Check the link below to be sure it is leaf streak. If it doesn't look like that,maybe it is summer dormancy? Do they grow back out ok when the weather cools a bit?

Here is a link that might be useful: leaf streak

Pretty sure it's leaf streak. I have a picture. The photo's pretty bad (I just cropped it out of a corner of something else) and it's only mid-June, but you can see the streaks starting. They do grow back out (they've been coming back for years, yes?). These are your basic orange ditch-lilies.

Charla

Here is a link that might be useful: Daylilies in mid-June

Ok. They are ditchlilies. That says Dormant habit to me. Mine always turn crappy in mid August up here in zone 4. They turn yellow and brown and die back for the winter,which is 3 months away. Up here we mow them down mid to late August and they do put up some new growth,but never get full sized.Just a bit better looking.They don't start growing until June either, so I really think it may just be that they are going through their 3 to four month life cycle. I only really know how they behave up here,so maybe someone can tell us if I am right that grows them in your zone or higher.

Our club dips the daylilies we prep for the sale with our show, into a bleach water mix and swish it around in the bleach water to make sure that every part of the plant gets wet. Who ever is doing the dipping will then hand it to a helper who goes and lays the plant out to dry.So the length of time is about a minute. If you want to soak, an hour is a good amount, any longer and then the writing on the label will start to fade.

I think your plans are extreme. Leaf streak is caused by a fungus, so I would recommend cleaning up the old foliage well so it doesn't harbor fungus, snails and slugs. Thin the plants out to improve air circulation and fertilize them. If they don't get 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, consider moving them. There is no need to soak the root system in a bleach bath. Apply cornmeal liberally to the area and only water in the mornings.
Ed

Here is a link that might be useful: More leaf streak info

Wow. Thanks, y'all. I'll address the comments

*about maybe it being dormancy and life cycle: could be... but the lilies I see in the ditches don't look aweful like mine. (My neighbor's look great, too... but they're Stella d'Oro.) I have cut them down around August, and they grow right back up, & go through the whole streaking cycle again (but no flowers).

*about the plans being extreme. Well... I'm dividing and transplanting them anyway (I need them elsewhere: where they will get merciless sun all day, and be thinned out)... So really the only extra step is the dipping/soaking, whatever. And hopefully that'll save me any work later in the summer.

So, if I'm covering all bases... will it HARM the plants to go into a bleach bath, regardless of whether it's dormancy or fungal infection? If not... then what's the concentration? And how about the fungicide?

What's with the cornmeal?

Thanks, y'all, for helping!

Charla

It won't really harm the plants to go through the bleach bath. Use a 5% concentration or about 3/4 cup bleach per gallon water.

If you wish to use the Daconil fungicide, I wouldn't use it unless I visually see signs of leaf streak. Then spray the plants, concentrating on the underneath sides of the foliage.

The cornmeal is an organic fungicide and has slight fertilizer properties. It would be good for your situation.
Ed

Ed,

Thanks so much. Have to say, I've never heard that about cornmeal... but that sounds like something I can manage! I'll do the bleach -- just to hedge my bets; and let the Daconil continue to molder (hee, hee!).

Hey, if it IS some fungal pathogen... do you think it may infect my irises? I've got a bunch of run-of-the-mill bearded irises that are planted all over the yard as well....

I really appreciate you, and everyone else, taking the time to help me.

Charla

Oh... Here's another question:

How long can those lilies tolerate sitting out of the dirt? A couple of days? Maybe if I throw a damp sheet over them or something? Keep them out of the sun? If I could get them all out before replanting them (a job that will take more than one day), then I'll know how many new plants I'll have and can plant my new garden with appropriate spacing....

Charla

Hi Charla,
I doubt it will infect your irises.
It is pretty hard to kill ditch lilies. Dig them up and put them in the shade and they should be fine. Just leave some dirt on the roots till you are ready to sort and replant.
Ed

Well. I've been digging for a few hours now: I'm maybe a eighth of the way through the daylily bed and already have over a hundred fans. Replanting is going to be a chore! But it's good, though. I estimate I'll need about 600 to cover this steep bank at the side of my house.

There is no dirt on the roots, because I'm dunking them in bleach solution for about 10 minutes (while I dig another clump). So hopefully they'll survive bare root in a box? I'll keep them out of the sun.

My daylilies seem to be a nursery for worms... I keep pulling teeny tiny worms out of the decomposed foliage and just below the ground. (Don't want them killed in the bleach!)

This is fun. Thanks for your advice! Should I cover the box with a damp sheet?

Charla

I wouldn't worry with covering the box unless it rains. But if it makes you happy, it won't hurt anything. The ditch lilies will be fine bare root for several weeks at least.
Ed

If you wind up with more than you can use,maybe you can share them with only1joanie on the ditch lilies post. She is looking for some.

Never mind the last post. There are reasons people can't just send plants to certain states. Arizona is one of them.

I thought of that: but I don't want to risk sending infected plants anywhere. I'll wait a year and be sure they are healthy before I start sending them out. Otherwise I might not be making friends!

I never would have checked the AZ thing. But it makes sense... especially with these pathogens around.

Charla