Fatsia problem

Hello, This is my first post as a new member, and I hope someone can advise me what may be causing holes to appear on the leaves of what otherwise seems to be a very healthy plant. It started life as a house plant, and when it became too big I hardened it off and planted it in a deep, humus rich bed, on a N.E. wall, where it flourished. It has just got a super flush of new growth, but the new leaves are already begining to suffer. I have searched carefully but cannot find any obvious 'bugs'.Many of the old leaves eventually end up as skeletons. I am trying to master posting photos, I have taken three and will try to put them on later. Thanks to all you experts. Sinclair.

 

A number of leaf beetles can cause skeletoning of leaves. You said you can't find any, so I may be wrong, but it's all I can suggest at the moment.

 

Hello, Sinclair2, and welcome to GC.

As you are ending up with skeleton leaves, it could possibly be red spider mite. I have been told by pete here on GC that they are virtually impossible to see even with 10 power magnifying. To be honest, I can't suggest anything for red spider mite but perhaps someone else will come along and help.

I also have a Fatsia outside but in a pot and recently experienced the older leaves turning yellow but could not detect anything in particular. Then we saw it covered in ants the other day which was strange as it is in the middle of a grouping of plants and the ants were not on the others. I removed the affected leaves, sprayed with soapy water and all looks fine now.

Enjoy the forum!

 

I'm willing to bet its snails Sinclair2.
They tend to hide in amongst the leaves during the day and come out at night and munch the new growth.
Have a look after dark.
Always a good idea anyway if there is a problem but no easy answer.

 

Thanks Fonzie, Lady of Leisure and Pete. No beetles or other visible bugs found, snails are a universal problem on the Island, but the amount of damage would need a great number of them and I have searched well and made sure there are no hiding places for them.(Anyway they are all presently at a huge snail jamboree, where the menu is headed by my Marigolds). Red spider mite sounds like a possibility, the holes are sometimes surrounded with dead leaf tissue. Have not mastered the pic posting, I think it may call for a month at tech. collage. Tried photobucket (picoodle) - hopeless tangle. Meanwhile I will try the night watch! Sinclair.

 

With snails, I still say try a circle of salt around the plant and crushed eggshells at the base of the plant.

Keep trying Sinclair2, we all floundered and mastered Photobucket in the end ... have faith and patience! :D

 

Cant think its red spider mite, (Sorry LOL) they just dont do that kind of damage, much more subtle.

 

Oh, pete, I'm not saying that's what it is as I've not encountered it ... it was a suggestion from what you said to me when I couldn't see something.

I've been away all day and haven't had time to look up what could skeletonise plants!

 

I have a fatsia at the bottom of the garden and it has started to be munched by something as everything else has this year. I zapped it with the bug gun a couple of weeks ago and destruction seems to have stopped. I just think it has been a bad year for munching bugs whatever they are. I have to say with the tougher leaved stuff like fatsia they have started at the top with the tender new growth and worked down - I have never known such a bad year for bugs.

 

Hello Waco and all, last night we had a heavy rain shower, so late on I checked out the snail army, (after the rain we usually hear them marching around and singing) but there was only one lone fellow in the area. (I think the other 10,000 have O/D.d on Marigolds). Back now to photobucket.....that is my day taken up then...
Sinclair.

 

Ten tries for photos, no joy, glorious morning, must get out to the garden. Photobucket - biggest waste of time since computers....never had these problems with my ZX80....

 

The good old days Sinclair2 my start was the acorn atom.

 

Right, I think I have now got it!



This is one of three photos, how do I post more than one at a time from photobucket?

 

Morning Sinclair2. :eek: Sort of does look larger critters have been munching there.

As for posting more than one picture at a time ... after you have posted your link in GC, do a couple of "enters" to come down a couple of lines, go back into PB and pick up the next link then post it in your GC post, do a couple of "enters", back to PB and so forth. You can the Preview Post to see what they look like. If you know how to put up two screens, it's easier and quicker to have PB on one side and GC on the other so you can see what you are doing.

 

It does look a bit different to what I expected to see, but bearing in mind it must be something of some size to do that kind of damage, it must be visable at some time of the day or night.