What Is Wrong With My Perilla Plant?

Are the seedlings dying and the stems are girdled or rotted at soil line?

Do the leaves have pale areas on upper surfaces and "downy" patches underneath?

Does the plant wilts suddenly, yellow streaking on the foliage is apparent?

Are the leaves pale on their upper side and are there any dusty blisters on the undersides?

Are the leaves curled and yellow?

Are the seedlings clipped off at the soil line?

Does your plant have leaves rolled into tubes?

Is the plant weakened, and the leaves are turning yellow?

Are the leaves stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

If your seedlings are falling over and the stems are girdled or rotted at the soil line, the most likely cause is a damping-off disease. Remove and destroy all infected plants. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.

Pale areas on upper surfaces of the leaves and "downy" patches underneath are caused by Downy mildew. This fungus spreads quickly during cool, wet nights and warm, humid days. Leaves will wilt and die. Remove and destroy all affected plant parts and encourage good air circulation around plants by thining them. Water plants early in the morning to make sure they dry before nightfall.

Bacterial wilt causes a yellow streaking on the foliage and sudden wilting. Remove and destroy infected plants. Do not replant honeydew or any other susceptible plant species in that area for several years. Control cucumber beetles because they are vectors for bacterial wilt.

Likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Rust. Provide good air circulation around plants by thining them. Avoid making leaves wet when watering. All infected leaves should be removed. Spray leaves with sulfur early in the season to prevent rust or to treat mild infections.

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Cutworms feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground. Using BTK spray on the ground will also control their numbers.

Rolled leaves are caused by leafrollers. These green caterpillars with brown heads feed on the enclosed leaves and buds. If the infestation isn't severe, handpick the rolled leaves with caterpillars. Spray more heavily infested shrubs with light horticultural oil according to the directions of the label to smother the insects and any eggs.

Weakened plants and yellow foliage indicate whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Leaves stippled with yellow and webbed foliage is caused by spider mites. These tiny, spider-like pests feed by sucking sap from the underside of the plants leaves causing yellow flecking on the upper leaf surfaces. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap, or pyrethrin as a last resort.

If there are tiny holes in leaves they are caused by Flea beetles. These tiny, black, brown, or bronze beetles hop when disturbed. Larvae are small and white, feed mostly on the undersides of leaves. Prevent problems by covering young plants with row cover. Control severe infestations by spraying or dusting plants with pyrethrin.