Post a reply

Avatar for Believex
Jul 18, 2020 6:08 PM CST
Thread OP

Hi,

I am a newbie gardener and am growing some herbs and veggies in pots on my balcony. I have two cucumber plants, both have problems with the leaves but the problem doesn't look the same (I've uploaded a photo of both). I'm thinking the second photo is powdery mildew? The other (spots that eventually lead to these transparent "holes" in the leaves) is also on my basil. I looked around and couldn't find any bugs, so not sure what is causing the damage? Anything to help me out would be great!! TIA.

Thumb of 2020-07-19/Believex/ed8458
Thumb of 2020-07-19/Believex/5280d1
Last edited by Believex Jul 18, 2020 6:09 PM Icon for preview
Image
Jul 19, 2020 11:55 AM CST

That looks a whole lot like leaf spot in the early stages. Powdery mildew is actually very easy to diagnose: pass your finger over the affected part and if you remove the white substance (fungal spores actually), that's powdery mildew alright.
There are several fungicides you can use against leaf spot such as chlorothalonil, but the best defense is to plant disease-resistant cultivars, avoid wetting the leaves when watering and destroy (not compost) affected material.
Image
Jul 20, 2020 10:38 AM CST
Name: Al F.
5b-6a mid-MI
Knowledge counters trepidation.
Japanese Maples Deer Tropicals Seed Starter Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: Michigan
Houseplants Foliage Fan Dog Lover Container Gardener Birds Wild Plant Hunter
Top image looks like a simple case of oedema to me, which is normally driven by over-watering. See something I wrote about oedema below.

The second image shows the cotyledons and oldest true leaf on the plant in a stage of resorption the beginning stage of abscission (shedding). One of the things that occurs during resorption is, the plant breaks down the pigment 'chlorophyll' for the magnesium which is central to the chlorophyll molecule. As the green pigment breaks down, it allows expression of other pigments (in this case, carotinoids), which were formerly masked by the green pigment.

The plant appears to be somewhat chlorotic - what have you been doing re a fertilizer regimen?

Oedema
Oedema is a physiological disorder that can affect all plants. It occurs when the plant takes up more water than it can rid itself of via the process of transpiration. The word itself means 'swelling', which is usually the first symptom, and comes in the form of pale blisters or water-filled bumps on foliage. Under a variety of circumstances/cultural conditions, a plant's internal water pressure (turgidity) can become so high that some leaf cells rupture and leak their contents into inter-cellular spaces in leaf tissue, creating wet or weepy areas. Symptoms vary by plant, but as the malady progresses, areas of the leaf turn yellow, brown, brown with reddish overtones or even black, with older damage appearing as corky/ scaly/ ridged patches, or wart/gall-like bumpy growth. Symptoms are seen more frequently in plants that are fleshy, are usually more pronounced on the underside of leaves, and older/lower leaves are more likely to be affected than younger/upper leaves.
Oedema is most common in houseplants during the winter/early spring months, is driven primarily by excessive water retention in the soil, and can be intensified via several additional cultural influences. Cool temperatures, high humidity levels, low light conditions, or partial defoliation can individually or collectively act to intensify the problem, as can anything else that slows transpiration. Nutritional deficiencies of Ca and Mg are also known contributors to the malady.
Some things that can help you prevent oedema:
* Increase light levels and temperature
* Monitor water needs carefully – avoid over-watering. I'd heartily recommend a soil with drainage so sharp (fast) that when you to water to beyond the saturation point you needn't worry about prolonged periods of soil saturation wrecking root health/function. Your soil choice should be a key that unlocks the solutions to many potential problems.
* Avoid misting or getting water on foliage. It slows transpiration and increases turgidity.
* Water as soon as you get up in the AM. When stomata close in preparation for the dark cycle, turgidity builds. If you water early in the day, it gives the plant an opportunity to remove (for its own needs) some of the excess water in the soil.
* Put a fan in the room or otherwise increase air flow/circulation. Avoid over-crowding your plants.

Al
* Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. ~ Socrates
* Change might not always bring growth, but there is no growth without change.
* Mother Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
Avatar for narcissus_n
Jul 21, 2020 6:47 AM CST

If your plant see lots of sunlight it may the problem. So you can change your plant's place.
Image
Jul 21, 2020 9:25 AM CST
Name: Al F.
5b-6a mid-MI
Knowledge counters trepidation.
Japanese Maples Deer Tropicals Seed Starter Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Region: Michigan
Houseplants Foliage Fan Dog Lover Container Gardener Birds Wild Plant Hunter
This does not present as a problem related to too much sun (photo-oxidation), which causes a chemical reaction within the leaves which in turn presents in easily identified symptoms - usually large areas of leaf surfaces toward the middle of the leaf first turn silver or tan, then turn brown or black, depending on how succulent tissues are, and then turn dry/crispy.

Al
* Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. ~ Socrates
* Change might not always bring growth, but there is no growth without change.
* Mother Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
  • Started by: Believex
  • Replies: 5, views: 283
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )