Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

It may be powdery mildew. If it has fire blight, if you fertilize with
nitrogen, it will multiply the problem. Don't really have the answer.

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.


"Digger" wrote in message
ups.com...
Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

"Digger" wrote in message
ups.com...
Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les


Jade tree - like a jade plant commonly sold as a houseplant, but bigger?

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

On Sep 26, 3:45 pm, Digger wrote:
Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les

Most likely sticky substance is insect waste, homoptera types, mealy
bugs aphids etc. Webbing suggests spider mites. Shake over white
paper and you can see them. My wager is on mealy bugs. In any case
repeat treatments of your choice will be required.

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

beecrofter wrote in news:1190909497.684656.307520@
19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

On Sep 26, 3:45 pm, Digger wrote:
Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les

Most likely sticky substance is insect waste, homoptera types, mealy
bugs aphids etc. Webbing suggests spider mites. Shake over white
paper and you can see them. My wager is on mealy bugs. In any case
repeat treatments of your choice will be required.


Mealy bugs LOVE jade plants. Get a Q-tip soaked in alcohol and touch one
of the white spots with it. Now look at the Q-tip. Is there a little
dark bug stuck to the cotton? If so, that's a mealy bug and the white
stuff was its hiding place that dissolves in alcohol. You can go all
through the whole plant killing them like that. It takes a while but it
works. Do it every day for a week or so and you'll have things under
control.

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

On Sep 27, 1:20 pm, FragileWarrior
wrote:
beecrofter wrote in news:1190909497.684656.307520@
19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

Thanks guys, will try the alcohol--is rubbing alcohol okay? I never
even thought of bugs!
Les






On Sep 26, 3:45 pm, Digger wrote:
Fellow Plant Lovers,
A frightening thing is happening to my Jade tree. It has a white,
sticky substance popping up all over it, which proceeds to eat away at
leaves until they rot off. It leaves only a stump of a stem when it's
done, and eats whatever new leaves try to grow.
It usually first appears at joints, where the leaves start from the
stem. Sometimes spots appear on leaves or at their edges. When I try
to wipe off the larger patches, white filaments like spider webs will
pull away.
I had the impression that it's some kind of fungus and have used
various fungicides like tea tree oil and nystatin ointment, to no
avail. Full strength tea tree oil works, but that kills the leaves
too. But nystatin doesn't faze it.
None of my other house plans are affected.
Anyone seen this before? Any idea what to do about it?
Thanks for any enlightenment,
Les

Most likely sticky substance is insect waste, homoptera types, mealy
bugs aphids etc. Webbing suggests spider mites. Shake over white
paper and you can see them. My wager is on mealy bugs. In any case
repeat treatments of your choice will be required.

Mealy bugs LOVE jade plants. Get a Q-tip soaked in alcohol and touch one
of the white spots with it. Now look at the Q-tip. Is there a little
dark bug stuck to the cotton? If so, that's a mealy bug and the white
stuff was its hiding place that dissolves in alcohol. You can go all
through the whole plant killing them like that. It takes a while but it
works. Do it every day for a week or so and you'll have things under
control.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Jade Tree's Mystery Nemesis
 

Digger wrote in
oups.com:

On Sep 27, 1:20 pm, FragileWarrior
wrote:
beecrofter wrote in
news:1190909497.684656.307520@ 19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

Thanks guys, will try the alcohol--is rubbing alcohol okay? I never
even thought of bugs!
Les

It is but you don't actually rub/scrub. Just touch the spot. The webbing
will dissolve and the bug will stick to the Q-tip. Just lightly touch the
spot with a s/wiping motion.