I think I see scale in that last picture at the base of two leaves. I am not 100% sure but others will be along to help soon, I am sure. Good luck with its recovery, Monica !

Marco

*DISCLAIMER...SCARY IMAGES*

*ANOTHER DISCLAIMER- I do not own these images, they are from the Google image search machine*

Spider mite damage

In all seriousness, you either HAD scale (I don't see any) or that is mechanical damage, such as a leaf rubbing against a pot during shipping.

Monica, I don't see anything that looks like a lot to worry about. Leaves get damaged... But DO get out a magnifying glass and look for scale. I don't see mealies, but Marco could be right about scale. It blends in SO well with the stems, it can be really hard to see (especially if you have "old eyes" like I do!!) They look like little brown bumps on the stems and in the crevices where the leaves join the stem. You can flick them off with a toothpick... It's important to examine all your plants regularly, because the more you have, the more likely you will (or do) have some buggers amongst the foliage. All you can do is be diligent and keep them at bay. Just today, I took down my 'Iris Marie' and found that I am STILL fighting mealies, despite systemics and showers of rubbing alcohol! That bi#ch! I mean, I love her, but she is such a pain in the butt!

Denise in Omaha

lol - Denise.

Thanks all. So far all Gardino's plants are doing great. CBFM - not so much! :-(

That's great Marco. I'm going to be placing another order with them today.

My Limoniaca from CBFM is getting worse. I was told the dark spots on the leaves were pigment from winter. If that's the case ......why are there now holes? I think it's pest damage and hoping they didn't spread a fungus or virus.

I got a Hoya Ilagiorum from Gardinos too and it is growing really well. New vines and leaves.

I wonder what caused those black spots on the Limoniaca? Is it some sort of fungus?

That's exactly what I thought. However l, Jodie (Cowboyflowerman) said it was just pigment that happens sometimes during winter months but I just noticed the other day that the pigmented spots on some leaves are getting holes. It must be pest damage (can't think of what else could be doing that). I know pests can carry fungus and/or viruses. I'll just keep my eyes on it and keep it in a different room from all my other one plants.

My merrilli had scale really bad and i sat there and plucked off all the nasty boogers (about 25 of them) and watered the plant with some bayer. Its too pretty to just throw away.

I think it's hard to tell on Hoya stems sometimes because to me they look like they could be aerial roots.

Monica, I have an itty bitty limoniaca in a 2 1/4" pot going if you'd like, although I think you're like me and like the big kids. :D

About the black spots and holes in the leaves ---

In many plants, you will see holes developing where there are spots of damage (may be due to physical damage, or disease, or other causes), if the spots are actually dead tissue, rather than a surface discoloration. The tissue in the center of the spot dries and may eventually fall out, leaving a dark rim. I can't tell for sure if this is the case from the pictures (and my aged eyes don't help). But if you are seeing holes where the spots were, and the edges of the holes are black, or dried looking, or brown and dried looking, it is likely the above cause.

When insects chew holes in the leaves, you will usually see obviously green tissue around the edges of the hole. And you don't usually see insects chewing holes in blackened or otherwise dead tissue. They generally go for nice fresh salads, just like we do. After a while, the tissue around the edges will turn brown. That's how you know whether insect-caused holes are new or not.

So, new insect damage will have green edges, old damage will have brown edges. That is important because if all of the damage has green edges, you know that the creature is still there eating, and some intervention may be necessary. If all of the holes have brown edges, you know that something was there, but isn't eating any longer. In that case, there is no point in trying to kill the pest --- it's usually not there any more. Just keep an eye out to see if new damage appears.

Can you post a close-up of a hole? That would help me see more clearly what the damage looks like.

And best of luck, in any case!