Small leaves not opening up and falling

11 years ago

Dear forum,

I may need some more help from the experienced among you. Two of my plumerias in pot are not coming out of dormancy (Naples, Italy here, temps have been around 63-80 F for quite a few weeks now). Instead for the past month and half they have been growing new small leaves, that after a week or two of stillness, just drop. One of them had black tips, I believe, so I applied sulfur-based fungicide. The main tip died off, and several other came out from the side. But they drop too! I sprayed it three times with fungicide and they still do it. The other one, also rather dormant, grows new mini-leaves, then produces latex at the tip, and eventually, after a few days, those mini-leaves drop too. I keep using fungicide and a broad insecticide on both, once a week, but I don't see any progress. It may be just that the night temp are a bit cool, or that the black tip is a tough one? or maybe it's something they do after dormancy? Any advice is more than welcome! Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

David Richter
11 years ago
Stop using the fungicide and insecticide. Young leaves are brittle and the kind of stress you put them through with the constant application, probably is too much for them to handle and not necessary at this point as I don't see any damage that would indicate there is such a problem. The temperatures are not the problem and you should have a good growth in about a week or two. Also try spraying them with clear water to wash away residue that might clock the stomata of the leaves. (Any chance the insecticide is oil-based?) Good luck.
Vincenzo Bavaro thanked David Richter
PRO
the_first_kms2
11 years ago
I agree at this point its probably not an insect or fungal issue. How wet is the soil and what kind of Plumeria is it?
Vincenzo Bavaro thanked the_first_kms2
Related Professionals
Elgin Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Grand Rapids Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Potsdam Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Colorado Springs Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bloomington Landscape Contractors · Cambridge Landscape Contractors · Elmira Landscape Contractors · Watertown Landscape Contractors · Bennington Landscape Contractors · Marinette Landscape Contractors · El Dorado Architects & Building Designers · Springfield Architects & Building Designers · Ashland Architects & Building Designers · Jamestown Architects & Building Designers · Watertown Architects & Building Designers
Vincenzo Bavaro
Original Author
11 years ago
@the_first i haven't watered it in months, I was waiting for the leaves to develop a bit. I gave her a cup of water a month ago when I realized that those leaves were not getting any bigger or open up. It's a NOID from seeds. @David I'm gonna give them a rest with the sprays. Don't get me wrong, I sprayed it once every week/ten days, 3 times, _because_ for weeks the new leaves were not developing and dropping, and because I noticed the black tip developing. The last few leaves dropped after a ten day period of no-spray, that's why I thought the spray was not the problem- I am afraid the black tip is coming "down" and reaching the point where those leaves are. But I'm going to pause now for a couple of weeks and keep an eye on it. thanks!