I have what looks like a layer thick black soot on my gardenia leaves and stalk, can anyone help me?

It will come off when it is rubbed with oil but that's a lot of rubbing and it is more difficult to remove from the bark?

I have what looks like a layer thick black soot on my gardenia leaves and stalk, can anyone help me?
You have "sooty mold" which is caused from 4 possible sources. The sources are... Aphids, Mealybugs, Scale, and White flies. You need to look real close to the stems and undersides of the leaves to see which one it is. This Sooty mold (actually a fungus) is formed when the excrement ( insect poop made from plant sap) begins to grow a dark fungus over its surface. If this fungus gets to the point of totally covering the leafs surface, it will prevent sunlight from being absorbed by the plant and will stop the photosynthesis process from happening. Ultimately, it will cause the plant to suffer and become stressed out. Go to a Walmart, Home Depot or Lowes garden center and look for a liquid "Sevin" insecticide. It comes in ready to use or a concentrated formula. This is the safest and most widely used insecticide by gardeners to combat insect problems around the yard. Always follow the directions on the label before applying. Hope this answers your question...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035796522...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/azem/138442...


http://www.thebugblaster.com/images/test...


http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/GT/scale/scale....





...$Billy Ray$
Reply:Your welcome, you will need to do a 2nd application 10-14 days after the first.They may not drop off when they die and will look like they are still going strong. You might want to scrape them off with a gloved hand...Billy Ray Report It

Reply:What you have here is a bad case of "sooty mould."


This is only a problem if it stops a lot of light getting to the leaf.


The real problem is the bug (s) that are on the underside of the leaf, sucking the sap in one end, and pooing it out the other. This drops onto the leaf below leaving a sticky , sugary residue, which the mould grows on.


Remove/kill the bug, and the mould will gradually go away because the food source will be cut off.


Main bugs causing this problem in England will be Scale insect, White-fly (which will be obvious), and Mealy bug. I hope this helps you.
Reply:Not sure as i have never had a gardenia.. But i would treat it like my 2 rose bushes.. i get soapy dishwashing liquid and spread on it. It always works for roses..Geez that sounds like some bad stuff..I love gardenia's but never had any luck with em growing here in the south..
Reply:that is called SOOTY MOLD ,it comes from the waist of aphids . spray for aphids ,or buy some Lady bugs from your county extension service to eat the aphids.
Reply:Is is probably a fugus infection, and should be treated with a fungicide.

massage shoes