How to treat sick Lilli pilli dropping leaves?

[johnwarner]

Hi,

I have a sick Lilli pilli. It's dropping leaves and new growth goes brown and dies.theres a white substance covering the stems and trunk with black spots on it.

Any help greatly appreciated. 

John.

How do I upload photos.

Says file type can't 

[JacobZ]

Hi @johnwarner,

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

It sounds like you could have a scale issue, which can likely be treated with this Yates Ready To Use Scale Gun Insect Pest Killer, but seeing the lilly pillies would certainly help to confirm this. 

Likely, the file format is not compatible with Workshop's backend software. This is a pretty common issue with the file format of some smartphones. If you can send your photos through to Workshop@bunnings.com.au, I can convert them to a suitable format and upload them on your behalf.

When we can see the issue, I will be happy to offer further guidance.

You might like to check out How To Grow And Care For A Lilly Pilly for some general advice on caring for your lilly pillies.

Jacob

[johnwarner]

[JacobZ]

Hi @johnwarner,

Thank you for sending those photos through.

I'm not 100% certain what the issue is, but it looks like it could be either insect-related or a fungal issue.

If you run your hand over the black spots on the trunk, do they feel raised or sticky?

It looks like they could be caused by a scale insect. If you grab a knife or thin-bladed tool and scrape over the black bumps, do they come off? 

What is the soil like? Is there a lot of leaf matter built up around the trunk? Does it look like it is constantly sodden?

I think we'll have to do a little bit more investigating to be sure of the cause and propose solutions.

Allow me to tag our knowledgeable gardeners @Noelle and @robchin to see what they think your lilly pillies are dealing with.

I will assist further when you can get back to us.

Jacob

[johnwarner]

Hi Jacob,

I've had another look and the black spots are raised but hard not sticky, and the spots and white stuff scrapes away easily. The stems are green underneath. 

I do live in a swampy environment but all other trees in my headge are unaffected. 

I do have banana stalks on the ground as mulch but will remove and clear around the bases of the tree.

So far I have treated with fortune 500 followed by copper oxychloride and then white oil. And will re dose today and tomorrow.

Any more advice is greatly appreciated. 

Thanks again.

John

[MitchellMc]

You’ve already taken great steps, @johnwarner. That combination should address both the insect and any secondary fungal issues. I’d suggest holding off on further spraying for a little while now, just to avoid overloading the plant. Instead, gently wipe affected areas with a damp cloth or soft brush to remove remaining residue, and keep the area around the base of the plant clear to improve airflow. Removing the banana stalks and excess mulch will definitely help reduce humidity and discourage further fungal growth.

Because you mentioned living in a swampy environment, improving drainage where possible or slightly raising the soil level around the plants with fresh free-draining garden soil can make a real difference. Lilly pillies prefer moist but not waterlogged soil.

If you see fresh signs of scale returning in the next few weeks, reapply a horticultural oil spray, making sure to coat the undersides of leaves and stems thoroughly. Otherwise, give the plant some recovery time and a light feed with a balanced fertiliser once new growth starts to appear.

Mitchell

[johnwarner]

Thanks Mitchell 👍