Camelia.

I have a White Camelia in a pot, It has been outside during the winter in a hopefuly sheltered corner by the house, it looks fine except for what looks like soot on some of the leaves. Can anyone help by telling me if and how I can cure this please.

Norma.

 

Its probably sooty mould.
It could have been caused by scale insects or aphids last summer.

It, in itself will not harm the plant, it just looks bad.

You can wash it off the leaves with soapy water.

Next summer you need to give an insecticidal spray to kill off the bugs that are causing the honey dew problem that the sooty mould grows on.

 

Many thanks pete I thought of washing the affected leaves with soapy water but thought it best to get advice first, and I will make a note to treat it in the summer as you advise. Thanking you once again and wishing you happy gardening.
Norma.

 

Everything pete says. After they banned malathion I found that "Provado ultimate" works fine as the insecticide.:WINK1: