Fungal diseases

[Alan_b]

I suspect that Stag. becomes more 'virulent' when soil temperatures have warmed-up a bit. 

Both Stag. and Fusarium give rise to staining of the bulb so I think the best way to combat either is to inspect the bulbs when they are dormant, removing the dry tunic if necessary.  If the bulbs are in pots you can also discard  the compost.  Clean bulbs in fresh compost are your best chance of escaping infection.     

[David Lowndes]

Yes, I did inspect many of them last summer but will do that more extensively in 2018. I intend to get rid of it!

[Alan_b]

Yes, I did inspect many of them last summer but will do that more extensively in 2018. I intend to get rid of it!

I would be very surprised indeed if a dormant bulb that looked completely white and healthy after cleaning and removal of the tunic and which was then repotted in fresh sterile compost went on to develop a fungal infection like Stag.

... do you happen to know if the bulb can be cured by cutting away any brown staining? I know some say you can do this and then try twin scaling what is left. Any views? David

I have never done twin scaling so I have no personal knowledge with which to answer your question.  But I see no reason why Stag. or other fungal infections should not be capable of being cured, possibly by a variety of means.  If you can remove infected tissue without killing the bulb then that seems like a good idea and the stained tissue must surely be infected.

[Harald-Alex.]

I found this markable snowdropdesease Galanthus grey mould (Botrytis galanthina)in a nature place of snowdrops near Leipzig under a big package of fallen acer leaves! In the warm winter weather the fungus developed well under the leaves.

[Shauney]

Need advice on what's going on with these two plants. The first one is my lovely pot of South Hayes which is flowering perfectly and with the exception of one bulb all the leavas have rolled up! I can see no obvious signs of pests or diseases above the soil and  none of my other drops that are also in pots next to and touching are affected. On the second one...the edge of the leaves have gone yellow, other than that the plant looks healthy, I'd say this one looms lime it has some sort of deficiency but none of the other drops in the same border are affected. Any advice would be much appreciated many thanks Shaun.

[steve owen]

Yes, I did inspect many of them last summer but will do that more extensively in 2018. I intend to get rid of it!

David
I wouldn't throw away an unwell expensive bulb. I soak it in a dilute Jeyes Fluid solution for 24 hours, then let it dry for 1-2 days. Any infected surface tissue turns black. When that black tissue has dried out, twinscale the bulb, removing any dead tissue as you go. Doesn't matter what time of year you do this; you're giving yourself the chance of a few bulblets when binning the bulb gives you no chance.
When potting up any bulblets produced, be extra vigilant about health and use a compost with more grit and less loam than usual - i.e. grow them "hard".

[johnralphcarpenter]

What dilution?

[David Lowndes]

I’m feeling smug now. I followed Steve’s method almost exactly last year with a bulb of Eccuson d’or, the only difference being I used a solution of a rose compound insecticide/fungicide because there were mites.  I now have 8 small bulbs, one of which is flowering.

[steve owen]

What dilution?

One to twenty - ish.
I dare say some other strong disinfectants would also do the job but Jeyes is easy to find.

[Alan_b]

... my lovely pot of South Hayes which is flowering perfectly and with the exception of one bulb all the leaves have rolled up!

Just looked at my pot.  The leaves have done the same thing!  So there is some hope, for both of us, that this is normal.

[Shauney]

Just looked at my pot.  The leaves have done the same thing!  So there is some hope, for both of us, that this is normal.

Alan, it's really strange that you say yours are doing it aswell as I've been speaking to someone else who's plants have also done the same thing! Its never done it before and I have two pots of South Hayes. The other pot which are smaller bulbs and first time flowering is fine! So wondering if it's something they're prone to doing when the bulbs mature? But I've never seen it mentioned anywhere that this sort of thing happens! So at a complete loss as to what's going on.
Thanks Shaun

[David Lowndes]

I’ll confess! Mine are doing it too. There’s a photo on Judy’s Snowdrops where they appear to be curled. I think it’s OK.