Question

leuco  

leuco   Hi, i have a small collection of sarracenia that i grow outdoors in Greensboro NC.  I use the tray watering method.  Many of my plants are in sphag/peat, others are in mixes depending on who i got them from.  I have recently noticed some white patchy areas on the pitchers of two of my plants ... an S. Leuco, and a hybrid plant that i got from UNCC.  I think its powdery mold/mildew but i'm not certain. It doesn't appear to be down in the crown of the plant just on the pitchers themselves... i have seen a mealy bug or two here and there but i just pick them off and have never seen more than one or two.  Any ideas on what it is and what I should do to protect my plants?  

Thanks

Answer
Hi Chad,

It is.  If you have vegetable or flowers you've probably dealt with this stuff.  I've never actually seen it on Sarracenia, which is odd here since it seems to attack everything else in the Pacific Northwest, but your higher humidity might support it.

Making sure you're getting good air circulation and light penetration will help.  I would also clip off affected leaves.  Also, try to treat or eliminate any other plants in the area (non-carnivorous)that might be affected and acting as carriers.  In the late evening, spray your plants with a sulfur based fungicide such as Safer, but be sure to follow label directions.  For powdery mildew most university sources recommend not using other chemical or systemic fungicides since this fungus will build resistance to it quickly.  Sulfur will prevent spread, but it won't cure.  Also, be sure not to spray sulfur fungicides in the heat of the day or can cause some plant damage.

Let me know how it goes.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com