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"Do you want to own thazing tropical plant in the entire world?
Be the envy of the neighbors with this aromatic plant. And share with others by cutting off a branch and creating another plant!"
Exotic Tropical Plumeria Plants, Cuttings and Seeds from the entire world.We have the largest selection of named cultivar plumeria available anywhere. AMAZING NEW 2008 PLUMERIA INTRODUCTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! CHECK OUT OUR INVENTORY TO SEE AND ORDER THE NEW OFFERINGS FOR 2008 WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THE EXOTIC PLUMERIA!
"Beautiful plumeria plants shipped promptly, would gladly do business with again"
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By Michael Gressen
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From
the desk of: Otis Reynolds
"Owner of Plumeria Paradise Retail and Wholesale Nursery"
Today
is :
Listen
To A
Personal Message
From Otis Reynolds
Click
Here Now!
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Dear Fellow
Garden Entusiast,
Let's
get right to the point.
Quality plants are hard to come by and when you purchase on the internet you never know what you are getting. At Plumeria Paradise, you will be assured unparralleled quality and unmatched customer service and care.
And if you have any sort of problems with your order, please let us know...we are dedicated to making your experience with us enjoyable!
We are pleased to provide you with a shopping cart for your shopping convenience in ordering plumeria and a SECURE SITE AND SERVER for all of your financial transactions. All information you enter into the order form is electronically encrypted, so we and no one else, sees your credit card information.We care about you, our customers. Please see our Mission Statement and Guarantee. Shipping prices quoted for plumeria trees is for the 48 contiguous states only. Alaska and Hawaii as well as international will vary. We have hundreds of plumeria plants for sale.
We want you to be successful in learning to plant your plumeria seeds and cuttings and provide a tutorial and guide to planting... visit Now!
DUE TO RECENT MAJOR INCREASES IN POSTAL RATES WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN PRICING FOR ALL OVERSIZED CUTTINGS AND ROOTED PLANTS. We only guarantee shipments which have US Postal Service Insurance purchased at the time of order. If you wish to Insure your order please purchase the appropriate amount of insurance for your order.
"I can never get my cuttings to root, they always rot..."
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To say that i have not heard this a lot from people who plumeria like any other plant is an understatement.
In the last 7 months I have heard this over 50 times...
Please read the tutorial and follow the instructions to a 'T"...
Overwatering is the golden rule to not kill your plumeria seedling or cutting. These plants are succulent and store a lot of water inside them. They can make it, TRUST ME!!!
Please use the Guide and the recommendations! If you want additional help, email me!!!
- Otis |
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PATIO PLUMERIA
The dream of every plumeria lover is to have a small compact growing tree . The wait is over, you may now have one of your own. They are great for those with limited space. They are also highly fragrant with excellent keeping quality.... Purchase a Patio Pluimeria or know as a Dwarf Plumeria.
GIFT CERTIFICATES are also available in our store.....so give a gift of beauty (that may turn into an obsession like myself!!)
| What
Exactly Is Plumeria? Plumeria (common name Frangipani; syn. Himatanthus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) is a small genus of 7-8 species native to tropical and subtropical Americas. The genus consists of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees. P. rubra (Common Frangipani, Red Frangipani), native to Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela, produces flowers ranging from yellow to pink depending on form or cultivar. From Mexico and Central America, Plumeria has spread to all tropical areas of the world, especially Hawaii, where it grows so abundantly that many people think that it is indigenous there.
Occassionally we will have Plumeria Fire Sales!!!
The price structure could look like this:
Day | Lowest
Price Today | Days
1-2 | $7 per Cutting or $.50 per seed |
Days
4-5 | $9 per Cutting or $.75 per seed | Days
5-6 | $12 per Cutting or $1 per seed | Sale
Ends | $15 per Cutting or $1.50 per seed |
We do this as a way to move inventory to ensure product freshness. We strive to not have product become sub par and would rather lose money than have a dissatisfied customer with a low germionation rate. Don't lose out on a termendous bargain during our fire sales!!!
