Stem rot and root rot are plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens. It may seem to you like your bamboo is doomed. Aphids are small crawling insects that are either black or green in colour. Chemical treatment: Confidor or Crown are good contact and systemic insecticides. You're looking for signs of sticky trails along the leaves and stems of the plants. If the problems areas are quite localised, then removal of affected foliage or stems may be an option. Bamboo Forums for the discussion of growing bamboo plants and sharing photos bambooweb.info • View topic - Black sooty mold growing on bamboo culms BAMBOOWEB.INFO The problem is caused by aphids that secrete a sticky honey-like substance that accumulates mostly in the branch bases. And most of these issues are very treatable – if you catch signs early. Blasting with water can also removed localised infestations. Stem Rot/Root Rot. Though … This "mold" can be scraped off with a fingernail to reveal a healthy green leaf below. Any bamboo species with dense branch compliments at the nodes are good candidates. Aphids also seem to affect some plants more than others, and for most plants in the garden it is uncommon to see large numbers to the point where they are even noticeable without looking for them. Sooty mold, a black mold that covers shrub leaves and other plants, looks more alarming than it is. Step 3. Although sooty mold doesn't penetrate the plant tissues, it can weaken it by blocking sunlight. Often, ants are also visible on plants that show signs of sooty mould and mealy bugs. Sooty mold forms a gray or black coating on leaves, tender stems or flowers. Sooty mould looks just like the name implies – like a layer of black or grey fireplace soot over the leaves and branches. The sooty mould is actually secondary to insect infestations such as Mealy Bugs or Aphids that secrete a sugary 'honeydew' secretion. Treatment involves the eradication of the Mealy Bugs and / or Aphids. Step 2. The mold covering these trails is commonly referred to as sooty mold. The sooty mould is actually secondary to insect infestations such as Mealy Bugs or Aphids that secrete a … Sooty mold, as its name implies, is a dark soot like covering on the leaves and stems of a plant. Observe the bottom of new bamboo shoots. These insects exude a sugary substance called honeydew which the sooty mould grows off. On other plants (sometimes gingers) the source is often Aphids. This is a photo of a Mealybug Destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrozieri). Make-your-own treatment: Spraying with diluted methylated spirits. Attract beneficial insects to your garden! You must identify the pest growing on your bamboo plant and treat it with the appropriate insecticide. When your plants have black sooty mold, your real problem is caused by the insects, such as aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and scale. Your plant’s twigs, branches or leaves will be covered in a grimy, black soot. Not on a bamboo plant, but this is how sooty mold looks like Signs your bamboo has pests. 2. Bamboo Forums for the discussion of growing bamboo plants and sharing photos bambooweb.info • View topic - Black sooty mold growing on bamboo culms BAMBOOWEB.INFO If the problem is covering entire plants, and infestations are severe, then treatment is required. Sooty Mould is one of the most common problems with bamboo, especially on some of the B. Multiplex species. Sooty mold looks a lot like the name implies. These are the good guys that feed off the Mealy Bugs. The sooty mold will coat the leaves and canes in black mold, which in severe infestations can make the plant look unhealthy until new leaves … Being systemic, the chemical does not have to make direct contact with the pest, as the chemical is absorbed into the plant. How to Remove Sooty Mold on Bushes. Aphids excrete honeydoo, a sugary substance that coats the leaves, branches, and canes and is perfect for encouraging sooty mold growth during wet months. With bamboo, the source of the honeydew is often Mealy Bugs. Aphids are one of the most common pests and affect almost all vegetable, fruit, and landscape plants in some degree. They are fairly large (approx. Bamboo is very hardy. Posted on October 25th, 2015 by LeBeau Bamboo Nursery in. By removing these, the associated sooty mould and ants will also go away. Many people believe that someone may have dumped ashes or may have even caught the plant on fire when they first see this plant mold. Inspect your bamboo closely. Mix 1 part methylated spirits to 2 parts water. Mealy Bugs are usually easy to identify. The Mealy Bugs feed by sucking sap out of the plants, but usually with minimal harm, unless numbers are severe, in which case some leaf yellowing may occur.