Camellias are beautiful plants, but unfortunately not easy to care for. This sometimes leads to an infestation with pests and brown or yellow discoloration of the leaves. If the causes of this are combated immediately, the camellia can usually be saved easily.

Not only the camellia is affected by sooty mold

Where does the black coating come from?

The black coating on the leaves is usually caused by the sooty fungus. This is very common when a plant suffers from pests. First and foremost, the scale insect should be mentioned here. They secrete so-called honeydew, which serves as food for the sooty mold fungus. If left unattended, your camellia leaves will turn brown and fall off.

Can I just wash the floor covering?

You can/may simply wash or rinse off the black coating on the leaves. Simple dishwater is sufficient for this (a few drops of dish soap in lukewarm water) or a suds with curd soap. However, this is not enough as a sole measure, because you also have to combat the cause of the plaque. Be sure to isolate the affected camellia from other plants to prevent infection.

How can I help my camellia?

Be sure to check your camellia for pests, as these must be fought for the camellia to survive. Wash or rinse off the covering. Then spray the plant with an anti-lice agent. Either get a commercially available product from a specialist shop or try harmless neem oil first.

Be sure to follow the treatment instructions and treat the camellia several times at the suggested intervals. Only the living animals are killed, but not the eggs.

After 10 to 14 days, lice hatch again from the eggs and the cycle begins again. Once the pests have been successfully combated, the sooty fungus usually goes away on its own, since it no longer has any food.

First aid in brief:

  • isolate plant
  • Wipe or rinse off the coating
  • Fight the cause (mostly lice infestation).
  • Check the plant regularly

tips

If pests such as scale insects are the reason for the black coating, then a single treatment is not enough. Be sure to follow the treatment instructions.

Category:

Vegetable garden