Scale Insects On Camellia

/Scale Insects On Camellia/

Scale Insects On Camellia

Scale insects form raised bumps on leaves and stems as they stick their beaks in to suck the life out of plants. They are not uncommon on camellia, nor are aphids, mealybugs, and mites; they often coexist on stressed plants. As they feed, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. There can be webs and sticky exudate that soon grows black sooty mold. Start gaining control by spraying the plants thoroughly, if temperatures permit, spray with a horticultural oil spray. These oils are highly refined and will not burn if used as directed on the label and should be used each winter on camellias. In hot weather, use a non-oil control product made for piercing and sucking insects. Spray the trunks and upper and lower leaf surfaces. This looks like a serious infestation so do consider also using a systemic insecticide to continue control this year. Keep fallen leaves raked up; water and fertilize as usual. The plants are tough; with your help, they'll shake off the insect issues.

By | 2016-02-27T19:33:22-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Apple Milkweed

This very unusual succulent is a type of Stapeliad in the milkweed family Apocynaceae, and is native to Southern Africa, from central Botswana into south-western Namibia. It can also be found under an older name of Trichocaulon meloformis. It is a slow growing species of relatively easy culture, water normally in the growing season, but do not overwater (very wet-sensitive, especially in light of its small root system). Water thoroughly only if soil is dry to the touch, let soil dry in between to prevent root rot, keep dry in the winter with ample airflow. It should be planted in a well draining cactus type soil. During the spring it may be able to take full sun until the heat arrives at the end of spring. In an area that has hot afternoon sun, it may be able to take full morning sun, but requires afternoon shade or afternoon light shade. If grown correctly, it will have generous displays of flowers in the summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry, hardy as low as -5° C (23° F).

By | 2016-02-27T18:53:06-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Succulents|0 Comments
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Houseplant Palm Problem

Your Phoenix palm will do best outdoors but we think you brought it for the winter. Here are some care tips: Indoors it needs bright indirect light, regular water, and feed with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for container palm plants. Yellowing or browning of the fronds or dried out fronds may be the result of: insufficient light, lack of humidity or insect/disease problem. From your description however the main problem was putting it near a heating vent. The palm dried out and we do not know if it will come back. If you do not see any signs of insect infestation (spider mites are common leaf undersides-fine webbing), then perhaps there is alsoa watering problem. If the plant is in a saucer, do not allow the plant to sit in the water as this may lead to root rot and make sure the plant is in well-draining soil - palms do not like soggy soil conditions. Also fertilize only with a slow-release or organic food formulated for container palm plants. Remove any brown leaves. Hope this helps your palm to recover.

By | 2016-02-27T18:41:05-08:00 February 27th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Scale Insects On Camellia

Scale insects form raised bumps on leaves and stems as they stick their beaks in to suck the life out of plants. They are not uncommon on camellia, nor are aphids, mealybugs, and mites; they often coexist on stressed plants. As they feed, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. There can be webs and sticky exudate that soon grows black sooty mold. Start gaining control by spraying the plants thoroughly. If temperatures permit, spray with a horticultural oil spray. These oils are highly refined and will not burn if used as directed on the label. In hot weather, use a non-oil control product made for piercing and sucking insects. Spray the trunks and upper and lower leaf surfaces. This looks like a serious infestation so do consider also using a systemic insecticide to continue control this year. Keep fallen leaves raked up; water and fertilize as usual. The plants are tough; with your help, they'll shake it off and regrow at least a bit this season. .

By | 2016-02-27T16:23:11-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Croton Problem

A couple of reasons why your croton may not be doing well: crotons are usually greenhouse grown and are used to bright, indirect light and high humidity. Suggest you find a brighter area for it indoors and set it up on a humidity tray such as a saucer filled with gravel and water and a brick to keep the plant elevated out of the water-filled saucer. This will increase the humidity by about 70% around the plant. Also water regularly but do not allow the plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot and feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for indoor container plants. Only fertilize it between March and September. It appears to may having some fungal spots but it is hard to tell from this picture. If you can take a couple of leaves to a local garden center, they may be able to tell if it is just the coloration of the croton or if there is a disease. Since Waterloo gardens is gone I'm not sure where to direct you.
Good luck!

