White stuff on Jacaranda tree

Hello,

I've got a few Jacaranda tree which are indoors in pots - they are a couple of years old.

About a year ago white waxy stuff started to appear on the stems of the leaves (I'm not sure if that is the right term, but Jacaranda leaves look a bit like ferns) and also to some extent the stem of the plant. Some of them are now getting quite a lot of this stuff on them. I've look a lot on the internet but haven't been able to find out what it is. I also think it has now spread to a chilli plant next to them.

Initially the stuff is white, but then over time it will go brown. You can pull it off the plant and it's hardish but you can crush it between finger nails and it is then slightly wet.

I've attached a couple of photos.

Thanks for any help,
Grant

 

Hi fab photo's

on the stems it looks like scale insect but on the leaf stalk it looks like part of the plant , you can sit and just take them off , but you can use Metholadet spirits (sorry about spelling) on a cotton wool pad, (plus with you saying they are wet when you squeeze them ) try a small part of the plant 1st just so it doesnt damage the plant , I use this on my orange plant works a treat to kill them also on my bay tree if I have the time !!

Spruce

 

It does look like scale insect to me also, especially in pic no 1.
Does the plant become sticky?

I think I would just spray with Provado or similar.

You might find you get less scale once you put them outside for the summer.:WINK1:

 

I did wonder about scale insect, but wasn't sure. I'm very sure that the stuff on the stems is the same as the stuff on the leaf stalk. In both cases you can pull it off the plant reasonably easily, and they are both slightly watery when you crush it.

On the leaf stalks it starts with only a few and gradually spreads, the leaf I took the picture of was the most covered.

Initially they are small and whiteish/semi transparent then over time they go brown. Also if you pull some which are whiteish off the plant and crush them, they will start going brown within a minute.

The plant doesn't become sticky.

I might try spraying them with Provado and see what happens. If that doesn't work I may also try and see what methylated spirits does.

Thanks,
Grant

 

If the plant is not sticky I'm now wondering if it is actually scale insect.

Beginning to think it might just be a secretion from the plant its self.

 

If it is a secretion from the plant, I wonder why it is happening?

Also, there is a chilli plant next to the two worst affected jacarandas and very recently it has started to have something similar happen on it's leaves - for the most part the underside of the leaves. Although each individual thing is much smaller but maybe that's because they are new.

Thanks,
Grant

 

Hello Grant and welcome to GC.

I have just put up pics of my Jacarandas ...

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/members-gallery/25031-algarvean-daze.html#post432619

I know a lot of people on this forum, especially pete, grow the unusual in conditions not conducive (is that a / the word?) to their natural habitat. However, I do not think for a moment that Jacarandas can live healthily in indoor conditions. I have never seen an 'ill' or 'diseased' Jacaranda .. strip the leaves off and get them out in the fresh air.

 

When you say its indoors Grant, is that a greenhouse or in the house, kind of houseplant.

 

Hi,

They are kind of house plants.

My plan is to have 1 or 2 bonsai trees, and a couple 1.5-2 metre high trees.

The trees with the biggest problem are the two I'm letting grow a lot bigger. I repotted them 2-3 weeks ago and I've also stated to feed them.

Thanks,
Grant