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What is killing my fatsia japonica?


Sandy Loam

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Are there any pest experts out there who can help me? I need to figure out the correct treatment for my fatsia japonica's ailment. I have tried searching online, but have been unable to find any photos of the problem that my fatsia japonica is currently experiencing.

Attached is a photo of the front of a leaf and another photo of the back of a leaf. The front photo shows how every leaf on the fatsia japonica is turning black. The photo of the back of the leaf shows that there are little white spots which appear to be egg nests from some sort of pest (possibly).

My sources online say that "leaf spots, scale insects, thrips and mealy bugs can affect Fatsia japonica."

I certainly have mealybugs not two metres away because I had to cure my bambusa oldhamii of them. I also have scale, but as far as I know it is only on two sago cycads (cycas revoluta) which are far away in another part of the yard. There might be a bit of scale on one of my cereus peruvianus nearby, but I can't be positive.

Can anyone identify what pest I have here?

Many thanks in advance for your comments. I am looking forward to using the appropriate treatment soon.

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You have soft scale which can be treated systemically. The dark stuff is black sooty mold which is a by-product of the honeydew excreted by the scale. The mold doesn't harm the plant itself, rather it blocks sunlight used for photosynthesis. get rid of the scale and after a time the mold will dry up and flake away or you can wash it off.

 

 

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You can use a water and dish soap mixture and spray this on the scale (bottom surface of leaf) and this should suffocate them. Otherwise you can use neem oil and treat the same way for smothering them. Also make sure your Fatsia is not planted under a tree infested with aphids, scale or mealy bugs as this is the likely source of the honeydew on the surface of your leaves, which in turn becomes the food for the sooty mold fungus. This is a common problem under crepe myrtles, which are a host for tiny insects that excrete honeydew like a continuous rain shower.

Michael Norell

Rancho Mirage, California | 33°44' N 116°25' W | 287 ft | z10a | avg Jan 43/70F | Jul 78/108F avg | Weather Station KCARANCH310

previously Big Pine Key, Florida | 24°40' N 81°21' W | 4.5 ft. | z12a | Calcareous substrate | avg annual min. approx 52F | avg Jan 65/75F | Jul 83/90 | extreme min approx 41F

previously Natchez, Mississippi | 31°33' N 91°24' W | 220 ft.| z9a | Downtown/river-adjacent | Loess substrate | avg annual min. 23F | Jan 43/61F | Jul 73/93F | extreme min 2.5F (1899); previously Los Angeles, California (multiple locations)

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I had the same problem on overwintering a canna inside and all I did was uses pesticide soap and they were gone within days, Also my little bugs hatched and they looked like little flies. Soap took care of them too. Gonzer and Mnorell are spot on with this problem and solution.

Edited by Palm crazy
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