By | 2016-02-27T14:01:49-08:00 February 27th, 2016|House Plants|1 Comment
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Clerodendron

Native to China and Japan, this clerodendron is a coarse, sometimes unkempt, deciduous shrub or small tree that grows 10-20’ tall. It is most often seen as a suckering shrub. It must be trained to grow as a tree and is rarely seen growing in that form. As an ornamental, this shrub is perhaps best noted for its late summer flowers, showy fruit and malodorous foliage. Tubular, fragrant, white flowers in long-peduncled cymes (to 6-9” across) bloom in the upper leaf axils from late summer into fall. Flowers are followed by small bright blue fruits, each subtended by a fleshy red calyx. Opposite, toothed to entire, ovate, dark green leaves (to 5-8” long) produce no fall color. When bruised, the leaves do produce a unique aroma reminiscent of peanut butter as memorialized by the sometimes used common name of peanut butter tree for this plant. Harlequin glorybower is a more frequently used common name. Clerodendrum comes from the Greek words klero (fate) and dendron (tree), hence the infrequently used common name of fate tree.

By | 2016-02-27T13:53:13-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Perennials|1 Comment
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Chewing Insect

The problem is likely chewing insects rather than sucking insects. Likely the caterpillar you saw or could also be some type of beetle or grasshopper? But without seeing the actual pest, we can't say for sure. Look to see if you see any sign of insects- top and bottom of leaves, day and at night with a flashlight (although the grasshopper may be long gone). If there are small black dots, these might be excretions for the insects. You can spray with an organic control effective against chewing insects such as Bt (caterpillars). insecticidal soap or Spinosad. Once the leaves and flowers are damaged, they will not recover but try to control future infestation. Bt is a contact insecticide and Spinosad has a 7-10 day residual. Spray Spinosad in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried on the plant it is safe for beneficials. Suggest you show your photo or perhaps capture a few in a bottle as well as snip off a damaged frond for a local garden center to confirm their identity.

By | 2016-02-27T12:51:54-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Peach Leaf Curl

You may still be able to salvage the tree, but you will need to control the fungus that is causing the problem. Although symptoms of leaf curl are seen primarily in spring as new leaves develop, there is little you can do to control the disease at this time. Some people remove diseased leaves or prune infected shoots, but this has not been shown to improve control. Normally, diseased leaves fall off within a few weeks and are replaced by new, healthy leaves, unless it is rainy.


If a tree is severely affected with peach leaf curl this can stunt its growth, so consider thinning fruit later in the season. Pruning in fall prior to applying any fungicides can reduce spore numbers overwintering on the tree and reduce the amount of fungicide needed. If leaf curl symptoms occurred on your trees in spring, be sure to treat the following fall and/or winter to prevent more serious losses the following year.

By | 2016-02-27T12:47:44-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Plant Diseases|1 Comment
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Root Beer Plant Hoja Santa Mexican Pepperleaf

It is native to the Americas, from northern South America to Mexico. It does well in part sun and shaded areas, but on the coast can handle more direct sun. It is very hardy. It is related to the tropical and important food crop "Kava." Warning - We do not advise ingesting or using medicinally any plant we identify. It is often used in Mexican cuisine for tamales, the fish or meat wrapped in fragrant leaves for cooking, and as an essential ingredient in mole verde, the green sauce originated in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. It is also chopped to flavor soups, such as pozole, and eggs. In Central Mexico, it is used to flavor chocolate drinks. In southeastern Mexico, a green liquor called Verdín is made from hoja santa. It is also used for tea. American cheesemaker Paula Lambert created "Hoja santa cheese", goat cheese wrapped with the hoja santa leaves and impregnated with its flavor. While typically used fresh, it is also used in dried form, although drying removes much of the flavor and makes the leaf too brittle to be used as a wrapper.

By | 2016-02-27T10:45:43-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Shrubs|0 Comments
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Spider Mites

This damage is indicative of a large infestation of spider mite. These are tiny insects related to spider tht suck plant sap and chlorophyll from the leaves, causing the speckled appearance we see on these leaves. Control can be hard with a large infestation. Begin by removing all the infected leaves and destroying them. Use a spray of neem oil, or insecticideal soap, or other control specifically rated for spider mites. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves where the invisible eggs and nymphs are found. Usually it is best to spray for two to three weeks, then quit for a while unless you see another generation begin to cause damage. Overspraying can kill a number of other insects that prey on these pests. You can also help keep the population of pest mites down by occasionally washing off the leaves of the affected plants early in the morning (and allowing them to dry throughout the day).

By | 2016-02-27T07:55:44-08:00 February 27th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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