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Gardening in Oz

gardenia pest

15 years ago

my otherwise healthy gardenia has developed a lot of small brown spots on the leaf base and stems. It looks like they are a sort of egg. something is also eating the new leaves... I am new at this. I have tried Pyrethrium and White oil, no effect. Does anyone know what this is?????

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Comment (1)

macbirch
14 years ago
Before using anything it's a good idea to put a sample in a plastic bag and take it some nurseries for identification. I suggest more than one because the advice might differ, I had the experience of one nursery trying to sell me something and the other saying pesticides are ineffective for the particular problem but as the plant matures it will become resistant, which turned out to be the right advice in that case, I did nothing and saved myself some money and hassle and the plant was fine, or sometimes the correct solution is not the seemingly obvious product but a different product or treatment, so it's really best to start with identifying the problem correctly.
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Thanks for the info and links...I think it MIGHT be Bacterial leaf spot. Pseudomonas gardeniae,Xanthomonas campestris cv. Maculifolium-gardeniae....hummm say that 3 times fast.. The description of bacterial leaf spot says it starts on the new leaves..That is where most of the discoloration is on my Gardenia... It was nice and warm yesterday over 70 all day then some rain around 4pm...And I think it rained some last night.. My Gardenia looks better this morning...NOW I am wondering if it is because it was warm or if it is because I put plant food on it.. I have some big white oaks in my yard, I usually leave the white oak leaves on my plants throughout the winter.Today I am going to dig all the white oak leaves off from around the base of the plant...Just in case they are causing the ground to stay too moist..
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