Simple Pleasures

[Charlie]

Fungus diseases take off as soon as the weather cools down and sunlight decreases. That signals the time to turn on heat in a greenhouse but with outdoor plants that is not possible, of course. What you could do is drench the soil and spray the plants with a good fungicide like Heritage as soon as the first cool nights show up. Or try one of the less expensive copper based fungicides.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

One of my friends in LA has simple pleasures in the ground and experiences tip dieback on all her plants at this time of year, but simple pleasures does seem to get it more often than some of her other CVs.  Its not all bad though, she just snips them off in the spring and with Simple Pleasures being such a good brancher, usually ends up with 3 or 4 new branches and more blooms the next season!   

[farmer d]

Is anyone else growing this outside in cooler areas? This plant is very susceptible to tip die back for me. In fact it has already started again. I just cut off three branches as they had the rot going. Has anyone else noticed this?

Hi Len,

I have a SP plant growing in ground since Nov of last year.  It has been a slower grower but it was super tiny when planted.  So far no dieback yet on it though it is a little protected by a wall behind and giant Prosperity next to it.  If I get some I'll post it here.

Last winter my Rainbow Sherbet had a lot of dieback on the tips.  I cut down 5 branches on one plant alone.  Also Flickering Flame, Palm Springs, and even Black Dream had a few.  I would seal each cut with natural tar and the good news like Chris mentioned is the new growth in spring was awesome.  All that dieback on my Rainbow Sherbet has made it a monster bush now with a fantastic round shape. 

Just make sure you really seal those cuts well...I had a couple that had to be cut lower as the disease kept spreading down.

Farmer D

[LJG]

natural tar? You are way more caring then I

Chris, this is good to know. Of the 40 some plants in the ground, I noticed this one suffers tip die back the most. But like you said, it is a great brancher and quite a fast grower for me.

Charlie, I have been using a drench and Daconil. I have some copper too I guess I will try. Thanks.

[Denise]

Here are some early December blooms from Simple Pleasures...