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Mottled leaves on Pieris

Saypoint zone 6 CT

last year

We planted several of these last year, and they were doing great until this mottling appeared on the leaves with brown specks on the undersides that come off when scratched. Looks like scales? I’m not a big fan of too many chemicals if they can be avoided. What’s the fix for this? The photos are a little out of focus due to being too close to the camera, sorry. TIA.

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
can we see the whole plant ...

does it get wet everyday from lawn irrigation???

just planted last year.. how did you plant.. any landscape fabric.. how do you water ...etc

give us some facts to work with besides a few spots ...

ken
Saypoint zone 6 CT thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Saypoint zone 6 CT
Original Author
last year
Planted by our landscape architect’s crew. Well of soil around it to hold water. 3-4 inches of mulch. No landscape fabric. Watered whenever the soil was dry, every other day when it got hot, a couple of times per week when it was cooler. Good soaking of root ball when watering. No lawn irrigation nearby.

Correction, on further inspection, the brown spots on the backs of the leaves do not come off when I rub them, I thought they did, sorry.

New growth looks a bit better than the older foliage. Sited in part sun. Flowered well this year despite the spots.
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gal said: Soil acidity or lack thereof will generally manifest itself with different symptoms. =- what she meant was that the whole plant would be affected.. not 4 errant leaves .... yes??? another theory would be to ask if those few leaves were somehow injured during planting or transportation ... when was it planted ... the remaining leaves look great.. so i also do NOT suspect watering.. or frankly.. any cultural problem... said things effect the entire plant ... i think that is the key ken
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If it's a virus is it contagious and how does it spread? I was tempted to get that plant because it had four stems coming out of the soil. I have a couple of other Evison clems I bought at Lowe's last year and while they are doing very well I've seen a tiny bit of mottling on a few of the leaves. I haven't seen that on any other clem here or any new ones purchased from a nursery. The price is great...$12 for a tall pot...might be a gallon. The ones I bought last year at Lowe's had great roots.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Symptoms look very like a lacewing infestation. These are sucking insects that can do a lot of leaf damage to ericaceous plants, like rhodies, azaleas and pieris.
Saypoint zone 6 CT thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
last year
last modified: last year
I would say azalea lace bug.

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