Ink disease in Kangaroo Paws

Cooped07 · Aug 31, 2011 9:30 pm

I have bought a couple of Tequila Sunrise Kangaroo Paws but have discovered they have some Ink Disease.

Does it keep spreading through the plant?

How do I stop it?

I've read that I need to cut off the diseased leaves.

Has anyone had this with their paws and stopped it completely?

Dollar · Aug 31, 2011 9:47 pm

Cooped I had the same issue and yes I chopped off these areas completely last year. It happened to one particular one I have.

TheGardenWhisperer · Aug 31, 2011 11:50 pm

You can control it using molasses and Mycorrhizal fungi in the soil around the plant.
Mulching with raw mulches instead of pebbles or black mulch.
Also cutting them back to the ground nearly in March (or over east you'd do it in Jan/Feb) You might do that every couple of years. Do a search there is a bit of info around here on it.

mecha-wombat · Sep 05, 2011 8:48 pm

diluted Coke worked for me

Cooped07 · Sep 06, 2011 8:13 am

Thanks for the tips. I've cut off badly affected leaves, now I'll treat it. I'll have to tell hubby to not water them but the ground around instead.

I've researched them a bit.. I'm hoping the spot I have planted them will be ok.

TheGardenWhisperer · Sep 06, 2011 9:54 am

Diluted coke is fantastic in the garden. The Phosphoric acid in coke does some excellent things in a number of situations. The fatty acids in full cream milk diluted in water will also help treat the fungal problem and promote beneficial bacteria on the leaf surface

That will treat the symptom of the disease. The overall care, as outlined above, is what will manage the problem in the big picture as well as give you the best flowering possible.

Cooped07 · Sep 06, 2011 9:35 pm

Thanks Fu.. Always helpful

Althom · Sep 06, 2011 9:42 pm

In regards to diluted coke - what strength do you use and how do you apply

melindaregner · Sep 11, 2011 9:30 am

Cooped07

I have bought a couple of Tequila Sunrise Kangaroo Paws but have discovered they have some Ink Disease.

Does it keep spreading through the plant?

How do I stop it?

I've read that I need to cut off the diseased leaves.

Has anyone had this with their paws and stopped it completely?

What the... I was looking for PAWS at google then sent me here..
But It's OK. I've learned new things.
About the "diluted coke" thing, does that thing also applicable to other plants?

Cooped07 · Sep 11, 2011 8:51 pm

Lol Melinda.. Fancy google sending you here!

I am thinking the diluted coke applies to many plants in the garden.

TheGardenWhisperer · Sep 14, 2011 10:57 pm

Yes but its not the be all end all. make sure there is a reason why you're using it

Corn meal is also extremely helpful in controlling plant disease but you have to ask why its happened in the forst place and that is what you want to spend the energy on fixing

Full cream milk will act as an even better fungicide.

mecha-wombat · Sep 15, 2011 10:53 am

I used 1litre of coke to 8litres water so it filled my watering can

But if you have Grasstrees near DONT USE IT or any other antifungal as Grasstrees have a symbiotic relationship with Fungi

TheGardenWhisperer · Sep 15, 2011 6:39 pm

Na the grass trees will be fine with using the coke.

Same with milk.

Cooped07 · Apr 03, 2012 4:55 pm

Any suggestions for keeping Kangaroo Paws... ALIVE? I bought the mini variety and they all died. The 'tropical sunrise' that I bought.. out of 6 of them 3 have died. I cut one of them back and it just died the others have just slowly died off and 3 are still popping out stems of beautiful orangey/red!