Dear Ina and all, as an avid galanthophile I have had 30 years of experience with dealing with Stagonospora of which all collections of amaryllidaceae are rife. I have discovered that it is really only a problem when growing in a sterile medium. Nature abhors a vacuum. So whenever staggy rears it's ugly head I reintroduce mycelium rich leafmould around the roots. Staggy is gone in the next season. I notice that under confers, pines especially, the humusy layer is full of benficial mycorhiza. More and more gardeners here are using this leaf litter which we call "gremil" here, when planting. I have saved many a snowdrop using this method. Just replant with leafmould rich in those white threads and say goodbye to staggy. I am testing commercial fungal innoculation powder but so far the results are not as encouraging. Keep your soil sweet as the old gardeners used to say. I remember working with and old style gardener years ago who would not have dreamed of making composts without live leafmould. Mark Haute Normandie, France " Message du 06/12/13 22:43 > De : "Ina Crossley" > A : "Pacific Bulb Society" > Copie à : > Objet : [pbs] re Rainlilies which like it wet > > I find it interesting that the Rainlilies which like moisture, like > Zephyranthes atamasco, I hav managed to kill off most seedlings with > kindness as to moisture levels. I now grow mine like the restof them > and so far all is good. > The reverse side of this is that Stagonospora is a problem. I have not > yet found a suitable fungicide. Was sold one yesterday but I see it is > aimed at powdery mildew and black spot, whatever that is. As it cost > $80for a bottle, have emailed the manufacturer for information." _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/