Honeysuckle problem

[Sebbster]

I have a honeysuckle growing up a trellis just outside my back door, it's in a very deep pot and til now has grown very fast and seemed very healthy.

Over the past couple of weeks it's started developing white on the leaves and some are now dropping off.

Any ideas what could be causing this, it's starting to get unsightly and I dont want any diseases to be passed on.

Thanks in advance.

[Salina]

we have a few honeysuckle plants creeping up the front of our house as well and they are now huge and bushy and grow lovely flowers in the summer. since they get so big I think the best place for it is in the ground. is it potbound?

[Sebbster]

It's in a vase shaped terracotta pot which is about 3 feet high and 1 foot (bottom) to 1.75 feet (top) in size, so shouldn't be an issue. It's still growing fine at the tops, but the disease, whatever it is, is making it way up from the bottom.

[SimonCole]

Sounds like mildew: http://www.rnzih.org.nz/Plant_Doctor...on_dahlias.htm

Most fungicides will work. There is a novel idea at the bottom of the link page that may help. I'd just give the plant more water.

[Sebbster]

It's kept well watered and I have crystals in the tub. I'll spray it and see what happens, be disappointing not to get flowers and in particular the scent outside the kitchen..

Thanks for the ideas...

[yoanbob]

I have a few honeysucle, all doing well exept the one with varigated leaves, the leaves are going brown and dropping, any ideas?

[nick the grief]

It's not just the size of the pot but the nutrients in the soil, ALso if it only has a small rootball and then you put it in a pot that is huge and keep it " well watered" the chances are that the sourrounding compost never gets a chance to use up all the water and the roots Drown basically.
If it's happened in the last two weeks that would coinside with all the rain we've had a the water retaining crystals will only compound the problem. As a woodland scrambler it really needs a moist, rich, cool root run and it's head in the light - a pot will probably get too hot for it so It would be better off in the ground.

[Alice]

Hello Sebster, mosy honeysuckle is fully hardy and doesn't need to be kept in a pot. I have several kinds here - all bidding to take over the world. I would plant it in the ground and let it take care of iself.
The only one I have found to be fikey is Halloumia (sp ?) It doesn't seem to be fully hardy here and dies off by inches.
Good luck with your honeysuckle. It is the scent of paradise.

[nick the grief]

.... It is the scent of paradise.

No thats my aftershave alice .... it keeps the clegs doon

[Flummery]

Clegs! I haven't heard that word since I left me native shores (Manchester) many years ago!

[Grandpadragon]

Cleggs -Manchester? I thought they were Scotish midges that have 2' wing span and fly in squadrons. You know the ones you need full body armour to keep out!

[Flummery]

We used to call the big biting horseflies clegs. Midgies are midgies the world over I suspect. Funny how dialect words can evolve meanings in different places.

[TPeers]

Sebbster - it sounds like mildew as mentioned, unsightly but not a threat to the plant, spray or wipe off with a soft damp cloth, rinsing the cloth in a fugicid to reduce cross-contamination.

Yoanbob - is the plant exposed to the wind at all? Sounds a bit like wind damage to me - the leaves may be getting wind burn. No cure - move the plant to a more shelterd location.

Terry

[yoanbob]

no terry, very sheltered and not far from the ordinary honeysuckle, i think ill give up on it and stick to ordinary

[TPeers]

no terry, very sheltered and not far from the ordinary honeysuckle, i think ill give up on it and stick to ordinary

Don't give up!

Variagated plants need more light than non-variagated or they tend to loose the variagation - if the plant is well sheltered, well fed and reasonably well watered - could it be light levels?

General requirements, well drained humus rich soil, sun or shade.

Propagation semi-ripe cuttings or layering stems.

Given the time of year - see if you can get a couple of semi-ripe cutting off the plant and propagate it - if only as an insurance policy.

Try giving the plant a feed, all these comercial hybrids seem to need more feeding than the native varieties, and have a good look at the leaves that are comming off and the ones that are left - have you got some sort of infestation? Greenfly love Loniceras.