Stagonospora infection - collected threads

[Alan_b]

I have been having a really bad season this year.  Here are some of the things that can go wrong.  But don't look if you are of a nervous disposition or prone to nightmares.

[Alan_b]

Both the larger bulbs (G. elwesii barnes) here managed to flower and I would not have known there was anything wrong if I hadn't dug the clump up.  The smaller bulb on the right of the second picture is really just a shell.

[Alan_b]

Next to the above was G. elwesii hiemelis.  People sometimes report that a snowdrop fails to appear one year but shows up again a year or two later - this might be the reason.  No root growth, in fact not much of a basal plate for the roots to have grown from.  One of the bulbs (bottom right?) had a hole right through from top to bottom.  And yet the bulbs are not dead so I think there is a chance some may recover eventually.  I'm not sure what is doing the damage.  By the way, I have sprayed these bulbs with a 'fungicide' of sulphur in fatty acids, which experience has taught me does no harm although I don't know if it does any good.     

[Alan_b]

These unnamed early elwesii seem relatively clean (I've washed them prior to the photo) or should I be suspicious of the small dark marks?  Either way there is very little root growth.

[Alan_b]

This is, or was, Tubby Merlin.  This actually managed to flower on several of these bulbs but a few red marks on the leaves would indicate that this is stagonospora curtisii, although you could easily fail to notice this.  In some cases the interior of the bulb still appears healthy so I will pot-up these bulbs, isolate the pot, change the compost, clean the bulbs again in August and hope for the best.  Perhaps hiemelis has the same problem but without enough leaves to show other symptoms?  It will get the same treatment!       

[Maggi Young]

Dear me, alan, you are having a torrid time of it.   
Pests and diseases coming at you from all directions: I'd take care crossing the road if I were you..... oh, and get yourself a four-leaved clover as soon as poss!

Wet summers, this horrible winter, no wonder there are so many problems.... just hope your clean up attempts are successful. Good luck!

[mark smyth]

Is it a bad case of stag on the lower photos and a predator eating the first? I dump bulbs that I find like that

[Alan_b]

Is it a bad case of stag on the lower photos

In the last case, yes.  But the elwesii with just a few roots shows few signs of disease otherwise and barnes has some strange features like the holed bulb. 

and a predator eating the first?

Undoubtedly, but what predator and how do I fight it?

I dump bulbs that I find like that

because you have many more snowdrops than I do.  I want to find if such bulbs can be cured given enough time and effort. 

[Alan_b]

Perhaps I should explain that although this looks horrific I now have the majority of my snowdrops in pots as, so far, the is has stopped insect predation and would help to prevent the spread of stagonospora (although fortunately, so far, the potted snowdrops have been very healthy).  But I don't think we know enough about snowdrop pests and diseases and it's easy to be complacent until you get hit.

I'm open to suggestions about treatments. 

[steve owen]

Alan

When bad things happen to any clump (growing in the ground, I now have very few in pots) I drench the area in a strong solution of Jetfire disinfectant.

Steve

[mark smyth]

Even if I have one of a kind diseased snowdrop it has to go.

I cant stop Stag but I can now stop the fly. It only takes a very small amount in a wheel barrow of planting mix to stop them for two years

[art600]

Even if I have one of a kind diseased snowdrop it has to go.

I cant stop Stag but I can now stop the fly. It only takes a very small amount in a wheel barrow of planting mix to stop them for two years

"a very small amount"  OF WHAT?

[Alan_b]

Alan

When bad things happen to any clump (growing in the ground, I now have very few in pots) I drench the area in a strong solution of Jetfire disinfectant.

Steve

Thanks for that advice, Steve.  Do you think this works for fungal diseases as well as insects?  And I presume you remove the snowdrops first?

I cant stop Stag but I can now stop the fly. It only takes a very small amount in a wheel barrow of planting mix to stop them for two years

A small amount of what, Mark?

[bulborum]

I think it's Marks secret recipe
but I like to know to
I fount one narcisfly larve in my G. reg olgae

Roland

[Yorkshirelass]

I bought two clumps of Viridapice and one of the plants looked like this (see pix). I've obviously not planted that one, but should I be discarding the whole clump or indeed both clumps as they have been sitting together in a plastic bag during transit? Does anyone recognise this as a pest or pathogen attack? I couldn't see anything wrong with the bulb, but as you'll know by now, I'm a complete novice.
I welcome any advice!
Susanne