Coneflower and mites - Ask Extension
Hi,
This coneflower has baffled me for years by its health, vigor to survive and almost thrive. Plus, ou live many others.
It has always come back ...
Knowledgebase
Coneflower and mites #867006
Asked May 04, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT
Hi,
This coneflower has baffled me for years by its health, vigor to survive and almost thrive. Plus, ou live many others.
It has always come back with sparse barely there petals. Never a flush of growth from within the cone.
My question concerns seed that I gathered last fall, planted indoors in winter (germination was incredible) and have planted out the seedlings.
Without knowing a type of mite or virus was going on, I may have really messed up.
Please ask around and share any thoughts.
Thank you
Melissa Romans
3395 County Road 59
Chesapeake, OH 4561<personal data hidden>
Lawrence County Ohio
Expert Response
I can't give you an accurate diagnosis from photos (although they are very helpful!), but my best guess is your coneflower has been damaged by coneflower rosette mites. However, those mites usually cause spiky flower parts to sprout from the tops or sides of the cones, and I don't see that in your photo.
If I understand your question correctly, you're concerned that the plants you started from seed might also be affected. That's possible, but at this point I would suggest just taking a wait-and-see approach. If the new plants show the same kind of stunted petal growth, I would remove and discard of the affected cones, which is where the mites live. That should help prevent reinfestation.
It might be worthwhile to send a sample to OSU's C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic for an accurate diagnosis. Information on the clinic and how to submit a sample is at https://ppdc.osu.edu/ .
If I understand your question correctly, you're concerned that the plants you started from seed might also be affected. That's possible, but at this point I would suggest just taking a wait-and-see approach. If the new plants show the same kind of stunted petal growth, I would remove and discard of the affected cones, which is where the mites live. That should help prevent reinfestation.
It might be worthwhile to send a sample to OSU's C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic for an accurate diagnosis. Information on the clinic and how to submit a sample is at https://ppdc.osu.edu/ .
