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I'm not sure what's going on with my Lilly Pillys, but they are developing whitish-grey patches on the leaves. I've looked at them under a magnifying lens but I cant see any insects that may be causing this. I also tried wiping/scraping it off, but it seems like it's embedded in the leaf itself so nothing comes off. I don't think it's powdery mildew. Can anyone help me identify what's going on here - and how can I treat them?
Hello @TingleFarm
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your lilly pilly.
I suggest having a quick look at this guide - How to diagnose a sick plant by @Noelle and How to diagnose and revive a sick lilly pilly by @Noelle. Would it be possible for you to post a photo of the body of the plant where the patch is very noticeable. Can you also please post a photo of the base of the plant as well. This will help us give a better diagnosis of your plant.
It's possible that it could be a combination of different factors that has caused your lilly pilly to get sick. A fungal or viral infection in combination with insect infestation. Waterlogged roots or perhaps an infection has been passed on from another plant.
Can you please tell us your watering and fertilizing schedule. Has there been any other activity that has been going around your lilly pilly? Any other information you can share with us would be very much appreciated. Once we have more information, we should be able to provide you with more advice.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Hi Eric,
Sorry about the delay getting back to you.
Here are some pictures of where they have been planted. Btw. - I planted these out only about 6 - 8 weeks ago. I did trim them down a bit, but there seems to be plenty of new growth happening. I'm just worried about the grey patches & I'd like to do something about them sooner rather than too late.
Hello @TingleFarm
Thanks for sharing those extra photos of the plants. If the issue with your Lilly Pilly leaves isn’t Myrtle Rust or scale damage but might be a different type of fungal infection, it could potentially be sooty mould or downy mildew. Sooty mould is a fungal growth that typically develops on the surface of the leaves and appears as a dark, sooty coating. It often occurs when honeydew is secreted by sap-sucking insects like aphids or whiteflies, although you mentioned not seeing any insects.
Downy mildew is another possible fungal infection that can cause discoloured patches on leaves. Unlike powdery mildew, downy mildew usually affects the underside of the leaves and can present as yellowish to greyish spots that might become darker over time.
To treat fungal infections on your Lilly Pilly, try using a broad-spectrum fungicide like Eco-fungicide or Yates Anti Rot Phosacid Systemic Fungicide, both available at Bunnings. These are effective against a wide range of fungal issues and can help control the spread of the disease. Make sure to follow the application instructions carefully and apply the fungicide to all affected and nearby healthy leaves as a preventative measure.
Additionally, improving airflow around the plants and avoiding overhead watering can help reduce the humidity that fosters fungal growth. If possible, remove and dispose of any heavily infected leaves to minimize the spread of the fungus.
Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using chemicals on your plants.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
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