Bambusa vulgaris Wamin Problems

[KDubU]

Planted early this spring and was doing really well with nice deep green leaves and new culms coming up. Now though many leaves are turning brown and falling off. I know these can be a bit sensitive to too much or to little water and I am careful with them. Also looked to see if there was any infestation and did not see insects but do see these little white spots/bumps. Any suggestions? A dose of soap spray and some compost around the root area?

I planted two of these and both are having the same issue albeit about 30’ apart. I know they do drop some leaves when the weather turns and I have noticed it has a bit. I’m in 9a, NE FL.

Tks!

 

[Darold Petty]

That looks like an infestation of scale insects.  I don't grow bamboo, so can't recommend an appropriate insecticide.  Perhaps Imidacloprid ?

[John hovancsek]

I would put some merit at the base and water it in. If it is a pest( not sure what but think it is) it will fix the problem 

[KDubU]

Tks guys. Will have to look into Merit and start ridding myself of these buggers. Ideally would like to go with a more natural solution like Neem oil which I know works well on other critters. I think they may have come from the Alphonse karr bamboo I picked up at a local nursery. Won’t be doing that any more.

Edited September 18, 2021 by KDubU

[Silas_Sancona]

4 minutes ago, KDubU said:

Tks guys. Will have to look into Merit and start ridding myself of these buggers. Ideally would like to go with a more natural solution like Neem oil which I know works well on other critters. I think they may have come from the Alphonse karr bamboo I picked up at a local nursery. Won’t be doing that any more.

Scale, particularly hard / armored Scale can be a PITA to control.. I also hate ( and do everything possible to avoid ) using anything / everything chemical. In circumstances like this though, you have to be flexible. The good thing is the Bamboo is far from flowering so you wouldn't be putting any pollinating insects in jeopardy by applying something that will be taken up by the roots, which should get the bugs under control the fastest. Neem could work, but might not get every affected part of the plant, allowing the scale to return again.

Noticing the Bamboo might be a little hungry as well, which might attract the bugs ( stressed plants often do )  If you're also seeing Ants, might consider putting something out to get them under control since Ants will often protect, farm, and move Scale insects ( and Aphids / Mealy bugs, etc ) around. Controlling one often makes knocking down the other easier.

[KDubU]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Scale, particularly hard / armored Scale can be a PITA to control.. I also hate ( and do everything possible to avoid ) using anything / everything chemical. In circumstances like this though, you have to be flexible. The good thing is the Bamboo is far from flowering so you wouldn't be putting any pollinating insects in jeopardy by applying something that will be taken up by the roots, which should get the bugs under control the fastest. Neem could work, but might not get every affected part of the plant, allowing the scale to return again.

Noticing the Bamboo might be a little hungry as well, which might attract the bugs ( stressed plants often do )  If you're also seeing Ants, might consider putting something out to get them under control since Ants will often protect, farm, and move Scale insects ( and Aphids / Mealy bugs, etc ) around. Controlling one often makes knocking down the other easier.

Tks for this. I guess then I’ll look at getting some Merit as I want it under control ASAP. Don’t want it spreading to my other bamboo or palms.

[Merlyn]

A hard scale like that is going to need a systemic like Imadicloprid or Dinotefuran.  If you are a coffee drinker you can also toss the old grounds around the base.  Caffeine is a systemic too, it works reasonably well on CAS/ACS scale on Cycas species. 

I have Wamin in the back yard in a reasonably dry area with a pair of 2gph drippers @ 30 minutes each morning = 2 gallons delivered every morning.  The Wamin Striata in the front is in my "tropical bed" that gets totally drenched by sprayers-on-a-stick every morning.  I've not heard of them being sensitive to too much water, but the one up front is growing about twice as fast.  I give them a handful of generic 10-10-10 4x per year.

[KDubU]

Picked up some Merit this morning and will read how to use it. Hopefully it will do the job.