Desperate in Portugal ....

I think this may have been discussed before about individual plants but things have escalated to the point of desperation.

I have a Brugmansia suaveolens, an Iochroma cyaneum and a Cestrum 'Newellii' all planted in the ground in the same area about a meter away from each other under a Jacaranda (so filtered sunlight most of the day). I know these are all of the same family Solanaceae and are prone to yellowing of the leaves. However, in the last week I have totally lost all the leaves off the Brugmansia and the Iochroma and at least half off the Cestrum. I have another Iochroma (a pale blue one sent to me by pete .. sorry can't remember the name ) which is in a pot and unaffected. No other plants in this area are affected either.

They are watered daily and fed regularly and this has not happened before. I thought perhaps it was red spider mite (I think pete may have suggested this) but can find no evidence.

Any thoughts welcomed and thank you in advance.

 

If the leaves are dropping they are probably not dead.

As to why they are dropping is a bit strange, but didn't you say most plants there have a rest in the height of summer.
How hot is it at the moment?

 

Evening, pete ...

The Brug has not had proper leaves or even the thought of a flower bud this year, the Cestrum has flowered twice already and the Iochroma was doing fine and looking good after it's winter disaster and cutback but no flowers. They yellow first then drop.

32c and rising ....

 

Oh so no real growth early in the season either

Thought they might have done their stuff for now and were taking a rest.

Are they planted on your solid rock sub soil?:D
Shade from the Jacaranda is fine but, as Marley says, root competition might be a problem.

 

Sorry Marley and Pete ... it's a lovely evening here ... still 23c and breezy so I've only popped in here on the odd occasion .... :yho:

Marley, as to your friend's suggestions ...
1) I don't think that is too close.
2) It's rock base so excellent drainage through the rocks.
3) Morning sun, filtered afternoon sun and evening sun .... remember, our sun is different, ie, hotter and more damaging than yours!
4) I do keep checking for the little mites.
Please thank her for taking the time to give some advice.

Pete, no real growth for the season at all. You may remember my conversation in the Brug thread about my problem and walnut convinced me to keep it going. Yes, they are planted in that area where t'other half has to pickaxe out places.

Don't think there is root competition as things nearer and around the same area (my sand garden) are not suffering ... just these three from the same family. The water drainage from the house runs in this area underground which is why the Viburnum,. Myrtus 'Tarantina', Lantana, Poinsettia, etc, are so healthy.

 

Marley I disagree with your friend on item 3 Brugs do not require full sun and in Portugal it would be detrimental her other suggestions are worth looking into,my lady determine if it is a pest attack I always carry a powerful magnifying glass in my pocket for close scrutiny of my plants.Brugmansia Suaveolens can be infected by a mottle virus as suggested in the name the leaves mottle and fall off this virus can remain dormant in the plant and suddenly occur it is a virus quite prevalent in europe when it occurs the plant should be destroyed,growing your stock from seed is a way of avoiding this troublesome virus.
Brugmansia suaveolens mottle virus, a novel potyvirus causing leaf mottling

 

Thanks birthday boy xx

The leaves are not mottled ... they have never developed this year to more than a couple of inches since that slight frost when I 'lost' a lot above ground level.

As the plants were all in pots originally for years and the plants healthy (you've seen pictures), they surely cannot be suffering in larger 'pots' in the ground, ie, pickaxed ones with avenues for roots elsewhere.

I'll look again for mites but to be honest I'm quite disillusioned now with all this species in my garden, as is t'other half as where we sit in the front of house patio in the evening we are looking directly at this ... it's in a prime position in the garden.

 

I would suggest to you my lady that you grow them in pots above ground so the roots don't have contact with the sub soil maybe it;s something there that does not agree,you should have no problem growing large specimens in large pots were you control the compost,all mine are in pots some 9ft tall.
I met a lady on one of my other gardening web sites (Avril Thomas)and she lives on the Algarve, earlier this year I supplied her with Brug and Datura seeds, she mailed me about 2weeks ago to say how well they were doing her Daturas were full of flowers and were better than mine,she was just building up her garden and I told her to get in touch with you via your art website to obtain some knowledge and gardening expertise,I don't know if she did.