Bob, its probably better to just add your updated comments to the end of the thread, it all becomes hard to read if you put things up earlier. I did finally find your update. Good to hear you got some plums in the end. I don't think it points to much effectiveness from the milk however, the hand picking and the sulphur spraying you did could have done it -- I never did milk and have gotten similar results with similar treatment (only copper, sanitation, and a bit of sulphur). I have a flamer and I might try the flaming in the fall to see if that helps. Maybe I can flame out a few pests trying to overwinter as well. Scott

The tree forum might get you a faster answer.

starryrider: Your warning sounds warranted. If your soil has a high PH like mine you want to avoid getting it on the soil as it raises the Ph. Like I said I read about it but never tried it. I include a link from ehow but the recipe the site gives is: "Baking soda is also a remedy to any mold or mildew that is growing on the leaves or other parts of your plants. Add 1 tbsp. baking soda to 4 cups of water and 1/2 tsp. of liquid soap. Put these ingredients in a spray bottle. Gently mist the infected plants on every surface, including the undersides. This process should be repeated every two weeks until the plant is devoid of any mildew or mold" Jen: I had a problem with my peppers in the springs and I simply shook the bag all over it and all the spots were gone. It was not very efficient though as the powder was all over. I was thinking that I needed a better way to do it but I only have a sprayer for liquid that I use for my watered soap. I remember when I was little I would see guys spraying sulfur on Apple orchards with something that looked like a BILLOW but I do not know what it is. Maybe someone else can tell us what they use for spraying powders on plants. Here is a link that might be useful: Ehow on Baking Soda and Mildew

Have you checked for thrips? Lots of tiny, barely visible, elongated tan insects that scurry to hide when you separate the petals. Thrips damage and Botrytis damage can be confused with each other, or can overlap. Copper soap sprayed on the buds during cool, drippy weather can control Botrytis fairly well, but it may spot some flowers. It is also moderately hazardous, so cover up and then change your clothes if you use it. In Texas, Botrytis should be a transient problem. Thrips are transient for me as well. If you have serious recurring problems with either, perhaps the best course is to discard the most susceptible varieties. If the striped roses are together on one shoot, it could possibly be a valuable mutation, so preserve that wood and see if it keeps producing those blooms.