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Here's
Why You Should Buy from Plumeria Paradise.
We offer the most fresh plumeria cuttings, plants and seeds available on the internet at one place. we do not let the inventory go stale!!! We have these fire sales to move inventory that is not selling quickly.
We also are dedicated to you, the customer. We have unparalleled customer service. We are basing our reputation on it.
Want
proof? Check out out feedback on ebay (Cukooznest). It is nearly perfect. (I tried to make everyone happy, really!!!) :)
We also have alot of our inventory available on ebay! We are a power seller with nearly 9,000 items sold!
But let me give you a little more feedback on how this plumeria addiction hit me.
"It Was Love At First Sight!!!"
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We first visited the island of Oahu Hawaii over 30 years ago where I was personally and formally introduced to the Almeria, also known as Frangipani. When stepping off the plane to the thick aroma of tropical sweetness, I was greeted with fresh, fragrant, colorful, Plumeria lei. It was love at first site.
I spent the first day of my vacation asking everyone about this gorgeous flower with such a strong beautiful aroma. After the usual family stuff, and tourist ‘thing’, we spent a few days of our first Hawaiian vacation driving around the island, seeing the sites, and being introduced to some of the family friends and local Hawaiians.
The locals were more than friendly and more than happy to share and give us cuttings and seeds from their Plumeria plants, to bring home with us after a plant inspection at the airport.
When we got home, we planted the cuttings. After several months and a lot of TLC, they started to bud and flower.
Here is a picture of the first blossom from the very first Plumeria we ever grew.
Luckily for us, we have many family members spread out on several of the islands of Hawaii. This allows us to visit often, meet new friends and meet and add new Plumeria and tropical plant sources.
In the over 30 years of experience we have with Plumeria, our personal collection has grown to well over 200 rare and original varieties of Plumeria and well over 50 rare and original varieties of Adenium..
We have learned to seed, graft, pollinate, and clone Plumeria.
Over the years, we have grown from a couple of Plumeria plants, to 3 full greenhouses, with lots of outside property planted with mature Plumeria plants and Adenium, plus an indoor fully functional greenhouse.
We have met and deal with some of the world’s finest professional Plumeria, Adenium, and Cordyline Ti nurseries, run by some very educated, honest and caring people, who allow us to import and share some of the finest, rarest, and newest introductions of Plumeria into the United States with other Plumeria lovers and collectors.
One of our sources is Mukundan from India. He has propagated, registered and named many Plumeria varieties. Another is a retired horticulturist from the Hawaiian Tropical Gardens. The others are all licensed professionals specializing in either Plumeria, Adenium or Cordyline Ti.
We opened a mom/pop type of nursery business several years ago, and started selling on eBay. After meeting so many Plumeria and Adenium sources, with so many new, special and rare varieties, we had to expand and open an online store, www.plumeriaparadise.com
Please note: All photography in this site is for the use of "Plumeria Paradise" only. No duplication of these photos in any form is granted to anyone entering this site. All images are protected by copyright laws. Offenders of this copyright will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. There will be no exceptions!
- Otis Reynolds
www.PlumeriaParadise.com
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Where are we at? We are located in Sunny San Diego, licensed and certified by the state of California to grow, import, treat and ship Plumeria anywhere in the world
We sell a large variety of the freshest and finest quality Plumeria and Adenium imported cuttings and seeds, and cuttings and seeds from our own garden and collection. We are not in this business to get rich. We do this to share our love of Plumeria with the others around the world that feel the same as us.
If you are like me, you have to make sure you are getting what you purchase on the internet. Rest assured, i guarantee you will or you will get your money back. Its that easy!!!
You can always trust that you will be treated fair, and receive the finest of quality with a very fair price when buying thru Plumeria Paradise.
