2017 MG Webinars MG Webinars 10/25/2017

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1 Welcome to the MG Webinar Our presenter today is Nichelle Demorest Horticulture Extension Agent from Columbia County education/webinars.html 2017 MG Webinars January 26 th at 1 pm Promoting IPM and Behavioral Change One Beetle at a Time. Dr. Whitney Elmore UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension For Agents and Master Gardeners March 30 th at 1 pm Native Plants by Dr. Sandy Wilson For Agents and Master Gardeners May 25 th at 1 pm Master Gardener Plant Sale Guidelines Wendy Wilber for Agents and Master Gardeners June 29 th at 1 pm Flowering Trees Stephen Brown For Agents and Master Gardeners July 27th at 1 pm Landscape Insect Update Dr. Adam Dale for Agents and Master Gardeners August 24th at 1 pm Plant Identification basics and resources and Taxonomic update Extension Botanist Marc Frank for Agents and Master Gardeners September 28 th at 1 pm Creating a Pollinator Garden with Youth leaders Lynn Barber and Nicole Pinson UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension for Agents and Master Gardeners October 26th at 1 pm 20 Questions for solving plant problems Nichelle Demorest for Agents and Master Gardeners November 30 th at 1 pm Florida Friendly Landscaping Plots vs Conventional Landscapes a Research Update Dr. Gail Hansen for Agents and Master Gardeners December 14 th at 1 pm Plant Explorers UF/IFAS Instructor Erin Alvarez For Agents and Master Gardeners 2017 MG Webinars We are going to be planning 2018 webinars soon. Please let me know your ideas for topics and or speakers. Thank you Wendy Wilber wilbewl@ufl.edu 1

20 questions on Plant Diagnosis Master Gardener Webinar Nichelle Demorest October 26 th, 2017 As Master Gardeners we want to give the best information and recommendations we possibly can Good

2 20 questions on Plant Diagnosis Master Gardener Webinar Nichelle Demorest October 26 th, 2017 As Master Gardeners we want to give the best information and recommendations we possibly can Good resources are essential EDIS, gardening solutions, IFAS information But good diagnostic questions will get you to the best answers Treatment without diagnosis as in medicine is malpractice We need to be as accurate as we possibly can Your clients need the best information we can provide. We are not ball parking it here 2

Diagnostics is a process to come up with the best possible explanation of why a good plant has gone

problem that is like undoing a knot Avoid pre judging Bring new eyes and pursue your questioning

Do jump to conclusions Don t make the symptom fit the diagnosis Do make the diagnosis fit the

3 Diagnostics is a process to come up with the best possible explanation of why a good plant has gone bad. Sometimes it is straightforward like an insect that you know well Or it is a multilayered problem that is like undoing a knot Avoid pre judging Bring new eyes and pursue your questioning like it is the first time you have seen the problem. Do jump to conclusions Don t make the symptom fit the diagnosis Do make the diagnosis fit the symptom Question 1 What is the plant? Be cautious with common names Ask the client but be sure yourself Many diagnoses flounder by initial misidentification vs 3

Question 2 What is normal for the plant?

Does it have spores on the undersides of the leaves as ferns?

Question 3 What are common problems for the plant?

Citrus greening Iron deficiency in gardenia, ixora, blueberry

Question 4 What do you see that is abnormal?

4 Question 2 What is normal for the plant? Is it normally variegated? Does it have spores on the undersides of the leaves as ferns? Does it drop it s leaves in the winter? Does its bark peel? Question 3 What are common problems for the plant? Wilts of tomatoes Downy mildew on basil Citrus leaf miner Citrus greening Iron deficiency in gardenia, ixora, blueberry Magnesium deficiency in palms Know what the plants problems are Question 4 What do you see that is abnormal? Leaf curl Stippling Holes or notching in the leaf Lack of bark Insects or insect frass Fungal structure on leaves or stems Mushrooms or mycelium on trunk or leaves 4

Question 5 What is the overall health of the plant?

pest but is it really effecting the overall health of the plant?

