lily fungal issue - Ask Extension
could not find definite info on line so here are photos of my patch of 15 lilies. Some have black/dark sunken tissue, two are somewhat bleached out l...
Knowledgebase
lily fungal issue #870010
Asked May 24, 2024, 8:01 PM EDT
could not find definite info on line so here are photos of my patch of 15 lilies. Some have black/dark sunken tissue, two are somewhat bleached out looking and some have brown patches. I'm guessing they should all be pulled but want to see if they can be saved. Any advice would be appreciated!
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Although we can't identify the exact cause of the symptoms, they appear to be a combination of slug/snail or insect chewing (possibly earwig or a beetle) in the first photo and perhaps a fungus like Botrytis in the second. Many areas have received lots of rain in recent weeks, which are prime conditions for such infections. We don't think the plants are a lost cause, though they might not flower this year if the buds are damaged. Since fungicide treatments are preventative measures only, they would be of limited benefit in this situation and we are not inclined to recommend trying one; if Botrytis is present, it might help to suppress further spread, but it cannot cure any existing damage.
If any zones of darkened tissue occur near the base of the plant's stem, then you can probably assume the entire top will die back and cut it back to ground level. The bulb might be fine as-is until next year if it does not succumb to whatever stem-boring insect larva or pathogen might have caused damage to the stem itself.
Miri
If any zones of darkened tissue occur near the base of the plant's stem, then you can probably assume the entire top will die back and cut it back to ground level. The bulb might be fine as-is until next year if it does not succumb to whatever stem-boring insect larva or pathogen might have caused damage to the stem itself.
Miri