We are new and still growing. We will always be adding new products, offer set prices, giving % discounts and $ coupons, shipping discounts and offer various other discounts.
We can take special orders, root your plant, or obtain just about anything you want in Plumeria.
In
Other Words... Like Johnny Appleseed, who spread the love of apples around America, our goal is to SHARE PLUMERIA, and help to spread them around the world.
"THE STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL IS VERY EASY AND ALL THE SEEDS SPROUTED FAST!"
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Hi Otis,
Thanks for the seeds. They are growing really well so far.
The step by step tutorial is very easy and all the seeds sprouted fast.
I will definitely come back and get more once these flower!
- Ewen Chialy
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| Thanks Otis for sending some seeds that did not quite make it. I know it was my fault and you did not have to but it was kind of you to offer and stand behind it. I appreciate it!
- Jimmy Brownlee
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And
The Best News Is... You
Don't Even have to be an experienced gardener to grow a beautiful plumeria tree!
Then one day, I was personally and formally introduced to the Adenium!! Adenium are not Plumeria, nor are they related, but they look so much alike.
Adenium are sometimes called bonsai Plumeria in the Orient. With proper manicuring and care, they can be made to look like a miniature Plumeria, which is not to be confused with a dwarf Plumeria.
Due to the fact that both these plants require very little water, they are becoming much more popular especially in areas subject to drought, and you will start finding more nurseries selling and collectors collecting both Plumeria and Adenium since they are so similar and so much alike.
Our Cordyline Ti source is one of the founding members of the Oahu Society of Hawaiian Cordyline Ti. He has propagated and named many of the new cultivars of Cordyline Ti, which is now the current rage in Hawaii. Most of the Cordyline Ti seeds we offer can only be obtained thru Plumeria Paradise. Our source releases new cultivars to us for introduction to the world of horticulture.
The rest of our sources have their own unique specialties, too many to list. We have learned A LOT from all of them, and those not listed and are always learning and staying up to date on Plumeria information.
If you have any questions, or strange requests, looking for something rare or special, visit us at http://www.plumeriaparadise.com or write us at support@plumeriaparadise.com
Plumeria Paradise is dedicated to make every customer a happy customer.
Here is some detailed information on Plumeria, Adenium and Cordyline.
Plumeria
Plumeria (common name Frangipani; syn. Himatanthus Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) is a small genus of 7-8 species native to tropical and subtropical Americas. The genus consists of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees. P. rubra (Common Frangipani, Red Frangipani), native to Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela, produces flowers ranging from yellow to pink depending on form or cultivar. From Mexico and Central America, Plumeria has spread to all tropical areas of the world, especially Hawaii, where it grows so abundantly that many people think that it is indigenous there.
Plant
Plumeria is related to the Oleander, Nerium oleander, and both possess poisonous, milky sap, rather similar to that of Euphorbia. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped leaves and their form and growth habits are also distinct. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, while leaves of P. pudica have an elongated oak shape and glossy, dark green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore", it is originally from Colombia.
Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar.
Plumeria species are easily propagated by taking a cutting of leafless stem tips in spring and allowing them to dry at the base before inserting them into soil. They are also propagated via tissue culture both from cuttings of freshly elongated stems and via aseptically germinated seed. Frangipanis are an amazing plant!
Etymology and common names
Plumeria/Frangipani
The genus, originally spelled Plumiera, is named in honor of the seventeenth-century French botanist Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family, a sixteenth-century marquess of which invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
In Mexico, the Nahuatl (Aztec language) name for this plant is "cacalloxochitl" which means "crow flower." It was used for many medicinal purposes such as salves and ointments.
Depending on location, many other common names exist: "Kembang Kamboja" in Indonesia, "Temple Tree" or "Champa" in India, "Kalachuchi" in the Philippines, "Araliya" or "Pansal Mal" in Sri Lanka, "Champa" in Laos, "Lantom" or "Lilarwadee" in Thai and "Dead man's fingers" in Australia, for example. The Australian name is perhaps taken from its thin, leafless, finger-like branches. Many English speakers also simply use the generic name "plumeria".
