Mushy Brown Spots
 

I always hear people talking about the Brown mushy rot, and that as soon as you see it, some are cutting the whole plant back. When you guys are talking about this, are you talking about the P-Stem being mushy all the way through? I'm asking because mine gets these brown mushy spots, but they are only where I have trimmed leaves off that were dying (bitten by spider mites). It has been like this most of the winter. When I do cut them back further down, the P-Stem is moist, but other than that, unaffected. The plants are all still growing great, should I be concerned?

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

Hope not mine are doing the same thing

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

I trim the rotted and dry part off.. Just the part of the stem that is effected. I don't just lop the top off down to that point. Its like surgery you trim what you have to without cutting thru or into the healthy part of the plant. Good Luck; it does take patience and a steady hand. :^)

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

I removed like three outer layers from one of mine so I didn't lose height. It finally seemed to stop spreading and is working on its 3rd leaf since trimming it back about 4-6 inches.

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

Mine do that too. It is just the dead outer layer it will dry up and eventually go all the way to the base. I just cut off the dead stuff. I think youll be ok....And oh yeah..GO BUCKEYES!!!

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

You only need to remove the brown part in your pictures to increase the ability of the stem to photosynthesize. You don't want to remove any of the green part of the stem since that will weaken the stem.

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

Mine do that too when I remove a leaf. My advice is to leave it as is provided the brown squishy part (the moist portion) is less than say, an inch or so. Just be sure at that point not to over-water and it typically drys out and becomes brown/dry, which can be bent away from the plant and clipped off as needed to expose green layers below to sunlight. If that brown squishy rot is spreading downward, definitely cut off that upper portion of that layer (minimizing what you remove to retain pstem integrity). I would never cut the entire plant back for what you show in your picture.

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

O-H

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

I-O

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

W-A...WOOOO!!! Oh, IOWA!! How I love you so! :ha:

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

It doesn't look like the pstem is mushy. All my leaves that I cut off turn brown like that & like Bryan said, just bend it down or cut it off.

Re: Mushy Brown SPots
 

I had the same thing last year I just kept taking of the leaves and stems til it was clean ;o)