Have been checking up on my recently planted Bloodgood, and from a distance it's been looking great. However, I inspected up close today, and the leaves don't appear to be doing well. It looks to me like downy mildew, which I had once years ago, but I've never seen mildew contained to one plant, and none of the surrounding plants are affected -- my Mikawa immediately next to it is thriving. Thoughts? Could this just be the heat?
Certainly looks like it, I would spray, and spray the surrounding plants prophylactically. It can be very difficult to see when it's just starting out, so your Mikawa may well be next if you don't act.
That's a good question, one I hope someone else can answer. I have no experience using copper on conifers. Not sure I've ever noticed powdery mildew on them either, though.
Copper fungicides are commonly used on bonsai pines (not for mildew, per se, but for needle cast). At any rate it is as safe on conifers as on maples, I do believe.