In culture
They are now common naturalised plants in southern and southeastern Asia, and in local folk beliefs provide shelter to ghosts and demons. The scent of the Plumeria has been associated with a vampire in Malay folklore, the pontianak. They are associated with temples in both Hindu and Buddhist cultures, though Hindus do not use the flowers in their temple offerings.
In several Pacific islands, such as Tahiti, Hawaii and Tonga, Plumeria is used for making leis. In modern Polynesian culture, it can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.
P. alba is the national flower of Nicaragua and Laos, where it is known under the local name "Sacuanjoche" (Nicaragua) and "Champa" (Laos).
In the book "A Varanda do Frangipani" by Mozambican author, Mia Couto, the shedding of the tree's flowers serves to mark the passage of time, and whose conclusion sees the protagonists submerging into the tree's roots as the ultimate solution to fix their shattered world.
In Bangladeshi culture most white flowers, and particularly plumeria (Bengali: চম্পা chômpa or চাঁপা chãpa), are associated with funerals and death.
ADENIUM
Adenium is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, containing a single species, Adenium obesum, also known as Sabi Star, Kudu or Desert-rose. It is native to tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.
It is an evergreen succulent shrub in tropical climates and semi-deciduous to deciduous in colder climates, is also dependant on the particular species. Growing to 1-3 m in height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex, the leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, 5-15 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The flowers are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with the outer portion 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.
Several regional subspecies occur:
- Adenium obesum subsp. boehmianum. Namibia, Angola.
- Adenium obesum subsp. obesum. Arabia.
- Adenium obesum subsp. oleifolium. South Africa, Botswana.
- Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum. Socotra.
- Adenium obesum subsp. somalense. Eastern Africa.
- Adenium obesum subsp. swazicum. Eastern South Africa.
- Adenium Arabicum subsp. Arabicum. Thailand.
- Adenium Arabicum subsp. Thai Socotranum[1]. Thailand.
Cultivation and uses
Adenium is a popular houseplant in temperate regions. It requires a sunny location and a minimum indoor temperature in winter of 10 °C. It thrives on a xeric watering regime as required by cacti. Adenium is typically propagated by seed or stem cuttings. The numerous hybrids are propagated mainly by grafting onto seedling rootstock. While plants grown from seed are more likely to have the swollen caudex at a young age, with time many cutting-grown plants cannot be distinguished from seedlings.
The plant exudes a highly toxic sap which is used by some peoples, such as the Akie in Tanzania, to coat arrow-tips for hunting.
Common Names
Due to its resemblance to plumeria, and the fact that it was introduced to the Philippines from Bangkok, Thailand, the plant was also called as Bangkok kalachuchi in the Philippines.
CORDYLINE (TI PLANT)
The ti plant, also known as ti and Hawaiian good-luck-plant, is technically classified as Cordyline terminalis. There are approximately 20 species of Cordyline, which is in the agave family, Agaveaceae. As one reads some of the older horticultural books, it will be noted that the Cordyline was formerly in the lily family, Liliaceae, and earlier, it was classified as Dracaena rather than Cordyline. There are many similarities between Cordyline and Dracaena with regard to their botanical classification and cultural requirements. Cordyline terminalis, a native of east Asia and is the most popular species of the genus for indoor potted plants. Some selections of ti plant are also used extensively as cut florist greens.
Although ti plants represent only a small portion of the potted foliage plant product mix, they are among the most colorful foliage plants. Small-leaved selections of ti plants are finished as small and medium pots for retail market outlets and for use in combination planters. Larger multi-branched plants in 6 to 14-inch pots are produced for large scale interior planting projects.
