gift
The Humble Soapnut - A Guide to the Laundry Detergent that Grows on Trees ebook by Kathryn Ossing
will be released to subscribers in: soon!
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • paul wheaton
  • John F Dean
  • r ransom
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Timothy Norton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Pearl Sutton
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Megan Palmer
  • Thekla McDaniels

Please help identify what's the problem

 
Posts: 8
Location: San Rafael, California
1
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I am sure this is in the wrong category, but i'm at a loss as to where to post this. This plant has had this problem with its leaves for a long time. They turn silvery and sometimes shiny and then fall, see the image included, any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.
IMG_7195-copy.jpg
Thrips. Very tiny insects, scrape the surface of the leaf in order to feed on the juices leaves turn silver
 
master pollinator
Posts: 2177
Location: Ashhurst New Zealand (Cfb - oceanic temperate)
764
duck forest garden fungi trees chicken cooking solar sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves
  • Likes 8
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thrips. Very tiny insects, like aphids, that scrape the surface of the leaf in order to feed on the juices. Often with plants like rhododendrons that keep their leaves for a long period of time, the damage is cumulative and by the time it reaches that silvery state, the leaf is about ready to be dropped anyway. If there are lots of unaffected leaves still available for photosynthesis, then it can be left alone.

If you get an infestation to the point that leaves are dropping off faster than the plant replaces them, you could intervene by spraying with soapy water or a dormant oil.
 
German Herrera
Posts: 8
Location: San Rafael, California
1
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thank you Phil Stevens.
I will go ahead and spray them with soapy water, the condition is pretty wide spread throughout the plant and has pained me to see it this way for a long time.
I appreciate your suggestion!
 
Thanks tiny ad, for helping me escape the terrible comfort of this chair.
grow your own garden and build your own home, in Montana, for free-ish
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic