Is this rust?

Hello

First post here and I'm concerned about some of my plants - all are container plants on a balcony. A few weeks ago the foliage on my musk mallows started to yellow (I have three!). I wasn't unduly concerned as this happened last year with the original plant I'd bought but the plant continued to produce plenty of new growth. The plants have continued to flower but I've had to cut a lot of growth back as the foliage yellowed and shrivelled very quicky. This evening I've noticed several yellow leaves on my snapdragon and when I cut the stem discovered dark brown marks on the bottom which stained my fingers. I feel really guilty to think the plants have been suffering and I've been too dense to realise.

Here's a photo of one of the snapdragon stems, which looks particularly bad. :(

From what I've read I think it's rust, but I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks.

C

 

Welcome to GC Chiarscuro,Yes your plants are suffering from Rust.If you can can you remove all of the leaves that have the rust on them,without making the plants look too naked with no foliage?

I do know that Hollyhocks suffer from this problem as I have it at times on my leaves so I have to keep picking them off and putting them in the dustbin.

There is probably a spray that you can use to help the plants but as I don't use one myself can't give you any advice on the best one to use.

I am sure someone will be along soon that can suggest something and please don't get too disheartened:thumb:

 

Thanks ever so much for the quick reply Kandy. I'll make sure to remove any other leaves tomorrow! I'd rather not use a chemical spray if at all possible, and one of the books I've got says spraying doesn't do any good - although it is quite an old book!

Thanks again.

And thanks for the welcome, too!

 

When you take off the rusty leaves,if you use any gloves or impliments to cut off the leaves try to be careful what you do with them afterwards because if you don't clean off the rust spores you might transfer the spores onto other plants and then you will be back to square one.:(

I have never grown Musk Mallows before but have snap dragons in flower at the moment,but touch wood they are ok.You might find the plants you bought had the rust spores on them when you got them,and now have had a year to grow on plus the weather with the wind hasn't helped which can transport the spores to the different plants.If your plants have strong growth then they are more likely to fend off rust somewhat

 

Thanks again.

I've just removed the majority of the snap dragon. The rust was all over the place on the stems and leaves. I now have one little stem with about four flowers left :(, but am wondering whether it'd be better to dig it up altogether. The other plants in the container - a tobacco plant and a dahlia - seem unaffected. Actually the dahila looks great considering I'd forgotten it was in there from last year. :o

I washed the gloves afterwards, but might chuck them and buy a new pair - they're only cheapo ones from Wilkinsons!

 

Try reading this article,looks like you might have to throw the whole lot away and start again but try no to plant them in the same container or piece of ground next year.Touch wood mine have been unaffected by the problem
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0205/antirrhinum_rust.asp

 

Thanks again. Yes, unfortunately the snapdragon is going to have to go. I've inspected all the other plants I've got in that container and the other pots and can't see any sign of a problem there, but I'll be keeping a close eye on them from now on. As it was I was planning on changing the container altogether for next year so if there's anything nasty in the soil hopefully that'll solve the problem.