posted
I have had a beautiful pink camelia bush for about 12 years.It stands about 6 feet tall. Today I noticed that all the leaves at the bottom & some of the others had a black fine powder on them. I couldn't see anything moveing so guess it's some sort of fungus. It's in full bloom & the flowers don't seem to be affected. Please can anyone HELP ??
Plants: 3 | From: home | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 62.254.0.16
posted
Probably black or sooty mold. This usually occurs in association with an insect problem--most likely aphids or scale. Aphids are small and somewhat pear shaped and move around slowly, a few might even have wings. Scale look like little bumps, usually on the undersides of leaves or on stems. They don't move around. Both secrete a sticky "honeydew" type substance the the mold grows in. Safer's Soap will kill both insects, follow up with a second spray a few days after the first. For the fungus, try mixing 1-2 cups compost tea, 1 tbsp. liquid seaweed, 1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses, and 1 tbsp. cider vinegar in 1 gallon water and spraying on leaves. Also, remove any fallen leaves from the ground under the plant and any of the moldy leaves that look sickly.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 65.132.108.222
posted
yep thats sooty mold.I use neem oil.It seems to work good on my camilia but not too good on my lemon tree.I tried to check yur zone...but says "home"* * thats a nice one!.I'm south east Tx coastal region so have humidity year round when is more humid it is worse. and some camillia tips... keep cow manure at base of tree& mulch tree.i use pine straw(free from woods...mother nature loves me)When in bloom i keep my blossoms cleaned up so does not cause bud blight or whatever that name is& i fertilize it more in blooming season but deep water once a week in summer while we be roasting.I'm fixing to try rooting some branchs when return from lake vacation.Mines about done blooming now(dec-april usually)I've got new growth sprouting already and maybe 12 blooms left on tree.mines 19 yr old has had storm damage in past so not too pretty a shape,but I LOVE this TREE its about 12 ft tall full on one side and whimpy on the other side in a yr or 2 will add soem summer flowering shrubs in front of house pinks& whites and would like a few more trees. oh and the neem is more a preventive.i spray it in sept and then once all the blooms are gone
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
You all seem to have the same idea so I have bought & used the mildew spray. Lets hope it works. Thanks everyone. Plants: 3 | From: home | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 62.254.0.16
posted
I just found a homemade insecticide in my book Great Garden Formulas by Rodale.
Mix 1/2 to 1 cup rubbing alcohol with 1 quart water in a pump spray bottle. Test spray on a leaf to check for burning Wait one day and check for damage before treating the entire plant. Treat at 3-day intervals for 10 days or as needed. Don't use in the heat of the day.
This is for houseplants, but should work for outdoor plants. You might have to mix up a larger amount though.
Good for mealybugs, whiteflies, red spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, and scale
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 65.130.85.196
posted
I have two beautiful Camelia's. I find the blooms are very fragile. If you so much as touch them, they fall off the branch. Is there something wrong with them? or is that their nature?
posted
The blooms on my camellia are quite firm. We get plenty of wind in N.E. Lincolnshire & they are blown about quite a lot but they stay on the bush until I dead head them. Sorry no idea what to do about it. I am still spraying weekly but the blackness on the leaves is getting worse. Plants: 3 | From: home | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 62.254.0.16
* * * * When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Plants: 271 | From: Maryland zone 7 | Registered: Sep 2002
| Seeded: 68.55.145.196
posted
Storm, you are very welcome. I sure hope you find the answer.
Newt
* * * * When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Plants: 271 | From: Maryland zone 7 | Registered: Sep 2002
| Seeded: 68.55.145.196
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* thats a nice one!.I'm south east Tx coastal region so have humidity year round when is more humid it is worse.
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