Azalea Health Issue?
- Thread starter roberthu
- Start date
hemmy
Omono
The black spots on underside look like like insect poop. The stippled yellow color looks like insect damage. Check for thrips. The yellow damage could also be spidermites.
I’m sure you get chlorosis problems from high alkalinity water in FL, it I think the more pressing problem is insects.
PeaceLoveBonsai
Chumono
99% sure that is lace bugs.
roberthu
Chumono
Thanks! I forgot to update my profile. I am actually in Atlanta GA now....
roberthu
Chumono
Appreciate it! Any treatment suggestions? Can I use Bioadvanced for it?
PeaceLoveBonsai
Chumono
I recently treated my lace bug issue with Malathion. But any insecticide that treats lacebugs should help. Might need more than one application.
Glaucus
Omono
This seenms very likely, though I put it a bit lower than 99% because I don't have personal experience with lace bug.
But the black spots underneath definitely mean it is an insect (or arachnid) pest.
There are treatment options
Azalea Lace Bug Solutions | Portland Nursery
Portland Nursery garden center resources for all your gardening needs including azalea lace bug control.
www.portlandnursery.com
So at the very least, pull out the neem oil or soap.
Looks like it would have been very healthy without the pest.
Deep Sea Diver
Imperial Masterpiece
Certainly Leaf Bud infestation.
Some azalea cultivars are really susceptible, others not so much, kind of helter skeletal.
Putting an azalea in lots of sun and heat is almost certain to increase the chances of attracting Lace Bugs.
But some cultivars are like to Lace Bugs. For example Kazan
All the old leaves will remain spotted from the bugs eating out sections of the leaves. Photo Saishun.
I use granular imidiclobrid only as needed. Clears the bugs out in short term. It’s relatively mid term acting and can be administered specific to one plant .
Please do not use this or any systematic insecticides when in bloom as they will kill friendly pollinators.
Well before and after blooming is ok.
Good luck
DSD sends
Some azalea cultivars are really susceptible, others not so much, kind of helter skeletal.
Putting an azalea in lots of sun and heat is almost certain to increase the chances of attracting Lace Bugs.
But some cultivars are like to Lace Bugs. For example Kazan
All the old leaves will remain spotted from the bugs eating out sections of the leaves. Photo Saishun.
I use granular imidiclobrid only as needed. Clears the bugs out in short term. It’s relatively mid term acting and can be administered specific to one plant .
Please do not use this or any systematic insecticides when in bloom as they will kill friendly pollinators.
Well before and after blooming is ok.
Good luck
DSD sends
Last edited:
Glaucus
Omono
Did you get that 'Saishun' from me? Good to see it large and with flower buds, sad to see the lace bug scars on the otherwise healthy growth.
I think lace bug literally don't exist in Europe. So I guess I must be very happy about that because this seems to be a common pest in the US.
I think lace bug literally don't exist in Europe. So I guess I must be very happy about that because this seems to be a common pest in the US.
Deep Sea Diver
Imperial Masterpiece
It is one of your cuttings!
Lace Bugs didn’t used to be in the US, but these little nasties are reputed to be a gift from Japan o/a 1945. Started in CA on the West Coast and have migrated all the way up here about a decade or two ago.
One of those wonder horticultural gifts that keeps on giving!
The IPM method of getting rid of lace bugs is to spray the underside of all the leaves of all azaleas o/a mid May with either horticultural oil or insecticidal soap when nymphs appear….
….. which would mean crawling under all one’s bushes in addition to all the bonsai plants… and one’s neighbors etc….
Definitely works, but the year I tried it by the time I got all the neighborhood sprayed, winter had set in and my plants were reinfected and had stippled ugly leaves. So nasty spot treatment is the best I can do at the moment.
cheers
DSD sends
Lace Bugs didn’t used to be in the US, but these little nasties are reputed to be a gift from Japan o/a 1945. Started in CA on the West Coast and have migrated all the way up here about a decade or two ago.
One of those wonder horticultural gifts that keeps on giving!
The IPM method of getting rid of lace bugs is to spray the underside of all the leaves of all azaleas o/a mid May with either horticultural oil or insecticidal soap when nymphs appear….
….. which would mean crawling under all one’s bushes in addition to all the bonsai plants… and one’s neighbors etc….
Definitely works, but the year I tried it by the time I got all the neighborhood sprayed, winter had set in and my plants were reinfected and had stippled ugly leaves. So nasty spot treatment is the best I can do at the moment.
cheers
DSD sends
roberthu
Chumono
Thank you! I applied some Bioadvanced this morning and watered. Will pay close attention and if it doesn't improve by this weekend, I will start spraying.
Deep Sea Diver
Imperial Masterpiece
Good idea. It will take much more time to see results whatever you is used. Likely 2-3 good weeks before the new foliage appears.
On infestations like the one you posted there is often black fungus appearing on the underside of the leaves too. Once that forms it might stay for awhile before it’s able to be washed off.
This ought to work well for Lace Bugs. The imidicloprid levels in Bayer 3-1 are almost double that found in Bonide systemic insect control, which only has imidicloprid.
cheers
DSD sends
On infestations like the one you posted there is often black fungus appearing on the underside of the leaves too. Once that forms it might stay for awhile before it’s able to be washed off.
This ought to work well for Lace Bugs. The imidicloprid levels in Bayer 3-1 are almost double that found in Bonide systemic insect control, which only has imidicloprid.
cheers
DSD sends
