Rhododendron Help Please

ChasingButterflies

Hi,

I think I have a poorly rhododendron, I think it is suffering from Leaf spot (Although I am not convinced looking at google images) I just wondered if anyone here might have any experience and can advise me what the problem is - my concern is that the plant may need some sort of treatment but I don't want to do the "wrong" thing!

It is a very mature plant and it only seems to be suffering on one side (located under a tree and it is the shaded side that is covered in spots/grey coating)

Thanks in advance for any tips!

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lou37

Hi
I'm not an expert on Rhododendrons as I live in a chalky area, but it looks to me like it could be sooty mould caused by the by-products of sap sucking insects (like aphids). A test to see if it is this, is to see if you can remove the black stuff on the leaf with a damp cloth/kitchen paper.

If it is sooty mould, you can clean it off the leaves, but you'd need to deal with the sap suckers to prevent it coming back. The RHS site has a picture of an affected plant and info on treatment.

ChasingButterflies

Lou37 Thank you so much!!

It does look like Sooty mould could well be the issue (I would go check now but it is tipping down )

Looks like I will need to get the ladders and a cloth out if the rain will stop for long enough.

Thanks again, I knew something wasn't quite right, at least I now know what I am dealing with.

sobie

Its most likely scale insect. they secrete a honeydew which drops onto lower leaves and quickly turns to sooty mold.