The extreme heat is not only stressing us out, but a lot of plants too, particularly those in containers. Try to bring those containers into the shade, and go easy on the fertilizer, as it will cause the plant to push growth, which will further stress it. Keep the soil moist, but not too wet. Make sure that air can flow around your plants to reduce the chance of diseases such as powdery mildew. Unfortunately, heat stress can make it harder for a plant to defend itself against insects and disease. Scout your plants for insects and their eggs. Have a bowl of soapy water ready to drop the pests into. Look for leaf spots, which indicate a fungal infection, and cut off any infected leaves to try to limit the infection. Finally, when watering, whenever possible, do not water the leaves. In the heat, the excess water can act like a magnifying glass and cause leaf scorch; on cloudy days, the excess water makes an excellent breeding ground for disease.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:36:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015