CULTIVARS
Many of the small plants used in small combination planters are started from seed and are highly variable in color, from green to deep maroon and variegated. Most of the named cultivars in the trade are selections made from unique and attractive seed-grown plants. A few of the named cultivars now popular in the United States are listed below:
`Baby Doll' is a small-leaved cultivar with maroon leaves trimmed with a pink edge.
`Firebrand' is a relatively large-leaved cultivar with dark burgundy foliage.
`Kiwi' is a very popular medium to small-leaved variety with a fine marginal tracery of red around a green leaf with an irregular internal pattern of yellow-green, yellow and ivory stripes which follow the leaf veins. There are also a few fine red lines in the internal pattern on some leaves.
PRODUCTION
Nurserymen presently propagate ti plants by three methods: seed germination, rooting of cuttings, including cane, and finishing micro-cuttings or plugs (TC-4) from tissue culture laboratories.
Ti plant seed is usually available from seedsmen from late summer through early winter. Seed from a few selections of ti will germinate rather true to type and is sold by seedsmen accordingly. Seed are sown in ground beds, raised beds or in trays on benches. They are covered with about 1/4-inch of peat or peat-lite mix which is kept moist until germination and development when the seedlings are large enough to be easily transplanted to small pots, usually about 2 to 4 inches high. There is no reason why seeded flats cannot be placed in chambers for germination, thus utilizing production space more efficiently.
Many of the highly colored named cultivars are propagated by terminal stem cuttings (tips) which are directly stuck in the pots, then eventually sold. Larger plants are stepped up to larger sizes and grown on. Terminal cuttings usually require intermittent mist applications until sufficient roots are present to prevent necrosis of leaf tips and lower leaf loss.
Like several of the dracaena and yucca species, ti plant can also be propagated from cane pieces (large leafless stem cuttings) ranging from a few inches to much larger. Some retail garden outlets offer short sections of ti plant cane packaged in plastic film with instructions for rooting by the consumer on display racks.
Tissue-cultured plantlets of a few ti plant cultivars are offered occasionally by specialists. Since growth of these plantlets is slow and ti plant is a minor foliage plant crop, the interest in using this means of propagation is limited. Most nurserymen feel that it is more feasible to start with large tip cuttings when propagating named cultivars.
Light levels can affect appearance of multi-colored ti cultivars. Cultivars like Baby Doll which normally have dark red leaves with a narrow medium red to pink margin, will begin to produce leaves with wider pink margins as the production light intensity is reduced. Suggested level is about 3000 to 3500 ft-c, which will produce plants with good coloration. Good growth can be obtained with either liquid or slow-release fertilizers at the rate of 2.9 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet per month from a 3-1-2 or similar ratio product. Where plants are subject to heavy rainfall or frequent irrigations, the fertilizer level may need to be increased. The potting medium utilized for ti plant should be of good quality, and provide excellent aeration and water-holding capacity. Amendments should include a low to moderate level of micronutrients such as 1 lb Micromax/yd3 and sufficient dolomite to adjust medium pH to 5.5 to 6.5. The higher pH has been shown to be beneficial in reducing fluoride toxicity. Suggested air temperatures for best growth are 65°F minimum to 95°F maximum. Ti can tolerate lower and higher temperatures, but growth rate will be reduced.
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
1) Fluoride toxicity
Symptoms -
The first indication of fluoride toxicity on Cordyline is tipburn followed by marginal necrosis. In severe cases, mottling also occurs within the center of the leaf and the entire leaf may die. Cordyline terminalis `Baby Doll' is the most susceptible cultivar to this problem, although all cultivars have been observed to have symptoms when fluoride is present in water, soil or fertilizer.
Control -
Where fluoride is known to be a problem, the propagation and potting media should have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 to reduce fluoride availability. Cuttings without roots are likely to take up large amounts of fluoride. Some producers utilize treated water in propagation areas to prevent fluoride uptake during rooting and nontreated water after rooting. To reduce fluoride uptake, use potting media, irrigation water and fertilizers low in fluoride content. Irrigation water should contain less than 0.25 ppm fluoride.
