skip to main content

Hellebores and Southern blight?

16 years ago

From research on the Web I thought that there was no evidence of hellebores being host plants for the Southern blight fungus. Then I saw on a grower's Web site that they sometimes see evidence of Southern blight on their plants, so be careful to examine the plants you get from them! Does anyone have hellebores that have gotten Southern blight? Mine are Royal Heritage strain. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

razorback33
16 years ago
I would hope that someone pointed out the the growers the conditions necessary for the Southern Blight fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii, to survive. That is damp, acidic soil at temperatures above 85Â°F. Not the ideal cultural conditions for growing Helleborus, which prefer a drier, but moist, alkaline soil. The fungus will not survive in alkaline soil. Can be eliminated by soil sterilization, so they probably aren't using a sterilized soil mix. Can also be spread by contaminated tools. When present, the fungal growth is exacerbated by the use of high Nitrogen fertilizer, which I'm sure the growers use to accelerate the growth of their plants.
I also would avoid purchasing from those growers and advise closely inspecting any plants purchased for a gray mold like substance around the stems at the soil level and soft tissue in the stems at the same level.
I have grown Helleborus for more than 20 years and presently have hundreds of them. Not once have I experienced a problem with Southern Blight and don't know of anyone else, including nearby growers, that have either.
Rb
harwichhelen
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, razorback, that's just what I hoped to hear!
Related Discussions
Help with southern blight
Q
Comments (1)
I think I just found it on my tomatoes and some pole bean plants. I just dropped samples off at the county extension office. They are going to test the samples to see if it is southern blight. From doing an internet search, it looks like bad stuff. I have never had it before so I couldn't be of any help until mine is specifically diagnosed and get further info for controlling it. If you do not get any help with this post, try the vegetable growing forum here on garden web. It is much more active.
...See More
*sigh*. Southern blight
Q
Comments (4)
Yep. That's southern blight. Do NOT till the bed until you have removed the soil from around the area and thrown it away. Replace with fresh soil. Make sure to disinfect all tools used in a way that prevents potential spread of the organism. I worked in a lot of organic matter this spring and drenched with B. amyloliquifaciens and B. subtilis and use a lot of coffee grounds (which supposedly are a food source that various Trichodermas like) in the bed where I had it last year. So far, so good. Luckily for me, and, it seems, for you, southern blight doesn't strike until very late, but the down side of that is that I won't know for sure that my efforts have been successful until the end of the season. If they're not, I will try grafting with Maxifort next year. One thing that my efforts seems to have helped is that the bed where I had bacterial wilt problems last year doesn't seem to have those problems this year. Of course, it could also be that what I'm growing there is a variety less prone to the disease. But that's encouraging for me, as it's very hard to find a rootstock that resists both bacterial wilt and southern blight.
...See More
I think I found southern blight in my raised bed... Now what?
Q
Comments (5)
We don't know where you live and Southern Blight is not all that common and is predominately a regional issue of tropical and sub-tropical areas and we in zone 7 don't normally fall into the area. So I'm just suggesting that I wouldn't be too quick to jump to that conclusion unless you get confirmation. I'm not disputing that may be it, just that it would be unusual for it to develop so quickly in a single plant where the rest show no symptoms. Plus there are several other fungus possibilities and all have somewhat different treatments in addition to heavy fungicide use. It would be worth taking a sample to the local county ag extension office for diagnosis. Just something to consider. Dave
...See More
Bayer Advanced finally arrived for Rainbow's End with Southern Blight
Q
Comments (1)
*Chris of Hallson's Gardens reply to this linked post (first reply) is great: http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2031433/hosta-blight Oh my... such an unfortunate delay for the mail. It seems to happen to me too, when you need something that is not locally available... somehow it takes eons to arrive. My caveat: I do not have personal experience with fungicide beyond 10% bleach bath- just this info linked below: http://www.hostalibrary.org/articles/SBarticle.htm Per the article linked above: Under the section "My Strategy" paragraphs 4-7... you do not need to dig up the hosta at this point. The Fungi is only at the top layer of soil. The article emphasizes that Southern Blight is like a weed and the main thing for next time is prevention. If it already has southern blight, the damage will be considerable... but about 1/4 have survived for the author. * If there are no little brownish/reddish balls around the base and soil you can drench crown and soil area with Bayer Advanced. * If the Southern blight has set seed/little balls, then first is careful cleanup of any tiny balls - the Sclerotium rolfsii seeds- and removal of top inch of soil Sclerotium rolfsii effected leaves and (discard into a bag seal it and trash it). Then you can drench the area. You can keep an eye on it and dose it again if symptoms arise and it is needed. Next year it may try to grow again in that area.
...See More
syllabus
16 years ago
On Tuesday, I took a sample of a hellebore into my extension office & just as I suspected, it was affected with Sclerotium Rolfsii. I do not know which hellebore it was... except that it is (was!) one of several huge specimens in that planting area. I'm hoping that the others do not develope symptoms.

I am sick & frustrated w/ fighting this disease in my gardens. For the past 3 years it has popped up in one bed or another. I am also a Master Gardener volunteer at the extension & our agent is a plant pathologist. We have pretty much decided that the fungus is getting spread around by all the squirrels & cats that visit my yard. I do my best w/ sanitation... but there is only so much you can do.

I am zone 7 am this disease loves our hot, humid climate.
HU-229423005
2 years ago
I am a gardener in Maryland. I’ve lost a beautiful large leafed hosta and a nearby helllebore to what i suspect is southern blight. I‘m guessing that I did not properly clean up all the cicada “shells” and rotting dead cicadas that fell in my garden- too much dead debris around these 2 plants put in a woodland setting. Will be cleaning up! Just a guess on my part since I’ve never had this problem before with my hellebores or hostas.

Related Stories

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Gold Collection Hellebores Perform Like Stars

Exciting colors, longer bloom times, forward-facing flowers ... These hybrids leave old hellebores in the dust

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Boxwood Alternatives Bring the Chelsea Flower Show to You

Don’t let box blight limit your plans to borrow garden design ideas from the renowned British event

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Catalina Ironwood, a Tree for Antiquity

Peeling bark gives this tree an antique look, but its low water needs are perfect for drought-prone areas today

FARM YOUR YARD How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

By Annie Thornton

Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix

FALL AND THANKSGIVING 5 Container Gardens for Fall, the Holidays and Beyond

Make planting easy with a single container, year-round plants and a sprinkling of simple seasonal accents

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Find Yourself in an Epic Garden in the Shade

Feeling hot and tired gardening in the sun? The world of shade gardening beckons you to its cool mystery

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

By Falon Mihalic

Turn the cool, shady spot in your garden into your own quiet oasis

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: A Fall Landscape Scene That Lasts

Span the seasons with trees, shrubs and grasses that offer color and texture in abundance

Sponsored

AAE Bathroom Remodeler

Franklin County's Custom Kitchen & Bath Designs for Everyday Living