[savbo]

Hi all - tried using search facility for this but didn't get anything - we're back from hol and quite a few of our sunflowers have a sooty/shiny stuff on the leaves with some distortion of the leaves too - any ideas? Have googled sunflowers+ black stuff, sooty mildew but nothing in particular...

M

[Yorkie]

Are there aphids - greenfly etc around?

[savbo]

no sign of aphids so it's not black mould growing on the honeydew... the plants look a little sad but not unhealthy, though where the worst patch is the leaf is a bit wrinkled...

perhaps some kind of rust?

M

[oldbean]

I think it's black spot. Happens on stems as well. Some of mine have got it. Does not generally have much effect on plants. Despite that I should give up now, if one doesn't get you, another one will. 

[savbo]

struth, that's a fair list of ailments and afflictions...

[mumofstig]

I think it's black spot. Happens on stems as well. Some of mine have got it. Does not generally have much effect on plants. Despite that I should give up now, if one doesn't get you, another one will. 

They say there's power in positive thought.....but don't think it works when you are sure that something nasty will happen

[oldbean]

Oh? What's going to happen? Most plant diseases don't kill most plants.

[Yorkie]

Savbo, despite the pessimism on this thread, I would keep going 

If the leaves drop off, remove them as good plant hygiene is a good practice.  Make sure the plant is under no more stress than it needs to be - water properly and perhaps make sure it's been fed if the soil could be depleted.