2) Poor color
Symptoms -
Cordyline is popular because it provides various shades of purple, maroon, rose, pink and yellow, as well as green. Intensity (brightness) of any of the colors, except green, under some environmental conditions may be so poor that plants appear dull. Plants also may be mostly dark purple or maroon without highlights of rose or pink common to the cultivar.
Control -
Color intensity appears to be controlled by temperature, light and fertilizer levels. Levels of carbohydrates are low during summer when night temperatures are high and poor color often occurs during this period. Low light intensity, especially during summer, and high fertilizer levels also reduce color intensity. Best color intensity will occur during the period November through May, if suggested light and fertilizer levels are utilized. During periods of poor coloration, some improvement can often be obtained by increasing light intensity and reducing temperature.
3) Damage to terminal growing point
Symptoms -
Growing point appears to die or partially collapses, but eventually regrow.
Control
- This symptom usually occurs after application of a "leaf shine" compound or excess fertilizer which collects in the growing point. Care must be taken to prevent accumulation within the growing point of potentially toxic substances and liquid fertilization should be followed with a few minutes of only water.
BACTERIAL PROBLEMS
1) Erwinia blight (Erwinia chrysanthemi, E. carotovora pv. carotovora)
Symptoms -
Systemic infections of Cordyline cuttings with one or both species of Erwinia can occur. These infections result in a combination of symptoms including a wet, mushy leaf spot and stem rot. Lesions on leaves and stems are usually water-soaked and slimy and eventually disintegration occurs. Severe infections can result in cutting loss, since the plants often rot from the cutting end upwards. If these cuttings are carefully recut to remove the rotten portion of the stem and restuck, they will sometimes root adequately. The unfortunate fact, however, is that most of the cuttings will then develop symptoms of stem and root rot caused by Erwinia. Erwinia root rot appears similar to other root diseases with the roots water-soaked and black. Complete disintegration of the infected root system often occurs.
Control -
There are no chemical controls which provide an appreciable degree of symptom relief for any of the phases of Erwinia blight. As mentioned earlier, recutting diseased material only postpones the loss of that material and increases the chances of infection of other healthy material. Carefully examine all cuttings used for propagation, destroying those which are suspected of Erwinia blight. Always use pathogen-free plants for stock as well.
FUNGAL PROBLEMS
1) Fusarium leaf spot (Fusarium moniliforme)
Symptoms -
Fusarium leaf spot of Cordyline appears similar to the same disease of dracaenas. Lesions appear only on the immature leaves near the growing tip. Spots are tan to reddish-brown and roughly ellipsoid in shape. In severe cases, the lesions coalesce and become very large and irregularly shaped. A bright yellow halo sometimes surrounds lesions.
Control -
Minimize water applied to plant foliage. If the leaves are kept relatively dry, the disease will not occur. Under overhead irrigation, fungicides may be beneficial but will probably not result in complete disease control.
2) Fusarium stem and root rot (Fusarium sp.)
Symptoms -
Fusarium stem and root rot is caused by a different species of Fusarium than the one causing the leaf spot disease. Initial symptoms include yellowing of the lower leaves and slight wilting. Examination of the root systems reveal blackened water-soaked roots which greatly resemble those infected with Erwinia spp. Stem lesions also appear near the potting medium. Lesions are sunken, tan and wrinkled. They sometimes contain the yellowish spores of the pathogen in powdery masses.
Control -
Minimizing water applications and growing pathogen-free plants in pathogen-free potting medium should be attempted. Since the disease spreads through irrigation water, keep plants on wire benches or other structures which reduce the chances of drainage water contaminating other pots. Always remove and destroy symptomatic plants as soon as they are found.
3) Phyllosticta leaf spot (Phyllosticta dracaenae)
Symptoms -
Lesions are circular to slightly irregular and range from 1 to 5 mm in diameter. They appear mainly on the older leaves of plants and are usually tan with purple borders and yellow halos. Under conditions of high disease pressure, the lesions may coalesce and the entire leaf may die.
