Sick Pyracantha

fluffy

Rec'd a 19 year old beautiful pyracantha for Christmas from reputable bonsai shop. Was doing great, brought home a heather plant that was apparently housing insects, (both green and black aphids). The pyracantha got infected, and came home from a 3 week trip in March to find some of the leaves literally black with aphids (mother in law doesn't see so well - did fine on watering but I've NEVER seen a plant so covered in bugs). The leaves were also covered in a shiny substance. Have tried a sytemic, have thoroughly washed the bugs off outside several times. I believe the bugs are under control, (also using insectisidal soap a couple times a week), but something else is wrong. It was doing okay, flowering, putting on a lot of berries, then it suddenly dropped maybe 1/2 of the leaves. It honestly looked like it had been hit by chemicals, some of the leaves looked burned, and others . It was in a kitchen window w/great exposure, behind the sink and we can only guess the cleaning person hit it w/oven cleaner or something similar. It has since been moved outside on a covered porch, but it's still dropping leaves. It will flower, put on berries and then the berries will shrivel and fall off. Is this fireblight? After reading about it, the leaves do look sort of torched. I keep taking the affected leaves off, but more keep coming up.

Any help would be appreciated, and thanks.

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BrianBay9

Could be fireblight. Generally the fireblight bacterium is spread through the flowers, transmitted by bees as I understand it. it starts at the distal end of the branch, and gradually spreads inward toward the trunk. I looks all the world like you've taken a torch, and burnt the ends of the branches....hence the name.

If it is fireblight, the only thing you can do is cut the branches two or three inches in from the symptoms, and carefully dispose of the infected branches. Be sure to sanitize your pruners between cuts with a solution of bleach.

Good luck
Brian

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