Help! Problem with marigolds!

[allicat]

New here- not to the DIS boards but new to the forum.
Im in NJ, where many of you know the incredible amount of rain we have been getting.
My flowers are doing awful from too much rain. I thought marigolds were effortless to grow. I planted the big marigolds(cant think of the proper name) they dont look like marigolds, actually.Well, they are moldy! They are yellow but there is a layer of mold on top and the petals are turning brown! I have gotten so many compliments on how pretty the marigolds are and now this. Can I do anything? Should I rip the bloom completely off where there is mold?
Its got to be from lack of sun and too much moisture, right?
My geraniums are doing terribly too!

 

[Tulirose]

Poor allicat with the molding musty marigolds! My mom was telling me that the marigolds I planted for her are doing just terrible too. She didn't explain in detail what the problem was, ust that they are not doing well. We figured it was also from all the rain and lack of sunshine. However, the salvia I planted for her she says is thriving - go figure.

I don't have answers to your questions on how to fix it. Maybe someone else will...

 

[Snowwark]

Welcome allicat!

I'm sorry about your moldy marigolds. From what I've heard it was starting to sound like New Jersey was going to float away! I hope the weather situation is improving!

I think you and Tulirose are right, that the mold problem is weather related, and may be botrytis. It affects all sorts of plants (geraniums too!)

Here's some info on Botrytis, and what you can do about it. Good luck!!!

~Botrytis (aka grey mould) is a fungal disease that thrives in wet conditions. Whilst several species of Botrytis exist, the most common form is Botrytis cinerea , which attacks a wide range of fruit and vegetables (including tomatoes, beans, grapes, lettuce, eggplants, rhubarb, the fruit of strawberries) and ornamentals (roses, geraniums, African violets, succulents, begonias, dahlias, hydrangeas, marigolds, petunias, sweet peas and fuchsias, among others).

Botrytis can affect just about any part of a plant (with the exception of the roots), including flowers, buds, leaves, stems, crowns, fruit, seeds and bulbs. The first sign of infection is usually water-soaked spots on leaves or brown discolouration of fruit or flowers. These areas later produce vast numbers of greyish-brown spores if humidity or moisture levels remain high. The infected areas then wilt and collapse, or rot.

Botrytis on leaves The optimum temperature for development is about 18degC. Although Botrytis will also happily grow at 1deg Celcius, it is when the weather warms up that it becomes more prevalent. It needs moisture for the spores to germinate and infect plants, so a prolonged rainy period is ideal. Botrytis levels also increase when air movement and sunlight are restricted. In a greenhouse, where humidity can be high, the problem is particularly worse.

Control:

The best form of control for Botrytis is preventative measures. Provide plenty of space between rows and plants to permit freer movement of air. This reduces humidity and allows the leaves to dry out faster. Make sure there is adequate ventilation in greenhouses.

Water the ground around your plant, not the plant itself; watering the leaves of an infected plant is the quickest way to spread the disease.

Clear away any plant debris or fallen leaves; the fungus thrives on these and will also overwinter in dead plant tissue.

When inspecting your plants for Botrytis , do so when they are dry. If plants are wet with rain or dew, the fungal spores can easily be spread by the knocking of water droplets onto other parts of the plant, or another plant altogether. Carry a bag around with you so you can place the diseased parts straight into it before disposing of them in the rubbish bin.

There are also several fungicide sprays on the market that will help in protecting plants, although if preventative measures are taken, these will hopefully not be necessary.~

Home & Garden

 

[allicat]

Snowwark - that description you posted sounds just like what the problem is! The geraniums have it too!
Hopefully, we are drying out here in NJ and my musty, molding marigolds will become beautiful again!

 

[Mamu]

Allicat nasty year for flowers. Here in Mass I am going through the same problem.

My Azalea's and Rhododendrons bloomed and and molded up along with the Lilac's, the Iris went the same way, with lots of other perennials. Over the weekend with the addition of 4 new inches of rain, the Peonies, Laurel, Holly and some of the other plants are all covered in mud and the flowers are starting to mold. My veggie garden is a disaster.

The only think you can do is remove the flowers as soon as possible, try to rinse off any mud thats on the plants with a fine mist. Let them dry amd give them a dusting for fungus. Hopefully with some sunny weather the plants will return to thier splendon.