Is the damage on the upper side of the leaf or underside of the

If it is chewing damage is it big or little ( beetle or a deer or

5 Question 5 What is the overall health of the plant? Put things into perspective Perhaps there are signs of disease or pest but is it really effecting the overall health of the plant? Is leaf size normal, is the canopy full, is the growth rate normal? Question 6 What exactly do you see? Look for details Is the problem on the old growth or new growth? Is the damage on the upper side of the leaf or underside of the leaf ( will it wipe off)? If it is chewing damage is it big or little ( beetle or a deer or rabbit? Question 7 What do you see on other plants? Is the problem going down the hedge row or vegetable row? Is there honey dew from insect feeding from the tree above? 5

Question 8 What are the plants site conditions? Soil type acid or alkaline?

Too much shade? Question 9 Who knows most about the plant?

Ask about the general maintenance and who does the care Question 10 When did

Did occur right after a freeze, or hurricane?

6 Question 8 What are the plants site conditions? Soil type acid or alkaline? Poor drainage? Previously flooded? Compacted soil? Competing tree roots? Too much shade? Question 9 Who knows most about the plant? Are you talking to the right person? Ask about the general maintenance and who does the care Question 10 When did the symptoms first appear? How long has this been going on? Did occur right after a freeze, or hurricane? Is this a long term problem or One that reoccurs at the same time each year (these can be fungal issues) Big trees rarely just up and die. This could be latent construction damage from years before. 6

Question 11 What is the horticulture history of the plant? Newly transplanted?

Question 12 What is the environmental history? Has it gone through droughts? Freezes?

Question 13 What does the client think the problem is?

7 Question 11 What is the horticulture history of the plant? Newly transplanted? From the discount rack? Over sheared shrub for many years? Question 12 What is the environmental history? Has it gone through droughts? Freezes? Over pruning? Volcano mulching? Planted too deeply? Question 13 What does the client think the problem is? Avoid asking leading questions like Did you over fertilize? Did you over/under water? Instead Tell me about how you fertilize? How are you watering the plant? And then really listen to what they think might be going on. 7

8 Question 14 What diagnostic tools are available? Hand lens 10x or 20x Stereoscope Soil test Digging tools to check the root ball Cutting tools to cut a branch and really look at the leaves more closely A knife for opening fruit or vegetables Pen and notebook for making notes Bags for samples Question 15 What other resources are available? Extension Agents EDIS website IFAS websites Insect ID lab Plant disease lab diagnostic center/ Plant ID services Nematode lab Soils testing lab DDIS Question 16 How do I take a sample? If you are sending the sample off to a lab follow their sampling instructions It is a good idea to get both unhealthy and healthy parts of the plant Sometimes roots are very helpful to sample too. Shake off excess soil 8

Question 17 What else? Sometimes just chatting with a client about their landscape can reveal other clues. Such as This is area is where the dogs play?

In most cases you will not be 100% sure Identify the problem or problems you think these symptoms signify Indicate to them how you made this connection,

9 Question 17 What else? Sometimes just chatting with a client about their landscape can reveal other clues. Such as This is area is where the dogs play? My son parks his car next to the tree? I backwashed my swimming pool in the area? Question 18 What is the diagnosis? Has the light bulb gone off yet? In most cases you will not be 100% sure Identify the problem or problems you think these symptoms signify Indicate to them how you made this connection, references, consulting with colleagues, lab tests etc. Question 19 What is the significance of the problem? Does it warrant treatment? Is it economical to treat? Is it safe to treat? 9

Question 20 What are your recommendations? Sometimes doing nothing is a good recommendation Is this the correct time for treatment? Have you given the client proper expectations for the outcome?

10 Question 20 What are your recommendations? Sometimes doing nothing is a good recommendation Is this the correct time for treatment? Have you given the client proper expectations for the outcome? Remember pictures are worth a thousand words. They will bring you a sample but if you could also see pictures of the problem it is really helpful Keep working at asking questions to Diagnose plant problems. 10

Diagnosing Plant Problems A schematic approach

Diagnosing Plant Problems A schematic approach Vijai Pandian Horticulture Educator Brown County UW Extension University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming,