[djlen]

This is the same stuff that I've been battling on my other Fukien Tea for a week. It starts as a gooey, sticky substance I think is 'honey-dew' and these white things that appear not to move at all. Then as it progresses it begins to turn the leaves brown/black and they harden and fall off the plant.
It will defoliate a Fukien in days if it goes unchecked.
The Fukiens are the only plant in my collection that are affected by this.
I hope someone can ID this thing for me:

Here, you can see that the flower bud is actually stuck to the leaf below it in the goo:


Here, I've moved the flower and there seems to be a colony of the white things on the leaf:


If you mist the plant the white things and the honey-dew get all over the pot and shelf the plant stands on. It's just a mess!!
I am treating it with a Neem Oil spray. This seems to kill off the white things and clear the plant of the goo. The other plant that I've had it on was much advanced and is just hanging on. I hope I caught this one in time.

Regards,
Len

[Enchantra]

Continue with the Neem oil treatment.

I would make sure both of these trees are getting good circulation as that will help with controlling the infestation. Bugs only attack trees they feel are weak and susceptible, so be sure your trees are getting the proper air circulation, light and fertilization which will help keep them strong.

[djlen]

Enchantra, on 07 November 2009 - 10:50 AM, said:

Continue with the Neem oil treatment.

I would make sure both of these trees are getting good circulation as that will help with controlling the infestation. Bugs only attack trees they feel are weak and susceptible, so be sure your trees are getting the proper air circulation, light and fertilization which will help keep them strong.

Thank you for the quick reply.
My plants are in a rather small room with a ceiling fan that runs 24/7 to do just that. I do mist frequently to help with humidity, but the air always moving around the plants.
Any thoughts on anything else I could be doing for this issue?

[jkl]

Keep at least 8 inches between the canopies of all your trees. That further improves air circulation. A cross wind -- as from an oscillating fan on the floor or a table -- is probably better. Ceiling fans keep the air in general movement, but don't cause much of a breeze through the branches and leaves.

[djlen]

Again, thank you.
I will dig out an oscillating fan from the attic and apply it.
I am wondering if anyone can ID those white bugs/scale, or whatever they are?
I can identify with Black Spot, but those white things (they are unmoving) are
something I've never seen or heard of.

[Treefan]

You have aphids (but I hope there's no nearby source of ants, which like the sap). You need ladybugs to get rid of them, but where you'll find any now would be a mystery.

[djlen]

Treefan, on 07 November 2009 - 11:34 AM, said:

You have aphids (but I hope there's no nearby source of ants, which like the sap). You need ladybugs to get rid of them, but where you'll find any now would be a mystery.

Well, they seem to be negatively affected by Neem Oil and hopefully it will do the job
as I cannot imagine turning lady bugs loose in my house even if I could find them.
It's really weird that none of the other trees have been affect in the least by these things.

I'm used to dealing with aphids (the green kind) on outside plants but this white variety is a totally new experience for me.
Seems a bit strange that I'm getting black/brown spot in conjunction with it, doesn't it?

[jkl]

Gads!! I have a houseful of the Japanese oriental beetles (AKA Japanese ladybugs). This imported exotic species invades homes all though this area in the fall. Once a week I take the vacuum and a long hose and suck them off the ceiling. No aphids in MY house. No plants, either.

[djlen]

I found a product called Safer Soap which uses a 'Seaweed Extract' and which lists
it's active ingredients as "Potssium Salts of Fatty Acids - 2.00%"
I think that this, in conjunction with the Neem Oil spray should do the job. I think
I have all the bugs and scales covered with these two and both are organic, so
we'll see.
Thanks for the help.

[jkl]

Quote

"Potssium Salts of Fatty Acids

= soap.

Safers shuld be all you need. I think Neem may be overkill for aphids.

[djlen]

jkl, on 07 November 2009 - 09:08 PM, said:

= soap.

Safers shuld be all you need. I think Neem may be overkill for aphids.

Now the question is how often do I apply? Will the soap dry the leaves out and
so create a need to mist them?

[Bonsai Tyro]

djlen, on 08 November 2009 - 01:35 PM, said:

Now the question is how often do I apply?

I would reapply once a week for about 4 weeks.

Congratulations on the trials and travails of growing fukien teas. I have found they are an absolute bug magnet when indoors. I don't have any problems when they are outside, probably due to natural predators, but indoors they do a good job of keeping pests off my other plants. This year and last year I had the same problem as you. An oil treatment kept them in check. The year before it was mealy bugs and woolly aphids.

[djlen]

Bonsai Tyro, on 08 November 2009 - 02:40 PM, said:

I would reapply once a week for about 4 weeks.

Congratulations on the trials and travails of growing fukien teas. I have found they are an absolute bug magnet when indoors. I don't have any problems when they are outside, probably due to natural predators, but indoors they do a good job of keeping pests off my other plants. This year and last year I had the same problem as you. An oil treatment kept them in check. The year before it was mealy bugs and woolly aphids.

Thank you for the understanding.....
You know I've kind of decided that since I've had no problems with any of the surrounding trees and only with the Fukiens, I will just do a preventative maintenance on them from now on. I will spray them monthly, once I get this issue resolved in order to head off further grief. I love the plant but whew what a mess to keep them pest free.

[jkl]

The Safer's soap will have full instructions on the label. Follow them. Test it first on a few leaves on the back. There are some trees that should not have soap sprayed on them. I don't know if fukien tea is one of them (trident maple IS one).