My summer questions....

18 years ago

Things are beginning to look a little scraggly around here. I keep up with a watering schedule, but foliage is buggy and dry and holey in spots. Is it appropriate to add some compost and some seaweed spray as a boost? I don't want to encourage a ton of growth or anything, but they look like they are lagging in the heat.

Second question: My satsuma has new growth, which is good...but it has tracks similer to leaf miners that you see on tomatoes...and all of the new growth is twisted and distorted. I've also lost all but three of my fruits....but then I planted a little late and I was sort of prepared for the adjustment to site taking out a lot of the fruit (unfortunately the landscaping crew took out a branch prop and ran over some of the fruit/branches with a lawnmower...). And ideas on how to fix the bug problem and what it might be? I don't see any bugs, which is making it difficult. I use organics..and if I could use something I've already bought, so much the better. The only local source for this stuff is pricy. I do have orange oil...any kitchen sort of ingredient, and seaweed concentrate.

Third and final question...o.k., maybe a confession....I'm killing a lantana. It's going to die, and I seem powerless to stop it. It's a hybrid (red bandana) in a pot. It appears to be a combo of some sort of lacewing type bug and maybe a fungus or disease. I'm frustrated that lantana seems so easy everywhere else and I cannot grow ANY. This is the second hybrid I've killed. I don't want the native....that stuff is seriously invasive and thorny, to boot. So what is fairly hardy that I can stick in the empty pot...I can't bear an empty pot full of nice dirt.

If you've read my book, I appreciate it....all suggestions welcome.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

User
18 years ago
I can't help you with the compost & seaweed question, but I think I may know what is wrong with your lantana. I have the same thing. Lantana lacebugs. I had the same thing, and researched it online. Apparantly, these critters have been introduced to control the horrida variety but also attack the others as well. I went to my local nursery which has an organic gardener on staff and they knew nothing about it. I am going to have to print off some info & take to them.

The non organic solution is anything with acephate followed by imidacloprid, and the organic solution is Sun Spray Ultra Fine Spray Oil (which I haven't been able to find locally).
User
18 years ago
This is an easy-to-read article about the lacebug, but it seems to say the bug is native to Texas, unlike another article I read earlier (but can't find today).
lantana lacebug
Related Professionals
Fort Wayne Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Springfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · South Sioux City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bennington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Murrieta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brunswick Landscape Contractors · Aiken Landscape Contractors · Brainerd Landscape Contractors · Mankato Landscape Contractors · Oneonta Landscape Contractors · Canton Landscape Contractors · Bozeman Landscape Contractors · Cheyenne Landscape Contractors · Philadelphia Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Erie Stone, Pavers & Concrete
User
18 years ago
I just looked up all this info last week and now can't find any of it. I did find this website, so am posting it here for myself as much as you. It gives names of organic controls as well as non-organic.

I got the name of the Sun Spray Oil from the dirtdoctor website & now it isn't there, just the usual "if your plant is healthy you won't have problems" stuff. When I couldn't find the Sun Spray, I used a combination of garlic & molasses. It is helping a bit I think, but was difficult for me to make. I'd much rather buy a premade item that will get rid of them long term, and something with an oil to stick to the leaves so I don't have to spray every other day would be wonderful.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
18 years ago
If you can't find ultra fine horticultural oil Neem oil does well. Using it in a hose end sprayer makes it very easy to apply. Gilmore is a very good brand.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gilmore hose end sprayer
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
18 years ago
I was going to say that the Gilmore works great for spraying sea weed concentrate. If you don't see any bugs I'd try spraying the sea weed. It's supposed to help heat stressed plants as well as being specific for spider mites, but who knows in what other areas it might help.

You probably know all that already, but thought I'd just put it out there in case it might be useful information to others.

Sorry that I'm no help on citrus.
bobbi_p
18 years ago
I too, cringe every time someone recommends lantana as "THE" dependable blooms all summer Texas plant. At my old house, I would have 1 nice spring flush cut short by the lacewings followed by nothing but brown ugly leaves for the rest of the summer. The problem with trying to control them (as I recall) is that you need to spray the undersides of the leaves which was next to impossible on my plants. I think I was just trying the insecticidal soap thing since the butterflies love lantana so much.

I just grit my teeth every time I see some beautiful lantana around town. Sorry, I just won't be bothered with it. There are too many other flowers in the World to try! Lantana doesn't work for everyone!

Now, for your citrus: yes those are probably leaf miners. What I've been told, is that even though it looks ugly, dying from leaf miners is not likely with citrus. Just mind your plant isn't stressed by other things as well. Keep it well-watered and fertilized and it should be fine!
pjtexgirl
18 years ago
Bobbi p and I had the exact same experience. I'll go native as much as possible but, if it's buggy and ugly most of the year out it goes! I yanked 4 of them.PJ
srburk
Original Author
18 years ago
I looked and it's definitely lantana lacebugs. I think it's too far gone to save it, though. If I'm feeling merciful in the morning, I will take a look and see if it can be saved, but it's starting to sounds like more trouble than it's worth. I'm just frustrated because my mom lives near College Station in zone 8...no bugs on her beautiful five foot lantanas at all...just butterflies. Ah, I guess gardeners always have garden envy.

As good an excuse as any to visit the half price sale at the plant store....lol. That is where I got the pineapple sage that is now four to five feet wide and four feet tall, even in a less than optimal site (and right next to where I killed another salvia...........).

The only things I have that are relatively untouched by bugs, fungus, caterpillars, or disease is a lima bean that my daughter brought home from school (I just didn't have the heart to chunk it, even though I hate limas and it won't set in this heat.), sweet potato vine, some variegated mondo grass in the middle of a pot, and two kinds of basil. Maybe I'll just grow herbs, lol.