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Verticculum Wilt or other disease?

amandadvramandadvr Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi. I recently discovered my Smoke Bush like this. It’s potted and stood on a wood barked area. Could it be Verticculum Wilt? Also in the same area but planted directly into the soil covered by wood bark is my wisteria of 3 years.  Could it be the same thing? The brown spotting is on most leaves but none are dying. Yet! Does it spread even if one pot is infected ? Maybe through drained water from the infected pot? We have severe hot weather atm so maybe it’s lack of water?
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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2022
    @amandadvr Welcome Your smoke bush has dry leaves caused by the hot sun. How long has it been in the pot could it be pot bound and struggling to take up water it does get to be a very large shrub. 
    Not sure what is wrong with the wisteria but it isn't the same problem as the Cotinus.So many plants are stressed at present causing alll sorts of leaf problems.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I would think it more likely to be stress from lack of water so start by putting a saucer under the smoke bush's pot and giving it a decent drink and keep it moist from now until autumn when you should, if possible, plant it in the border so it can spread its roots deep and wide and reduce future stress.

    For the wisteria, give it a good drink of 15 litres of water poured slowly so it soaks in rather than running  off.   Repeat once or twice weekly until normal rain service resumes.

    This article will help you identify verticillium wilt, should it arise.
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/verticillium-wilt 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • amandadvramandadvr Posts: 6
    @GardenerSuze Thank you for replying. That puts my mind at rest a little. It happened just recently and it has been so hot.  It could also be pot bound. The intention is to plant it somewhere when I can get a fork in the ground. I’ll keep researching the wisteria. It’s just coming into flower. I’d hate to lose it. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Did you mean your wisteria is just coming into flower?  That’s very late.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have an acer with VW.
    Throughout late Spring and Summer bits of branches die back leaving lots of dead crispy leaves. Black marks like bruises appear on the branches, then the leaves die back.
    In the Spring I often find entire branches are lifeless and cut them out.
    There's nothing in the pics to suggest either of your plants has it.
    I agree with others re. sun and stress (a bit like me atm :))

    If you do prune it you can look at the cut end to see if there are any black rings within the wood - that's an indicator of VW.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • amandadvramandadvr Posts: 6
    Thank you @Obelixx - helpful advice. I’m thankful it’s a water problem not a fungal one. That thought kept me awake last night!
  • amandadvramandadvr Posts: 6
    @Lyn it seems to flower twice a year. The late spring frost killed the first flush off and about now I get another. It’s a young plant so not many flowers but buds are forming. 
  • amandadvramandadvr Posts: 6
    @Pete.8 I’m with you on the heat stress!! Sorry about your acer. Disheartening about VW. I did prune a little off the branch. They are quite thin still but inside no black but the centre had a perfect circle of deep purple and then white surround. I will up the watering regime for both as it looks like we are in for another scorching week!  
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @amandadvr Please don't let your love of gardening keep you awake at night it is supposed to be fun!
    Although at the moment the dry weather is creating lots of problems.
    If your Cotinus still had some growing room in it's pot I would wait a while before doing anything with it, you will stress it even more.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    It’s a lovely colour, I think a lot of plants are suffering from heat and dryness this year,  I’m sure come winter it will pick up. 
    Don’t be tempted to feed it,  it will stress it more as the feeding will encourage growth and at this moment plants will just relax and sit there waiting for better conditions, 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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