AusBonsai

I just noticed some blackish type mould on the buds of a Japanese black pine. There are some white spots on the wood too.

I’ve treated by spraying with a copper fungicide.

Any advice on treatment or what’s lead to the problem?


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I can't see any photo of trunk spots but white spots on the bark is often pine bark adeljid, a sucking pest that can really affect a tree when numbers build up.
They are pretty hard to kill but a systemic insecticide seems to work OK. Treat all pines at the same time to kill any that may have moved but not yet seen.
If you are bringing home feral pines you are likely to import more because it is entrenched in pine plantations and other landscape trees.

Black mould is often from the honeydew that sucking insects excrete so the mould may be as a result of the adeljid on the tree.

Fatal?

Also, what pesticides are good and available?

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Adejid can be fatal in extreme case but usually makes the trees weak.
I've used Rogor but may not be able to get it now. Others report that confidor or other with imacloprid as the active are effective. Imacloprid is also getting hard to find. Bunnings do not stock any more. Some of our larger nurseries still have imacloprid insecticides available.

Daluke, I have found the best thing for this pest is to lay the tree on it's side and use a strong jet of water to blast everything that you can see (white mealy crap) away and then spray with ''Malascale'' or some other good insecticide mixed with a bit of oil. That usually sees it off for the rest of the season.

Thanks for the replies!