Aside from this JBP in desperate need of watering (and a season bath), there appears to be a white fungus growing on the trunk and around the base of the needles (as shown in the pictures). Can anyone identify what kind of disease this might be and how to treat it?
I found this plant neglected at work and couldn't bear to see it die. I have scratched some of the bark.back and it is still green underneath, so I believe I can be brought back, I just need to know how to deal with the disease it appears to be afflicting it.
looks like aphrids or what I call pine aphids . The tree is in bad shape and even soaking this in water bath etc may not get it back . You can remove those aphrids with a high pressure hose initially but spraying like confidor will be a better long term solution however I would not recommend it in a tree this unhealthy . Some of the growth is dead and you could remove that back to green shoots/ buds . Defiantly give it a good soak and put in a sheltered spot maybe with morning sun for a week or two and see what happens
Matthew wrote:looks like aphrids or what I call pine aphids.
It was suggested to me by someone at work that it is powdery mildew. Is that a common disease for a pine? The areas affected do wipe off like it is powdery mildew...
Hi quodlibet_ens,
The tree is certainly in bad shape. However there appears to still be some live needles. I would try the following:
Spray the tree with the hose to remove as much of the infection as you can. Make sure you do this in a place where the spray won't contaminate other trees.
Place the tree in a bath of Seasol. Use 3ml per litre of water. Cover the pot. Leave it in the bath for a couple of hours.
Remove from the Seasol bath. Remove all the dead needles with tweezers.
Spray the tree with Eco Oil. You may have to treat it several times. Before applying Eco Oil again give it another spray with the hose.
Water each day. Give it a drink of Seasol a couple of times a week.
Once you have the infection somewhat under control give the tree a spray with Confidor. This should kill any lingering pests.
Spray the tree with the hose to remove as much of the infection as you can. Make sure you do this in a place where the spray won't contaminate other trees.
Place the tree in a bath of Seasol. Use 3ml per litre of water. Cover the pot. Leave it in the bath for a couple of hours.
Remove from the Seasol bath. Remove all the dead needles with tweezers.
Spray the tree with Eco Oil. You may have to treat it several times. Before applying Eco Oil again give it another spray with the hose.
Water each day. Give it a drink of Seasol a couple of times a week.
Once you have the infection somewhat under control give the tree a spray with Confidor. This should kill any lingering pests.
Thanks for this, Ray.
My concern now is whether I should remove the top layer of soil. After hosing and plucking dead needles, I'm worried that I will have spores from this fungus falling into the soil, further contaminating the plant, or at least making it harder to get rid of long term. Would removing the top soil be necessary?
Mmmm, if it's not dead then it's doing a pretty amazing job interpreting that condition.
Ray gave some nice advice so if your not sure it can't hurt to follow that (there is 'some' green!). I'd be happy if you could prove there is life left in this little pine, sometimes it's great to be wrong!
Mmmm, if it's not dead then it's doing a pretty amazing job interpreting that condition.
Ray gave some nice advice so if your not sure it can't hurt to follow that (there is 'some' green!). I'd be happy if you could prove there is life left in this little pine, sometimes it's great to be wrong!
I've scratched some bark back near the base of the trunk and I saw green. I thought I'd give it a shot.
I am amazed that no one here has suggested pine bark adelgid. Matthew probably has the correct problem by another name but this is a common pest of JBP.
This pine is pretty far gone now but they are resilient and could possibly come back.
Immediate treatment is a systemic pesticide because it is an insect attack. Confidor will do but Rogor is more effective but harder to get now. Whenever white cotton wool appears on pines treat with systemic insecticide. the whit cotton wool will persist after the pests are gone but in areas close to pines you may get reinfestation so regular treatment may be necessary.
I just wanted to share my recent experience with a similar problem though no where near as severe as this one.
I sprayed it heavily with white oil and since then, the tree has just gone from bad to worst.
All the white fluffy stuff has gone but all the young candles have died as well.
I think I over did it with the white oil and I am not sure if the tree will make it.
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Dennis A journey full of experiments
I am with Shibui on this.Though it does look like powdery mildew I suspect worse and pine Adelgid is a good diagnosis. Have seen this on pines near Mt Gambier and it is bad when it gets a hold. Treat first then try and reclaim/change soil etc. White oil is used to smother aphids and this is not aphids- if used in the heat can kill a tree as it also smothers the leaves/needles and creates a magnifying effect in the sun.
Last edited by SueBee on November 22nd, 2017, 6:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks for Sharing
SueBee
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Marcus Tullius Cicero
Have seen this on pines near Mt Gambier and it is bad when it gets a hold. Treat first then try and reclaim/change soil etc. White oil is used to smother aphids and this is not aphids- if used in the heat can kill a tree as it also smothers the leaves/needles and creates a magnifying effect in the sun.
