They get indirect light under my carport and they are watered regularly. What can be causing this and how do I fix the problem?
2006-09-20 03:24:18 · 3 answers · asked by ART81365 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Sounds like sooty mold. It is a fungal disease that is only harmful to the plant if it gets so solid it blocks the light from getting into the leaves.
It is caused by sucking insects like aphids, white flies, thrips and spider mites (which are not an insect). When these pests get on your plant 90% of them will be on the bottom of the leaves. When they start sucking sap it just runs through them and the digest what they can. What they can't drips out the hind end onto the leaves below. This sticky sap is the culture medium sooty mold needs to grow.
So the way to get rid of the sooty mold is to get rid of the pests sucking the sap. Once they are dead the rain will wash off the sap and the sooty mold will go too. If the carport keeps rain from hitting it you can spray it with the hose--but only when the plant has been treated successfully for these pests.
I recommend something like horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. These coat the bugs and they suffocate. If you want something stronger get Shultz insect control--it's made from chrysanthemum flowers and lasts longer than soap or oil. If you can't find these your L&G tech can help you out.
2006-09-20 05:47:49 · answer #1 · answered by college kid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be vehicle exhaust (diesel is a real bother) from the air. Could be mold / black spot. Try hosing them off with a fine mist.
2006-09-20 03:35:15 · answer #2 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't ask my wife. She kills everything green. I think she's personally repsonsible for the e coli spinach deal. . . . . .
2006-09-20 03:31:39 · answer #3 · answered by TrainerMan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