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Mildew on streptocarpus in peat free compost

jill257jill257 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hi folks, I've grown streptocarpus for many years, keeping them going by division or leaf cuttings. This year I potted them all into peat free compost and they've all been hit with mildew on the leaves and flower stems - this hasn't happened before, ever, and I'm wondering if it's because of the compost. Has anyone else encountered this?
Also, what's the best way to get rid of the mildew - any recommendations?
Cheers
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Posts

  • TenNTenN Posts: 184
    Did you do more than usual and they're all a bit shoved up close? Do they need a bit of space and air?
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    Mildew is usually a sign that the plants have dried out too much.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The peat free composts are so hard to keep wet.
    I bought some in the Spring,  it was awful.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • jill257jill257 Posts: 8
    Hi TenN, SalixGold, and Lyn,  I think you're all right, I do have a lot and they are close together, although that's been the case in previous years too, though then they've been in different compost before. 
     And they've been drying out quicker than usual this year too - it's a balance between overwatering and killing them and underwatering and having the leaves shrivel up, but it does seem to have been harder to do this year.  
    Nothing seems to thrive in peat free compost, and I do have some (dare I say it) peat based compost still, and am thinking about repotting them and starting again. A lot of work though. 
    Thanks for pointing all those things out. 

  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    edited July 2023
    Mix in homemade compost to the planting medium if you can
  • jill257jill257 Posts: 8
    I do that with outdoor plants but I think I might be wary of creepy crawlies coming out of the pot into the house. I do think the good stuff in homemade compost keeps everything healthy though. 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    If you’ve got other compost then use it . You’ve already bought it …….it’s not like you’ve gone out and dug it yourself 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I have my pepper plants growing indoors in homemade compost,  nothing has crawled out.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Home made compost needs sterilising, for cuttings and seeds especially.  Heat briefly to over 60ºC.  

    I saw a USA reference to Hydrogen Peroxide - that might be worth investigating.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • jill257jill257 Posts: 8
    bcpathome said:
    If you’ve got other compost then use it . You’ve already bought it …….it’s not like you’ve gone out and dug it yourself 
    I will, maybe a job for today as it's pouring down with rain outside but the greenhouse is dry - just a wet journey to take the plants out
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