Control -
The cultural controls listed for Fusarium leaf spot will also aid in control of this leaf spot disease.
4) Phytophthora leaf spot (Phytophthora parasitica)
Symptoms -
Lesions form mainly on lower leaves close to the potting medium. They are initially water-soaked, brown, zonate areas with irregular margins. Similar diseases caused by this pathogen also occur on schefflera, spathiphyllum, dieffenbachia and philodendron.
Control -
This disease is usually easy to avoid if plants are grown on raised benches away from the native soil. Splashing water from the native soil on to the lower leaves is the mode of infection.
5) Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii)
Symptoms -
Southern blight disease appears much the same on one host as another. The pathogen generally attacks the crown of the plant first, sometimes leaving the roots intact and causing girdling and collapse of the tops only. Sclerotia, the fruiting bodies of the pathogen, form all over the infected tissue and appear as small mustard seed-sized bodies. They are first white and turn brown as they mature. The white fan-like mycelium of the pathogen also forms over the plant, potting medium and even sides of benches.
Control -
Chemical control of Southern blight is difficult since the only fungicide which is rarely completely effective and can cause some stunting on some plants. Always discard plants suspected of Southern blight infection and use pathogen-free potting media and pots since the organism lives in soil and can transfer from one crop to the next on recycled materials and equipment.
INSECT AND RELATED PROBLEMS
The major arthropod pests of C. terminalis include fungus gnats, mealybugs, mites, scales, and thrips. Mealybug, mite, and scale infestations are typically the result of introducing infested plant material into the greenhouse. Fungus gnats and thrips have the ability to fly and thus invade the greenhouse from weeds and other infested plants outside. In the control section for each pest, a few of the many registered and effective pesticides will be listed. For a complete listing, please consult the references at the end of this report.
1) Fungus gnats
Symptoms -
Fungus gnats are small black flies (1/8 inch long) and are frequently observed running around the soil surface or on leaves and are often confused for Shore flies (see later section). The adults have long bead-like antennae and their legs hang down as they fly. These insects are very weak fliers and appear to "flit" around randomly. The larvae are small legless "worms" with black heads and clear bodies that inhabit the soil. The larvae spin webs on the soil surface which resemble spider webs. Damage is caused by larvae feeding on roots, root hairs, leaves in contact with the soil and lower stem tissues. Feeding damage may predispose plants to disease and they are often found in close association with diseased plants or cuttings. Adults do not cause any direct damage, but are responsible for many consumer complaints to growers. Adults emerge and fly around in retail shops, homes, or offices and are therefore a nuisance. For further information please consult Extension Entomology Report #74 (Management of fungus gnats in greenhouse ornamentals).
Control -
Reduce the amount of water applied to each pot where possible. Avoid algae growth where possible. Soil drenches or soil-surface sprays of Diazinon formulations, Enstar, Gnatrol (a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis), and Vydate L are effective at controlling the larvae. Nematodes that seek out insects in the soil are sold commercially and have been shown to control these pests without causing any negative effects to the host plants. Adults are very sensitive to most chemicals.
2) Mealybugs
Symptoms -
Mealybugs appear as white, cottony masses in leaf axils, on the lower surfaces of leaves and on the roots. Honeydew and sooty mold are often present and infested plants become stunted, and with severe infestations, plant parts begin to die.
Control -
Systemic materials are preferred. Control of root mealybugs is accomplished with soil drenches with an insecticide. When pesticides are applied to the soil, care must be taken to assure that the pots have good drainage and that no saucers are attached, or phytotoxicity may result.
