Chlorosis, interveinal chlorosis, mildew

I have bought a Lonicera fragrantissima and it arrived in a 2 litre pot with leaves on its branches and a few buds at the branch tips. The lower leaves have white patches - possibly a type of mildew. The upper, newer leaves look chlorotic. Interveinal chlorosis, maybe.

I need to try to make sure this plant survives and thrives. I am wondering what I can do. There has been heavy rain and more is forecast. Would a foliar spray of sequestered iron be a waste of time? What about ericaceous compost as a mulch? I cannot plant it out yet and I don't want the problems it has, then spreading to my garden plants.

Any ideas appreciated, thankyou.

Photos to follow...

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the mildew at this time of the year, it's probably a bit starved and might have got dry earlier.
You could give a soil drench of chelated iron, not sure about using it as a foliar feed other than something like miracle grow for ericaceous plants.
Failing that make a strong brew of tea and apply, no milk or sugar.

Diluted milk is good for getting rid of mildew.

 

Thankyou, @pete, for your expertise. I can try the strong brew of (lukewarm) tea right away - I hadn't heard of that technique, but it sounds logical. I am glad the mildew is not too much of a concern.

The plant is in lightly dappled shade at present, so it sounds as though I can leave it there while for a while, before planting it out.

 

That isn't a great looking specimen at all. I'd expect anything I buy just now to be in better health. It's probably needed re potting, but the big problem with a lot of plants now is the medium they're being grown in, as it simply isn't hefty enough long term, especially for anything woody.

Milk is certainly a good solution, although I've never had to use anything for mildew as it isn't really a big problem here.
You can also make a potion from horsetail which is supposed to be useful for all sorts of things, including mildew - I think. @Obelix-Vendée has done this and may be able to help if she sees this.

 

Did it arrive in that state? if so take a photo and arrange to send it back and get a refund.

Or have you just left it too long in the pot since delivery? It looks famished and unwell. I would start by giving it a dose of Epsom salts - 15ml to 5 litres of water - used as a foliar feed. I would then pot it up in fresh John Innes type compost with some decent nutrient levels and keep up the Epsom salt foliar feeding till it recovers. Then it'll need planting out in a suitable position - aspect and soil - and given something to grow up.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Thankyou @fairygirl for your knowledge. I was disappointed with it. Now I know why it was half price! It was mail-order, and I could not specify which specimen I received. It only has 2 good stems and one lower stem arrived looking dead.

I do hope the mildew doesn't spread to my other plants. My garden plants don't have these problems thankfully.

The soil in the pot did seem rather old. My impression was this plant had been stuck in a corner for a while, at the nursery.

 

Thankyou @Obelix-Vendée for your advice. It arrived yesterday via mail-order. I will do what you suggest and hope that I will be sent a better replacement.

Do you think the mildew might spread rapidly while the mildewed leaves stay on the lonicera? I am concerned that my garden plants will now be at risk.

 

Thankyou @Victoria for your assessment too. It does give me extra confidence to not accept what they sent me.

 

I would just isolate the plant away from any garden or house plants while you contact the supplier to arrange refund or replacement.

If they offer a refund wihout taking back the plant then wipe its leaves with milk and do the Epsom salt thing and pot it n wawy from other plants.. You never know, it might revive.

 

Thank you, @Obelix-Vendée, belts and braces, good ideas, I will do.

 

I'd agree with the advice to take photos and contact the company. The sooner you do it the better, or they could suggest it's your fault it looks like that.
If they don't have a better replacement than that, request a refund, and then at least you can get a good quality plant, even if you're going to a decent G.Centre, or quality online supplier, and paying more.

A good company wouldn't send out a plant in that condition, so I'm guessing it's possibly a 'certain supplier' with a poor reputation to start with, but tends to be cheap. Some companies are fine for things like seed and bulbs, but they don't produce their own perennials/shrubs etc, and they can often be in poor condition because the care isn't sufficient.

 

My well established Lonicera fragrantissima is looking rather similar, minus the mildew. I think your plant may be starved but they do lose some of their leaves at this time of the year. However a company should not send out plants with mildew. It is probably due to the very wet weather. I think your plant will be OK but needs to be planted out as soon as possible. You may find one or two flowers on it eventually this year, they will be on last years growth. I would register a complaint of dis-satisfaction with the company.

 

Thankyou, @fairygirl, that makes sense. I hope to hear from them soon. They used to have a good to ok reputation, I thought, but their current trusty pilot rating is rather bad. Having said that, I don't find trusty pilot particularly reliable either! They are a general nursery (national). I think I should have looked for a more specialist place. In fact, I have since seen other nurseries offering 3 litre potted plants for only a little more than the half price I paid. Maybe it was just bad luck....will wait to hear what they say...