Infestation of azalea bugs??

Rosana1

Hello there,

I have 4 very sick plants in my backyard, they live against a brick wall and were affected by some hours of sun and heat in summer, so many leaves got burnt. I did not worry about it, as there was a lot of new growth happening, but now I noticed these whitish appearance on the new growth. Took some photos and googled images as todas is a public holidays and I knew Bunnings would be closed. the answers were all about this infestation of azalea bugs, which really fits the profile, but I wanted to confirm with you guys.

I had some neem oil, so sprayed the leaves and cleaned them with my garden gloves. What else can I do and is this what you think is happening? I had just added soil and ulch to be prepared for winter…but the poor things are looking very sad..

Kind regards,

Rosana

JacobZ

Hi @Rosana1,

It could be azalea lace bugs, but you would normally expect to actually see signs of the insects themselves on the undersides of the leaves, along with black spotting (their droppings). If you do spot active bugs, you can treat them with an insecticide or neem oil, making sure to spray thoroughly under the leaves where they tend to hide.

If you’re not seeing any insects though, the white coating could be the onset of powdery mildew, which is a fungal issue. In that case, a fungicide labelled for powdery mildew will be more effective than neem oil. I'd suggest using https://www.bunnings.com.au/yates-150g-mancozeb-plus-garden-fungicide-and-miticide_p3010237 , ensuring you follow the instructions on the label closely Make sure to cover both sides of the leaves and repeat as directed on the label.

It’s also a good idea to remove the worst affected leaves and dispose of them to help limit the spread. Improving airflow around the plants will also make a big difference, especially since they’re up against a brick wall. A light prune can help open them up a bit and allow for better airflow.

More generally, keeping the plants healthy will help them recover. Water at the base rather than over the foliage, keep the soil well mulched, and consider a light feed to support new growth as conditions cool down.

Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/how-to-grow-and-care-for-azaleas?srsltid=AfmBOooOzDn2oav4vNH4iudjyM_0VDjpr5xPzDMfMhYWjQVcGPtjrg1p for some further guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob