I've got a Camellia sasanqua growing in a pot. We've had a dreadfully dry late summer/autumn. I keep it watered with a drip system every 2 days. What is going on here? Is there a solution? Most of the leaves still look OK, but this seems to be taking over.
This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 2:58 AM
Maybe powdery mildew? Here's a website with some info...it was written for vegetables but the prevention and treatment would be the same for other plants as well. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7406.html
I am not an expert, however, it could possibly be a mite infestation. In any event, the link below is an excellent site with photos showing many types of insects and the damage they cause. Check it out. Snug, :o)
http://www.insectimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Spider%20Mites&Start=46&results=168
The webbing looks very much like an indication of spider mites. A dry atmosphere encourages mites. Here is a link to a publication from our local extension service at Clemson University: http://entweb.clemson.edu/eiis/pdfs/to13.pdf
It indicates that mites do effect camellias and suggest a number of controls from a spray of water every 3 days to dislodge them to chemical controls.
I feel fairly certain that what you have there is a mite infestation, again, due to the tell tail webbing. However, you may be able to confirm this. Try the following. Hold a sheet of white paper under the leaves and rap them sharply or shake them briskly to dislodge the mites (I would try thumping the stem while holding it over the paper.) You should be able to see the very tiny, barely visible mites moving across the white paper.
Here is another link which suggests using a variety of horticultural oils to kill mites on camellias: http://www.camelliaweb.org/kb_results.asp?ID=34
Here is a paper that specifically mentions a type of mite effects camellias and which is found in Australia: http://www.ngia.com.au/publication_resources/np_pdf/np_1999-10.pdf
Another source with guidance on controlling mites on camellias: http://www.camelliasrus.com.au/advice.htm
Thank you scutler! Your background research helped me also as mites are very common garden and indoor pests that I have had to deal with every year without fail. Ironically, this focus on insect damage also coincides with today's newsletter (3/30/09) from DG on identifying pest damage by Toni Leland. Snug - :o)
