Jasmine | Ortho

Plant:

Jasmine

Flowering

Spring and summer. Buds offer more fragrance than the flowers.

Adaptation

Warmer parts of the country.

Soil

Tolerates many types.

Water

Drought-tolerant once established.

Fertilizer

Medium.

Light

Full sun to part shade.

Brownish or black crusty bumps; thick, white, waxy bumps; or clusters of brown, yellowish, tan, or reddish scaly bumps cover both sides of the leaves, vines, and branches. The bumps can be scraped or picked off; the undersides are usually soft. Leaves turn yellow and may drop; small branches may die back. In some cases, a sticky substance coats the leaves. Black sooty mold may grow on the sticky substance.

Analysis

Many types of scales infest jasmine shrubs and vines. They lay their eggs on the leaves or bark, and in spring to midsummer the young scales, called crawlers, settle on leaves and twigs. The small (1/10-inch), soft-bodied young feed by sucking sap from the plant. The legs usually atrophy, and a hard crusty or waxy shell develops over the body. Mature female scales lay their eggs underneath their shells. Some species of scales that infest jasmine are unable to digest fully all the sugar in the plant sap, and they excrete the excess in a fluid called honeydew. A sooty mold fungus may develop on the honeydew, causing the jasmine leaves to appear black and dirty.

Solution

Apply an insecticide labeled for scales, following label directions.

Sooty Mold - Jasmine

Sooty Mold

Description

A black, sooty mold grows on leaves and stems. It can be wiped off the leaves easily.

Analysis

This common black mold is found on a wide variety of plants in the garden. It is caused by any of several species of fungi that grow on the sugary material left on plants by aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies, and other insects that suck sap from the plant. The insects cannot fully digest all the sugar in the sap, and they excrete the excess in a fluid called honeydew, which drops onto the leaves below. The sooty mold fungus develops on the honeydew, causing the jasmine leaves to appear black and dirty. Sooty mold is unsightly but is fairly harmless because it does not attack the leaf directly. Extremely heavy infestations prevent light from reaching the leaf, so the leaf produces fewer nutrients and may turn yellow. The presence of sooty mold indicates that the jasmine or another plant near it is infested with insects.

Solution

Rain will eventually wash off sooty mold. Plants can also be rinsed off with a solution of soapy water, using a mild soap. If only a few leaves are infested, just wipe off the mold with a wet rag. Prevent more sooty mold from growing by controlling the insect that is producing the honeydew. Inspect the leaves and stems of the ivy and nearby plants for insects.

Whitefly - Jasmine

Whitefly

Description

Tiny white-winged insects feed mainly on the undersides of leaves. Nonflying, scalelike larvae covered with white, waxy powder may also be present on the undersides of leaves. When the plant is touched, insects flutter rapidly around it. Leaves may be mottled and yellowing.

Analysis

This insect is a common pest of many garden and greenhouse plants. The four-winged adult lays eggs on the undersides of leaves. The larvae are flat, oval, and semitransparent. They feed for about a month before changing to the adult form. Both larval and adult forms suck sap from the leaves. The larvae are more damaging because they feed more heavily. Adults and larvae cannot fully digest all the sugar in the plant sap, and they excrete the excess in a fluid called honeydew, which often drops onto the leaves below. A sooty mold fungus may develop on the honeydew. In warm-winter areas these insects can be active year-round.

Solution

Remove heavily infested leaves. Vacuum plants to pick up adults. Apply an insecticide labeled for edibles, or houseplants if grown indoors, following label instructions. Treat plants at night when insects are not flying. Continue treatment if the problem continues.