are no
mites; no thrips; no mealybugs or scale - this is just fast growing
plants exuding a clear sticky "sap" that grows the mildew as a secondary
infection. It's pretty obviously linear under the leaves as the sap
production follows the major veins of the foliage. When the plants are
taken into our kitchen (air conditioned with lower humidity) for
photography, the clear sap does not contaminate with the mildew and
dries up slightly. The mildew is not pathogenic to the plants but it can
be pretty unsightly. It is also curious that different hybrids produce
different amounts of the sap exudate.
I was wondering if anyone out there has had any successful
treatments for getting rid of mildew? The treatment has to be practical
on commercial quantities of plants, so hand washing individual leaves is
impractical. Lowering humidity in the middle of summer in south Florida
in a greenhouse with wet pads is also impossible. All I can think of is
a chemical control but reading various fungicide labels never mentions
mildew, other than downy mildew which this isn't.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank You ---
Terry A. Glancy
Pine Ridge Orchids, Inc.
21100 SW 300 Street
Homestead, FL 33030
ph (305) 247-4839
(305) 247-3086
fx (305) 247-8853
Email = [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc Email = [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website = http://www.PineRidgeOrchids.com
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