Help With My Container ROSEMARY!!!
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I have stopped by from CT to ask about my rosemary. I bought 4 plants early last spring, potted them together and trained them to encicle a round wire form. They thrived all summer and look great. Very "fancy" I have always had problems with my RM making it through the winter. I have brought the pot inside our enclosed porch. Plenty of light and a little warmer than outside. I have noticed a dusty gray/white is covering the plant, esp. the new growth. Is this a disease or, bug?...I so dont want this one to die. Whata I do? I really dont want to put any chemicals on it if I can help it...beings its food and all. TIA...Calamity Jane
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(post #12737, reply #1 of 13)
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The grey/white substance you describe is a fungus that will eventually kill the plant. This often happens when you bring rosemary indoors for the winter. You need to locate the plant in a sunny window with southern exposure and provide plenty of air circulation. Set up a fan if need be. Keep the soil moist, but don't ever let it sit in water.
Good luck!
OVGGuru
http://members.aol.com/ovgguru/ovgguru.html
(post #12737, reply #2 of 13)
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Thank You, Thank you for your reply OVG, and the link too...Ill set up the fan, no prob. What about this grey fungus? How do I stop its growth or remove it? Should I trim as much off as possible, then wash it? I said I would rather not use chemicals, but if they would save this plant, I would in a heart beat! I could get more rosemary to use for cooking, but Im a bit proud of my effort and want to save this "ring" even if just for ornamental. TIA, for any other suggestions! CJ
(post #12737, reply #3 of 13)
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Hi, Calamity.
I have a prostrate rosemary in a big clay pot that I've had for probably about 8 years. Bring it into the chilly (55*) and not-all-that-sunny sunroom every winter. It too gets the white powdery stuff every year, but survives. Ovgguru is right about soil moisture and air circulation. I also mist my plant regularly, which seems to help. j
Will post again if I can find more information on this. Good luck.
(post #12737, reply #4 of 13)
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I think that providing the right conditions (very sunny, cool, air circulation, misting, moist but not wet soil, very good drainage) will take care of the fungus without doing anything else. I would try that first. If you can hold on until spring when you can relocate the plant outside, it will definately go away then.
OVGGuru
http://members.aol.com/ovgguru/ovgguru.html
(post #12737, reply #5 of 13)
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Thanks for your help! I'm glad its something that may "just go away" with proper attention. CJ
(post #12737, reply #6 of 13)
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I have a small rosemary tree (bush?) that I bring in every winter (Zone 7). If it gets this fungal infection, which is about 1 year in 3, I just wash it off with a strong blast of water. Rosemary is pretty sturdy, and it doesn't seem to mind. Air circulation is the key to prevention, I believe.
(post #12737, reply #7 of 13)
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Clamamity Jane,
You might try Soapshield from Gardens Alive! on your rosemary plant. It is safe and organic and I have had very good results using it on plants that suffered from various funguses, muildews, and viruses as well as bacterial leaf spot. I have used it on peas, onions, tomatoes, irises, roses and violas without any harm to these plants. I also have a rosemary that I bring in every winter and put in my sunroom in front of a large bright window. The average temp of the sunroom is in the low to mid 60's in the winter.
So far, after three winters, I have had no problems. The wonderful fragrance of rosemary in the winter is certainly worth the effort of bringing it inside in the winter. I find it does better if I prune it when I bring it inside in the fall, although it only blooms in the spring if it is not pruned. Good Luck!
Gail in N. Idaho
(post #12737, reply #8 of 13)
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Sounds like the cure is pretty easy but...what's the best way to use the rosemary while it's under attack by this fungus? Or is it not a good idea to use it as an ingredient until the fungus is eradicated?
(post #12737, reply #9 of 13)
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Can't you just wash the sprigs off under water, rubbing them with your fingers to get the white stuff off?
Certainly, if you've used a product on the plant, you wouldn't want to eat the rosemary until the product has worn or been washed off. Follow label directions, in this regard.
(post #12737, reply #10 of 13)
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I get this fungus, powdery mildew, on my rosemary every winter. The powdery mildew goes away when I put the rosemary out in the fresh air in the Spring. You can use any number of "safe" sprays like sulfur, lime, or insecticidal soap. These change the Ph which gets rid of the fungus.
(post #12737, reply #11 of 13)
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Think about where rosemary comes from... it is an herb most often associated with the Mediterranean (a climate that is cooler and moister in the winter, yet dry in the summer, and with alkaline soils).
Since I live in the Pacific Northwest I do not have to bring it indoors over the winter, so I have no experience with it in pots. BUT it thrives in my garden all year round with total neglect. It is never watered nor mulched (despite rumors to the contrary, it can get quite dry in the summers here), I just sometimes put lime on to keep the soil from being too acid. In my garden the neglected rosemary, lavendar, thyme and sage have to be hacked back every year because they tend to get leggy.
You might want to let it dry out between waterings, do not mist it (though you may want to wash off the dust occasionally, the leaves are a bit sticky), and keep it in a sunny window with good circulation(it can tolerate cool rooms, just not deep freezes).
Good luck, CNH
(post #12737, reply #12 of 13)
Out of curioisity..how is that ROSEMARY doing.?(almost 4 yrs later, she asked) I just brought some in last week.. and we are in intensive care .. will probably have to intubate. LOL.
(post #12737, reply #13 of 13)
Outside, I use the baking soda spray--1Tbs BS to 1 gal water. It seems pretty effective with the powdery mildew. Of course, outside I also add cayenne and garlic. Really nasty, but effective.
Sandi