4) Mites (Two-spotted spider mite)
Symptoms -
Two-spotted spider mites are very small and go unnoticed until plants become severely damaged. Damaged foliage begins to turn yellow or become speckled due to the feeding of mites. Webbing, loss of leaves and plant death can occur when mite populations reach high levels. Often the presence of this pest is overlooked because the cast skins and webbing produced by this mite are confused for dust on undersides of leaves. Mites have round pale yellow to reddish eggs deposited on the undersurface of leaves; nymphs and adults have two dark patches on either side of there bodies.
Control -
The critical point in any control program is thorough coverage with the pesticide. The best control program is to minimize the possibility of introducing mites into the growing area on infested plant material. Biological control programs have worked in small scale studies but remain unproven in commercial greenhouses.
5) Scales
Symptoms -
Infested plants become weakened or stunted and begin to die. Scales can be found feeding on leaves, petioles, or stems. They are usually distinct from the plant material on which they are feeding. Their shape (round to oval), size (pinpoint to 2 mm long), and color (light to dark brown) are quite variable and many scales are hard to distinguish from the plant material on which they are feeding. The Florida red scale is the major scale pest of this plant. It is an armored scale that is reddish-brown to black in color. Feeding by this insect causes a characteristic yellow or chlorotic streak that radiates from the point of attachment.
Control -
See Mealybugs
6) Shore flies
Symptoms -
Shore flies small black flies (1/8 inch long) and are frequently observed sitting on the tips of leaves or on the soil surface feeding on algae. The adults have very short antennae. These insects very strong fliers and exhibit directed flight (straight between 2 points). The larvae inhabit the soil and are small legless "worms" with clear bodies and no obvious heads. No known damage is caused by larvae. This insect is believed to feed only on algae. Adults do not cause any direct damage, but may be responsible for spreading plant pathogens, reducing value by defecating on the leaves (small black to green spots) and for many consumer complaints to growers. Adults emerge and fly around in retail shops, homes, or offices and are therefore a nuisance.
Control -
Reduce the amount of water applied to each pot where possible. Avoid algae growth on walkways, benches, and cooling pads. Chemicals are not believed to be very effective in the control of this pest.
Control -
See Mealybugs
7) Thrips
Symptoms -
Thrips are small (less than 1/20), thin insects. Adult thrips can be identified by a long fringe of hair around the margins of both pairs of wings. Color varies between species with western and other flower thrips being yellow to light brown and banded greenhouse thrips and a few other thrips that feed mainly on leaves being dark brown to black. Feeding takes place with rasping type mouth parts. Infested leaves become curled or distorted, with silver-gray scars or calloused areas where feeding has occurred. Thrips can transmit the tomato spotted wilt virus to many different ornamentals. Any unusual symptoms should be investigated.
Control -
Many materials are registered and effective at controlling thrips.
8) Whiteflies
Symptoms -
Whiteflies are not a major problem but they have been reported as a pest of this plant. Infested leaves often have small yellow spots where adults or immature whiteflies have fed. When populations become dense the leaves become yellowed and lower leaves are covered with black sooty mold. The immature stages of the sweetpotato whitefly are small scale like insects and can be found on the undersides of infested leaves.
Control -
Many materials are registered and effective at controlling whiteflies. To minimize additional resistance problems, one insecticide should be applied two times per week throughout one life cycle (3 weeks) to control an established infestation. Monitor the population to determine if the particular insecticide being applied is reducing whitefly numbers. Some populations may be resistant to one or more of these insecticides. If the infestation persists, use another compound for the above list following the same schedule. Do not apply tank mixes as they may enhance resistance. If low numbers of whiteflies persist, apply one of the above insecticides once per week for 3 weeks then switch insecticides. Undersides of leaves must be covered thoroughly to achieve satisfactory control. For additional information on this pest please consult Plant Protection Pointer #73 (Sweetpotato whitefly on ornamental plants).
Pesticides should be applied according to label directions.
Regardless of the pesticide or mixture of pesticides used, it is
strongly recommended that the effects be evaluated on a few
plants, under your particular conditions before treating all plants.
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