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Avatar for chris0817
Aug 6, 2013 9:40 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
I had several large patches of these and on patch by one they seem to be turning a yellow and become mushy or rotten appering i have not watered them anymore than usual and some of the patches were 10 to 15 years old help please i am losing them all
Last edited by dave Aug 6, 2013 9:50 AM Icon for preview
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Aug 6, 2013 9:51 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
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calling @valleylynn - she may be able to help you.
And Welcome! Chris!
Avatar for twitcher
Aug 6, 2013 9:59 AM CST

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Chris, we need more information. Where are you located, what is your climate like, what has recent weather been like, have you changed anything? I would suspect a possible insect problem such as root maggots if you haven't changed anything. Can you dig up a couple of them at the yellowing/just turning mushy stage and look along the bottom of the plant, where the root meets the rosette or along the roots, for things that look like small maggots (or any other type of bug?)?
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 6, 2013 10:27 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
I live 10 minutes north of philly pa the weather has been normal nothing much out of the ordinary this started last year I lost one whole patch that was maybe 4 foot by 3 foot and now it is starting in another flower bed 100 feet away I will check the roots and look for some type of infestaion is there any type of insecticide I can use to stop this
Thank You
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Aug 6, 2013 10:40 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Hi Chris, and a big Welcome! to ATP.
I agree with twit on checking the roots. There are certain grubs and weevils that can damage them from the roots up.
Can you take some photos for us? It might help us identify the problem.
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 6, 2013 7:53 PM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
OK I will try and get some pic tomorrow and post them on wed aug 7
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 7, 2013 5:14 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
OK
Here they are as you can see there are some healthy ones right next to the infected..........Oh and thank you for your time it is greatly appreciated
Chris
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Avatar for chris0817
Aug 7, 2013 8:21 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
I just looked at the bottom of one of the infected plants the main one and it looked like something ate into the large root and I noticed a lot of white spots on the roots
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Aug 7, 2013 8:22 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Have you dug any of them up yet? To see if there are any grubs, beetles, etc?
It does look like damage from heat and water. Kind of steam cooks them. I see what looks like some dry crispy leaves (from drought/heat), then see green leaves showing signs of color change due to a combination of heat and water.
The ones that are still healthy looking can be saved by cleaning them up by removing all damaged parts. Let them dry out before replanting (several days to a week). The soil I see looks very wet. Let the soil dry out, clean it up from the dead debris and aerate it, it might be compacted. Add chicken grit/pea gravel to the soil for better drainage.

Twit, what are your thoughts, it's better when we put our heads together.
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Aug 7, 2013 8:23 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Good job Chris. Can you get us a nice close up of what you are seeing?
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 7, 2013 8:47 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
here is what the bottoms look like the soil is not wetter than it has ever been these beds have been in for more than 10 years and just had this problem starting last year I actually cut down on the watering I use to miracle grow them once a week nothing has really changed and they are not drying out they actually seem to yellow and rot and just turn into mush the dry ones are after this has happened
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Aug 7, 2013 8:57 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
It very well could be the Crane Fly larvae causing the damage. Check out this link and see if this could be the problem.
Kate @Eviesmummy (in the UK) had this problem this year. The thread "European cranefly / Leatherjackets eating sempervvium" in Sempervivum forum
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 7, 2013 10:36 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
doesn't look like it they just seem to start at the lower leaves turning yellow and then the whole palnts just turns to mush and dies it seems like the mother is attacked first
Avatar for twitcher
Aug 7, 2013 7:27 PM CST

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
While it would be nice to know exactly what is causing the problem, we first need to confirm that it is some kind of insect eating the roots. I would move to another patch with affected plants and take a look at the roots on them. Anybody know of a general insecticide that can be applied to the ground? If you confirm, then there are some options you could try.

I would try putting down a layer of DE (diatomaceous earth) around the base of the plants. It's cheap and does organically fight a number of types of insects. Do it during a dry period. Be sure to wear a mask when applying as you don't want to inhale it.

You could also dig all of the surviving plants in a patch, wash them, then spray with a general insecticide and replant in a new location. Do this at the first sign of infection of a new patch as well. It's a lot of work, but you would be interrupting the bugs lifecycles. As a minimum, remove any plant showing signs of infection from healthy patches at first sign of a problem. Remove and sterilize (or seal in a bag and throw out) dirt from around infected plants.
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Aug 7, 2013 7:30 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
All great suggestions twit. Thumbs up
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 8, 2013 5:43 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
Hmmm
Well thank you for the suggestions I guess removing the healty plants seems to be the route to take if anyone else has a better idea let me know and thanks to everyone for there input
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Aug 8, 2013 7:57 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Please keep us updated on your progress.
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Aug 9, 2013 2:22 PM CST
Name: Kate
S Wales UK (Zone 9a)
Butterflies Cactus and Succulents Cat Lover Container Gardener Region: Europe Region: Wales
Roses Sempervivums Region: United Kingdom
I'm only just seeing the tag, mine had obvious 'bite' marks in them and it was the tender yong chicks that were targeted first, so not the same thing, but I canrelated to this, I'm finding something similar. I'm getting semps going yellow and mushy for no obvious reason, right next to healthy ones, but as yet I'm clueless to the cause. It's only happening in my bed not the pots. apologies for the poor picture quality, it's dusk now. I'm not sure if you can see but the chicks are still green and healthy. The same happened last week with another one. I didn't have chance to do anything about it, but I noticed today that all the outer leaves died and went crispy, but that theres a new growth starting in the middle. My poor semps have been a bit neglected the last couple of weeks.
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Aug 9, 2013 2:45 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
That does look very similar to what Chris's semps are doing. Confused
Avatar for chris0817
Aug 10, 2013 12:02 AM CST
Thread OP
levittown pa
HI
I am going to try and get to them tomoorw remove all the healthy ones wash and spray them and thn remove some of the dirt from the area spray and replace with new soil. it is also funny my marigolds and grasses,hostas nothing else is effefcted that are growing with in the same bed

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