Conidia of Cladosporium herbarum and Botrytis cinerea differed in their ability to germinate in water. Potassium nitrate, glucose, and carbohydrate mixtures at concentrations similar to carbon and nitrogen levels on leaf surfaces were tested for their effect on germination and subsequent germ tube growth. For both fungi, all the treatments increased the rate of germination. The treatments also stimulated the total percentage germination of C. herbarum conidia. Glucose, a glucose – potassium nitrate solution, and carbohydrate mixtures stimulated both germ tube production and total germ tube lengths of conidia of C. herbarum. Botrytis cinerea conidia produced multiple germ tubes per conidium in distilled water, potassium nitrate, and carbohydrate mixtures. Glucose and glucose – potassium nitrate solutions stimulated production of a single germ tube per conidium. All treatments stimulated germ tube growth of B. cinerea conidia.