What is this greenhouse blight? - Page 2

b54red · January 23, 2017

Spray all the inside surfaces of the greenhouse, shelves, pots and plants with the bleach spray but not 7 ounces to the gallon; that is too strong with the newer 8.25% Clorox bleach that is now common. Use 5 to 5.5 ounces of Clorox bleach added to a gallon of water with a little dish washing soap and spray with a fine mist. Be careful not to breath the mist. And no the bleach solution will not bother the aphids much so you will need a couple of follow up sprays with pesticides.

Spray all your plants an hour or so later with a strong Permethrin and soapy water spray. It would be even better if you added about a half cup of food grade DE to help kill new aphids that will hatch out soon. If not you will have to repeat the spray several times to make sure to stop them. I put all my small potted citrus on my screened in back porch which I seal with plastic during the winter and I had the same type problem on them. I too may have had mealy bugs but I'm not sure but I did have the same smutty stuff on my leaves and I'm sure I had aphids. It took three sprays with the Permethrin and soapy water to get them under control.

I have dealt with this same thing before in my small greenhouse during rainy times when the humidity is so ridiculously high down here. I tried fans and they helped some but I finally got one of those small hundred dollar air conditioners and leave it running most of the time. It acts as a dehumidifier and it also will cool the greenhouse somewhat on very sunny days when it can get too hot in those small greenhouses. The big problem is mounting them to a greenhouse if it isn't sturdily built. I used 2X4s and framed an opening to give the air conditioner support.

Bill

ScottinAtlanta · January 24, 2017

Folks, you have all been very helpful. I decided to take aggressive action that seems to be working:

1) The high humidity was partly due to the drip pans under 180 pots, which held moisture. I took away all of the drip pans, many which held standing water.
2) I installed a propane heater and turned it up high. It was 90 degrees in there today. That helped dry out the interior.
3) I started spraying twice a day with Greencure and a bleach solution.
4) I pruned most plants very sternly, some back to the stems, and cleaned up and disposed of all affected materials.

Result: Humidity has dropped below 80%, and many of the damaged plants are putting out new small leaves, including some of my treasured 4 year old peppers. I still have the mites or tiny flies, but will take care of that soon.

You folks are the best!!

AKmark · January 24, 2017

Very happy for you Scott. I had never heard of Greencure, I looked it up, seems like good stuff.

I am posting this link for you about Greenshield for a cleaner, most people I know use it up here for commercial GH cleaning.

https://www.gemplers.com/docs/IS/217792SPECS.pdf

January 23, 2017	#16
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Spray all the inside surfaces of the greenhouse, shelves, pots and plants with the bleach spray but not 7 ounces to the gallon; that is too strong with the newer 8.25% Clorox bleach that is now common. Use 5 to 5.5 ounces of Clorox bleach added to a gallon of water with a little dish washing soap and spray with a fine mist. Be careful not to breath the mist. And no the bleach solution will not bother the aphids much so you will need a couple of follow up sprays with pesticides. Spray all your plants an hour or so later with a strong Permethrin and soapy water spray. It would be even better if you added about a half cup of food grade DE to help kill new aphids that will hatch out soon. If not you will have to repeat the spray several times to make sure to stop them. I put all my small potted citrus on my screened in back porch which I seal with plastic during the winter and I had the same type problem on them. I too may have had mealy bugs but I'm not sure but I did have the same smutty stuff on my leaves and I'm sure I had aphids. It took three sprays with the Permethrin and soapy water to get them under control. I have dealt with this same thing before in my small greenhouse during rainy times when the humidity is so ridiculously high down here. I tried fans and they helped some but I finally got one of those small hundred dollar air conditioners and leave it running most of the time. It acts as a dehumidifier and it also will cool the greenhouse somewhat on very sunny days when it can get too hot in those small greenhouses. The big problem is mounting them to a greenhouse if it isn't sturdily built. I used 2X4s and framed an opening to give the air conditioner support. Bill

January 24, 2017	#17
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Folks, you have all been very helpful. I decided to take aggressive action that seems to be working: 1) The high humidity was partly due to the drip pans under 180 pots, which held moisture. I took away all of the drip pans, many which held standing water. 2) I installed a propane heater and turned it up high. It was 90 degrees in there today. That helped dry out the interior. 3) I started spraying twice a day with Greencure and a bleach solution. 4) I pruned most plants very sternly, some back to the stems, and cleaned up and disposed of all affected materials. Result: Humidity has dropped below 80%, and many of the damaged plants are putting out new small leaves, including some of my treasured 4 year old peppers. I still have the mites or tiny flies, but will take care of that soon. You folks are the best!!

January 24, 2017	#18
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Very happy for you Scott. I had never heard of Greencure, I looked it up, seems like good stuff. I am posting this link for you about Greenshield for a cleaner, most people I know use it up here for commercial GH cleaning. https://www.gemplers.com/docs/IS/217792SPECS.pdf