Knowledgebase

My plumeria is sick. Please help #754201

Asked June 05, 2021, 6:28 PM EDT

I have one plumeria about 4 foot tall that really is really struggling. And wondered if you could please help me. As a couple of leaves were looking sickly so I sprayed it lightly awhile back with some fungicide 3 . A Fungicide, miticide and insecticide. Since then one leaf ( picture 1)had gotten a lot worse and some leaves have brown spots on them. I haven't sprayed it with anything in about a month. Although the leaves come in bright green, ( Picture 3) although a little crinkly they get the brown spots on them (picture 2) and the plant just isn't thriving like it should be. I fertilized in with Nelson Plumeria food a 5 nitrogen, 30 phosphate 5 potash which includes some micronutrients, calcium magnesium, sulfur copper iron manganese and zinc about a month ago. It is sitting in a 15 gallon pot with good drainage. I have grown plumeria in the past that "shot' up like a rocket. This one really seems sick and don't know what to do. I have tested the soil with a home kit and everything seems to be in the normal range. What do you think?

Brazoria County Texas

Expert Response

Howdy, and thank you for your inquiry. One of the more common foliar diseases on plumeria is called Plumeria Rust (Coleosporium sp.). I encourage you to examine the article from Cooperative Extension of Hawaii for reference: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/pd-61.pdf. I also recommend to examine the underside of the leaves for tell-tale fruiting bodies of the fungus to further confirmation of the fungal pathogen. In the meantime, recommendations for control is basic sanitation (remove fallen and diseased leaves from the growing area, carefully remove and discard infected leaves, provide adequate air movement through the canopy, etc.) Mild outbreaks may be mitigated via use of fungicides rated for ornamental plants as a preventative rather than curative. If you decide to use any chemical application, always explicitly follow label guidelines for application, for your health and the health of your local environment.

Stephen Brueggerhoff, Extension Agent - Horticulture Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Galveston County Replied June 09, 2021, 10:26 AM EDT

Loading ...