I am not sure what these white patches are. Plant is a flower plant ( dont remember the name) Leaves are becoming tranaparent. Tried few basic spray but of no use. Would appreciate if anyone knows what these are & whats the solution?
Hello @Navjotkr
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your questions about your plants.
Thank you for sharing the photos, they’re actually very telling. What you’re seeing is almost certainly leaf miner damage, not a fungal disease or nutrient issue. The white, silvery, almost transparent patches are areas where tiny insect larvae have tunneled inside the leaf, eating the inner tissue while leaving the surface mostly intact. That’s why the leaves look papery or translucent rather than dusty or fuzzy. The little black dots you can see in places are frass, basically insect droppings, which is another classic giveaway.
Leaf miners are common on many flowering plants, especially softer-leaved ones, and sprays often “do nothing” because the larvae are protected inside the leaf. Contact sprays can’t reach them once they’re feeding between the leaf layers, so your experience with basic sprays makes total sense.
The best immediate step is to remove and discard the worst affected leaves, sealing them in a bag and putting them in the bin rather than composting them, because the larvae pupate and will just reinfest the plant. Once you reduce the population that way, you can protect new growth. A systemic insecticide works far better than surface sprays because it’s absorbed by the plant tissue and kills the larvae as they feed. Neem oil can help prevent egg-laying if applied regularly to new growth, but it won’t fix already damaged leaves. Spinosad is another effective option if it’s available where you are, as it can penetrate leaf tissue better than most general sprays.
Unfortunately, the damaged areas won’t turn green again, but if you stop the infestation, new leaves should come through healthy. Keep an eye on fresh growth, because leaf miners tend to attack the youngest leaves first. If the plant is otherwise healthy and watered well, it should bounce back once the pressure is removed.
Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using chemical sprays.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
@Navjotkr this is very common and @EricL has given great advice. 🌿🙂
thanks Eric & Mitch. Few of them are now surviving. Rest almost died because the spread was just too much - literally in all leaves.
