Plant Protection Question - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Ryan Harder · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Plant Protection Question

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

hibiscus, bouganvilla(unsure spelling),hydrangea, any of the vine like plants are all extremely sensitive to SH. If there is a downspout near one of those plants we attach a disposible pvc drain(Rain Drain) and tell homeowner to remove after 2 weeks or a couple of rains. sometimes we may briefly cover the plants with plastic if its one of the climbing vines.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Hibiscus will drop every leaf if you gently whisper bleach in its ear. Generally they come back within a few weeks. It is February so nothing is growing right now. The likelihood is it is still alive. Cut the plant at a branch that is the width of a pencil and see if it is still green. On a hibiscus the area of the stem under the bark will be green while the wood of the stem its self will be a white to light green. If so the plant is OK and just dormant until the growing season starts in March.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Was the covered hibiscus in direct sunlight while you had it covered, Ryan? If so, that could be the reason, or a big part of the reason that it got smoked. Covering a plant with plastic in direct sunlight is like steaming broccoli.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

1) Is my thought about residual correct?
Yes and also remember the three D's of plant protection. Divert, Dilute, Decontaminate.
2) If so, what do you do about residual solution on the roof short of hosing the whole thing down with water?
Decontaminate means use SoftWash Systems Plant Wash.
3) What else could I have done to protect this plant?
Plug the gutter downspout with plastic or add a divert-er pipe. Use the gutter cane like you did but now you have completed the first D which is Divert.
AC

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Mark Fermoyle wrote:
Was the covered hibiscus in direct sunlight while you had it covered, Ryan? If so, that could be the reason, or a big part of the reason that it got smoked. Covering a plant with plastic in direct sunlight is like steaming broccoli.

If the plant retained its leaves and did not drop them then likely it was sun burn and the plant is cooked. That is the biggest sign if a plant will survive or not. If it drops the leaves that is a defense mech. If it retains the leaves and they are brown likely the plant will die.

AC

Ryan Harder · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Thank you all for your replies. I'm pretty confident that I have the dilute and decontaminate part of the "Three D's" down. I will be much more diligent in diverting from now on. There is a possibility we had it covered too long. Being here in SW Florida we are real good at not covering plants for a long amount of time because of the heat and humidity. In this case however the plant turned brown but did not drop it's leaves. This is the first plant I've killed since I starting soft washing back in August so there's a lot to learn from this experience.