Question
QUESTION: I have some morning glories around our outside shower, they have been doing great all year and in the past years but within the past month or so the leaves have seemed to be dying out and we noticed some orange spots, from what I have read it sounds like rust a fungus, So my question is, is that right? And is there anything I can use like a fungus spray? Will that cause the soil there to be ruined for next year? They work great as a curtain around the shower. I am guessing it might be too late to save them? Thanks!!

ANSWER: Dear Dawn, It does sound like your morning glory has gotten a fungus.  However, since morning glories come up every year from seed, I doubt seriously that next year's flowers will be affected.  Any residual fungal spores will almost certainly be killed off by the first freezes.  To help with this year, well, there may not be too much that you can do, but you could spray the foliage with NEEM, an organic substance that works against fungus.  I would hesitate to go with something more toxic, as it could affect your health if you are showering nearby.  (By the way, it sounds absolutely gorgeous).  The NEEM will help at least somewhat, and then the new plants will come up next year and should be completely unaffected.  FYI, a rust is actually an interaction between two plants, as there is a rust that occurs between oaks and pines, one between cedars and apples, and I know there are others but I don't think that is affecting your morning glory.  If you are worried about the soil being contaminated you could drench the soil with NEEM, but I think it will be fine next year.  I hope this information helps, but don't hesitate to write back if you have more questions.  Good luck, Melissa

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QUESTION: Hi Melissa,

The NEEM would you spray that under the leaves or does it matter? We do have oak/pin oak trees as well as pines not too far from where the morning glories are.(It is absolutely gorgeous when they are all flowering) Thanks a lot !!!Dawn

Answer
Dear Dawn, Well generally speaking when you spray a plant you want to make sure to get up under the leaves to spray where a lot of the critters are hiding, but this being a fungus, and morning glory leaves being as thin as they are, it really won't make much difference.  Could the morning glory have had a bit of a dry spell that could have affected the leaves?  I am seeing a LOT of drought scorched foliage in the summer time.  You probably only have about 2-3 months of leaves anyway, maybe not quite that long.  This is probably more a fluke than anything else, and you probably won't have any recurrence next year.  It really sounds like you have an incredible view.  I don't think you will have more problems next year since the new plants will come up from seed.  Good luck, Melissa