Is it a bug or is it a fungus?

Telling the difference between insects and fungus or disease problems is not a simple task! Remember when giant whitefly first showed up? Many thought it was fungus because of the fuzzy filaments hanging from the undersides of the leaves and reacted by spraying fungicides, which weren't any help at all.

Actually, insecticides didn't help much either--as we soon found out--due to the many generations present (some of which were resistant) at the same time. Since the mouthparts of giant whiteflies are long and tubular, a good blast with the hose is actually one of the best methods of getting rid of them!

Many other bugs also leave damage that looks much like fungus. In some cases, such as aphids (honeydew produced by the aphids promotes the growth of sooty mold), they actually attract mold or fungus. Using a fungicide may get rid of a symptom but leave the original problem.

Another example: small holes in the leaves of plum, nectarine, almond, and apricot trees are actually symptoms of "shot hole" fungus, but if you see tiny holes in your eggplant's leaves--you probably have flea beetles!

As you can see, diagnosis is not always easy! Bring a sample in and we'll try to help diagnose problems and find the best cure for your problem.

As always, the first and best line of defense is prevention. Keep plants healthy--avoid injuries (such as hitting trees with lawnmowers, etc.). Choose varieties that do well in your area and are naturally resistant. We can help you choose resistant plants that will thrive for you.

Disease occurs when the conditions exist to allow it. It is an interaction between the pathogen (causative agent), environmental conditions, and host (plant). All these must be present. That's why prevention is so important. Consult our nursery professionals for help.

Garden Terms:

Pathogens: Microorganisms that cause disease.

Host: Plant that sustains the pathogen.

Spraying Tips

Whether you use our organic or conventional sprays, you can get the most out of your spraying by following these tips:

1. Make sure the spray is getting UNDERNEATH the leaves. Mites, whiteflies, and many others spend most or all of their time there, so spraying only on the top surfaces will not control them.
2. Don't spray a bone-dry plant, and don't spray in the middle of a very hot day. Early morning is a good time to spray because it's usually cooler and less windy, and the insects are less active--so more spray hits the pests.
3. Follow all label directions. Don't use a more concentrated spray than the label recommends--you can easily burn your plants, and usually it is no more effective on pests. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to consult our nursery professionals.

1. Continue to plant melons
2. Plant tropical and subtropical plants
3. Plant bougainvilleas
4. Plant perennial morning glories
5. Purchase fuchsias
6. Continue to purchase epiphyllums
7. Plant seeds of heat-loving annuals
8. Use bedding plants for quick color
9. Continue to plant summer vegetables
10. Plant zoysia grass
11. Plant exotic vegetables
12. Purchase, plant and transplant succulents including cacti and euphorbias
13. Purchase alstromerias throughout summer while they are in bloom
14. Plant papayas and bananas
15. Plant and transplant palms
16. Continue to pick and deadhead roses
17. Pinch back chrysanthemums to make them bushy
18. Divide and repot cymbidiums that have outgrown their containers
19. Remove berries (seed pods) from fuchsias after flowers fall
20. Prune epiphyllums
21. Thin out deciduous fruit trees after June drop
22. Give marguerites a "butch" haircut
23. Cut back gamolepis and euryops
24. Deadhead and pick summer flowers to keep them going
25. Mow cool-season lawns longer
26. Mow warm-season grasses short
27. Clip runners off strawberries
28. Prune climbing roses that bloom once a year in spring, but wait until flowers fade
29. Divide English primroses after bloom or wait until September
30. Continue to prune and train espaliers
31. Continue to remove spent bloom stems from daylilies and to propagate the types that make proliferates
32. Deadhead alstromerias often by pulling off the stalks with a sharp tug
33. Look for yellow leaves and green veins indicating chlorosis in citrus, gardenias, azaleas, and others; treat it with chelated iron
34. Feed citrus and avocado trees
35. Feed bamboo with a slow-release fertilizer
36. Feed water lilies
37. Fertilize cymbidiums with high nitrogen for growth
38. Give camellias their second feeding for the year
39. Feed container-grown annuals and perennials with a complete fertilizer
40. Side-dress vegetable rows if you didn't do it last month
41. Give strawberries a shot of 0-10-10 to elongate the harvest
42. If peppers look yellow despite adequate nitrogen, spray them with Epsom salts