Viewing post #674656 by chalyse

Soil Testing, Daylily Maladies, Soil Nutrient Impacts, and Organic Approaches to Prevention and Management

...otherwise known as a collection of helpful information garnered and gathered, with deep gratitude, from Sue Bergeron

Soil Testing
= > Locating Agricultural Extension Services for Los-Cost or Free Soil Testing
= > Logan Labs

(Professional plant tissue lab test - leaf analysis that tells you what nutrients are actually being taken up by the plant instead of what is in the soil (and which may not be in an available form). Micronutrient deficiencies are not likely if your pH is around 6.5 or below (although if it too low that's another problem). Also offers soil pH and macro/micro nutrient tests.

= > AL Labs

(Professional lab test for full-range nitrogen and all micro-nutrients/minerals - See Top of Page 5)

= > - Home Soil Test Kit Reviews Inexpensive Kits with 90+% accuracy

Daylily Rust
Information: http://web.ncf.ca/ah748/rust.h...
Identification: http://web.ncf.ca/ah748/FAQ.ht...

Puccinia hemerocallidis fungus, an obligate parasite, multiple strains.

1. Soil Nutrients that impact obligate parasites like Puccinia: "...high nitrogen supply increases the severity of infection ... high concentrations [of potassium (K)] increase the resistance ... However, beyond optimal [potassium (K)] supply for growth, there is no further increase in resistance with increasing K addition or K concentration in the plants. Hence, K addition is only effective in disease control if it alleviates K deficiency." (http://books.google.com/books?...) Many sources also note that too much nitrogen applied to soil may contribute to polluting groundwater, nearby rivers and streams, by spurring growth of algae that can suffocate aquatic plant and animal life.
2. Preventive: Choose daylilies rated as resistant to rust (See ATP Daylily Database and choose "shows resistance" from drop-down box option.) Monitor soil nutrient levels and adjust organically if needed.
3. Organic Management: "For those who do not wish to use fungicides treatment may be limited to continuous removal of individual infected leaves [or affected leaf areas trimmed] as they are noticed. Removed leaves should be destroyed, preferably by burning or burying where this is possible." http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_d...

Spring Sickness and/or Similar Disease Conditions
Information and Identification: http://web.ncf.ca/ah748/sstf.h...

May have multiple contributors:

1. Aureobasidium microstictum, possibly an obligate parasite (If confirmed, see Soil Nutrition Impact info from #1. under Daylily Rust above).
2. Possibly: involvement of a new Botrytis species of fungus, B. deweyae, a Necrotrophic fungus or disease-causing endophyte
3. Possibly: Rhizoglyphus echinopus and R. Robini, bulb mites that feed on fungi found on afflicted bulbs or roots

Leaf Streak
Information and Identification: http://www.pestid.msu.edu/Plan...

1. Aureobasidium microstictum fungus, possibly an obligate parasite (If confirmed, see research on its role in Spring Sickness and on soil nutrition info from #1. under Daylily Rust above)
2. Possibly: Rhizoglyphus echinopus, R. robini and other pests may damage foliage and could potentially create an entry for the leaf streak fungus, which is believed to need some injury before it can infect the plant.

Crown Rot

Fusarium, Phytophthora, Sclerotium, Rhizoctonia and Pythium fungi

Scape Blasting

May be due to erratic or excessive watering, or excessive nitrogen in the soil.

Pests

A. Aphids (Myzus hemerocallis)

1. Controlling Aphids on Hemerocallis with Soybean Oil
2. OMRI Approved Neem Oil Products
3. Beneficial insects: Praying Mantis (USDA), Ladybugs

B. Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)

1. Beneficial nematodes: OMRI restricts use until the simple steps in NOP Rule 205.206(e) are met.
   http://www.omri.org/simple-opl...
2. OMRI Approved Neem Oil Products

C. Thrips (Frankliniella)

1. Beneficial insects: Stinkbugs (Orius insidious)

D. Snails or Slugs

1. Sluggo and Sluggo Plus (with organic insecticide): OMRI restricts use until the simple steps in NOP Rule 205.206(e) are met.
   http://www.omri.org/simple-opl...

E. Rhizoglyphus echinopus, noted as one of the likely agents in Spring Sickness and Leaf Streak.

F. General OMRI listed Organic Insecticides

1. OMRI sometimes restricts use until the simple steps in NOP Rule 205.206(e) and/or other NOP Rules are met. Check the OMRI product listings for details.
http://www.omri.org/simple-opl...
http://www.omri.org/simple-opl...
http://www.omri.org/simple-opl...

Other Conditions

Summer Dormancy - drought and/or high temperatures and/or length and amount of daily sun intensity

General Nutritional Information

Phosphorous

Poor Bud Count, Lack of Plant Growth, Slow Maturing Seedlings - These may generally be ascribed to low Phosphorous. But, Sue B. mentions that: "Dr. Scott Elliott wrote an article about his experiments on daylily nutrient deficiency symptoms [in which he reported] he wasn't able to induce P deficiency in daylilies."

Links

OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute): http://www.omri.org/omri-lists
NOP (National Organic Program) http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/re...

...to be continued...