How to treat brunfelsia plant with spots on leaves?

[jbr63]

my brunfelsia plant has spots on the leaves mainly white what could be the problem?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @jbr63. It's terric to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about plant care.

White spots on Brunfelsia leaves that radiate outwards could be due to a few potential causes, most commonly fungal infection, pest activity, or environmental stress.

If the spots are dry, slightly sunken, and have a defined edge with a bit of a halo effect, it’s likely a fungal leaf spot—something like Cercospora or similar. These fungi thrive in warm, humid conditions and can spread easily if the plant is overhead watered or overcrowded.

Alternatively, if the white marks are more like tiny specks or clusters, inspect the underside of the leaves for pests like spider mites or whitefly, as they feed on the sap and can cause stippling or bleaching in the leaves.

To treat the issue, remove and dispose of affected leaves (don’t compost them), then spray the plant with a fungicide that’s suitable for ornamental plants—Yates Fungus Gun or Eco-fungicide would be good options. If pests are present, consider using a horticultural oil like Eco-Oil.

Make sure the plant has good air circulation around it, water at the base rather than over the leaves, and avoid working with it when it's wet, as that can spread pathogens.

Let me also mention @Noelle to see if she has any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Noelle]

Hi @jbr63 

I think Mitchell has hit the nail on the head with his suggestion of a fungal disease. The halo or rim around the spots on the upper surface are rather typical of a fungal infection.

[Gazbot]

How do you treat the fungal infection ??

[JacobZ]

Hi @Gazbot,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

To treat the fungal infection, you would follow the steps Mitchell mentioned above. 

Start by removing and disposing of affected leaves, then spray the plant with a fungicide that’s suitable for ornamental plants, such as Yates Fungus Gun or Eco-fungicide. 

Also, as fungal infections thrive in moist environments, make sure the plant has good air circulation around it and ensure you water at the base rather than over the leaves.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob