Sticky leaves on a little myrtle

Debby

I have a little myrtle ( I think that is what it is, long narrow, leaves, about 1/2" long) and it has little sticky drops on the undersides of leaves. The only time I have had a problem with scale, it hasn't been sticky. But then maybe this is only another type of scale. No insects visible, and other than the stickiness, it is healthy.

I did a drastic pruning on it about two months ago and it is still small enough to keep up, manually, with these little droplets, but I am going to loose control as it begins to increase in size.

I have on two seperate occassions, used a safers soap spray on it, and periodically give it a rinse under a tap.

Can anyone shed any light on what I am dealing with and how to deal with it?

Regards,

Debby

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Repotter

I would look under the leaves real close to see if there are any little pinhead size bugs. They would be aphids. They create what is called honeydew, that is the sticky stuff you may be seeing.
Try using a light spray of water from about a foot away using a spray bottle, if you see the water clinging to webs then its spider mites.

Wash the tree under a stream of water as you said you did to clean any bugs away.
Spray with the Safers soap spray every 4 to 5 days also spray the soil surface.

good luck, Hector

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"Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.

Debby

Thank you for replying to my question. I also thought "aphids" when I first noticed the stickiness but I cannot find any aphids unless of course they come in various sizes, one of which is microscopic. That is why I am confused about this because even with a magnifying glass, so far I haven't been able to see any type of bug. This is the first time that I have had this kind of little plant. Is it possible that it is a sap that the plant exudes?

While you are thinking about that, I think I will get out the magnifying glass again and look for teeny aphids. Maybe my eyes are worse than I think they are.


Regards,

Debby

Debby

I was just doing some research on this and I think that the sticky droplets are likely caused by a tiny scale. Apparently scale shows up as the little domed critters, "sooty mold" and then this type. At least that is my guess at this point. So I am going to try wiping the droplets off, which are the secretions of the little bug as it is sucking at that spot on the plant and I will do this daily and then give it a spritz in safers soap right after.

The suggested method advises to prune the affected parts, but when you've already done a severe pruning on a future bonsai, that isn't an option. So I am going to try this and see what happens.

Koi_Gal

Crepe Myrtles are very prone to aphids and, at least in my area, get them every year. There are some very nice systemics out there. I have used Bayers systemic for roses on my landscape myrtles and my 1 pre-bonsai to keep them ahpid/goo free for many years now. Hope this helps.

Repotter

I was thinking that this was a Myrtus Communis (greek myrtle) however the scale can be controled by using the systemic along with an "all seasons" oil treatment also made by Bayer products.
Mix the oil with water as directions and spray generously both top and bottom of leaves, repeat this every 5 days. This will control the scale until the systemic takes over, which can be as long as ten days.
Myrtle does not exude any sap of its own.

Good luck, ..Hector

__________________
http://www.tellys.com

http://www.Fourseasonsbonsai.com
The original Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan.
Our guest master in August is Pedro Morales.
Tellys Greenhouse, 3301 John R road, Troy Mi. 48083

Four Seasons Bonsai Club meetings monthly.
Troy, Michigan

"Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.