Corsican Mint Problem

[Robert Fisher]

Hello,
Over the past year, I have purchased about 10 six inch pots of
Corsican Mint. I absolutely love the appearance and smell of this
beautiful plant, but I CAN NOT keep it alive! Each plant that I have
purchased (from several nurseries) starts out looking just fine and
within about one week after I purchase it, small spots and a grayish
look come over the leaves right before they turn pitch black. The
black patch spreads quickly and within a few days, the whole plant is
dead. I have tried many different cultural settings...partial shade,
full shade, full sun, keeping soil moist, keeping soild wet, letting
soil dry out, transplanting, and anything else I can think of, and to
this day I have not been able to keep a patch of Corsican Mint alive
for more than two weeks. I live in Zone 9 where it is quite humid.
It gets to about 95 degrees on average during the summer, but I have
not yet attempted this feat in the summer. What could I be doing
wrong? I've been told by some that this is an easy to grow plant and
by others that it's impossible to grow. Obviously the nurseries
around here don't seem to have much of a problem with it. I greatly
appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks,
Robert Fisher

[zhanataya]

Robert Fisher wrote in message <37330172...@news.remarq.com>...

It sounds like you are describing a condition called pythium (sp). It's
caused (usually) by overwatering directly in the center of the plant. It it
were me, I would get a better watering can, enabling better control in the
amount and direction of water flow. Then when watering tilt the pot
slightly so you flood the entire surface of soil, let it drain, don't keep
water in the saucer. Repeat when soil dry. This may be a problem you've
inherited from the grower. Pothos are famous for it. The next one you buy
inspect the center of plant and soil carefully befor buying. If it is
present the soil next to the roots will have a slight grey cast. If the
grower used osmocote to fertilize. The osmocote balls will definitely be
grey colored.

HTH Zhanataya
zone 9 central Florida

[RSeshan]

So what kind of light does this mint do well in,
assuming it doesn't have this disease? I just
found this plant today at Smith&Hawken. I agree
with you, it smells wonderful. I didn't
buy it because they were closing, but I might go
back. The tag said "high shade".
What does that mean?

Thanks
RSeshan

[Nancy Milligan]

Oh-oh... I'm on Corsican Mint #2. I wonder if I'm going to have the
same problem you do. I live in zone 9 too, San Diego, CA. I figured
it'd be like big mint and take over the garden....

[Richard Krape]

A wild guess, High shade probably means dense shade. I hesitate to say
heavy shade since you can't feel the weight. another possiblity for high
shade is near the top of a tree. Sorry, just couldn't resist that. lol,
Bergall

[Lotts2c]

In article <17220-37...@newsd-231.iap.bryant.webtv.net>, ed...@webtv.net
(Richard Krape) writes:

Interesting.... I took it to mean bright shade as from high branches.

...elizabeth
http://hometown.aol.com/lotts2c/life1/index.htm

[me zawadzki]

I always thought "high shade" meant plant in the shadow of
Papaver somniferun or Cannabis sativa ;-)

[me zawadzki]

I always thought "high shade" meant plant in the shadow of

Papaver somniferun or Cannabis sative ;-)

[Richard Krape]

I like bright shade. It's right up there with my favorite color, sky
blue pink. Bergall :-)

[zhanataya]

Richard Krape wrote in message
<21576-37...@newsd-233.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...

I like bright shade. It's right up there with my favorite color, sky
blue pink. Bergall :-)

Lovely color. Most noticable after Bombay and cocktail onion.

Zhan

[Robert Fisher]

Hello,
Over the past year, I have purchased about 10 six inch pots of
Corsican Mint. I absolutely love the appearance and smell of this