What is wrong with my Eugenia?

Do the leaves of your Eugenia have spots or blotches?

Are there any rust-colored spots on foliage?

Are there any blister-like lesions near the base of the plant and streaks on leaves?

Are the leaves discolored?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Are the leaves yellow and the plant looks weakened?

Is there a white layer formed on the branches and nearby surfaces?

Are the leaves yellow, branches, and leaves are covered with small bumps?

Are the leaves and twigs covered with small, armored insects?

Your Eugenia plant is suffering from a fungal leaf spot. These can come from several fungus diseases, causing spots to occur on foliage. Spots may enlarge rapidly, especially in wet weather. Destroy infected leaves or plants. Spray plants with sulfur to prevent the disease from spreading, especially if the weather is wet. Spray between rains. Prevent problems by thinning plants to provide good air circulation.

Rust-colored spots on foliage indicate 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.

Smut fungus attacks mostly young seedlings as the new leaves emerge. It causes blister-like lesions near the base of the plant and streaks on leaves. The streaks mature into black powdery spores. The fungus stunts the growth of the plants. More mature plants are not as susceptible. If the infection is mild, cut off and destroy all infected leaves. In more severe infections all you can do is destroy plants to stop smut from spreading.

Eugenia psyllid is an insect that sucks plants sap, causing discoloration and distortion (cupping) of foliage. Adults, about 1/10 inch long, are commonly known as "jumping plant lice", resembling tiny cicadas, covered with whitish waxy filaments. Control them by spraying shrubs in early spring with light horticultural oil to kill adults and eggs. Spray established pests with insecticidal soap every 3 to 5 days for two weeks.

Large, ragged holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

Yellow leaves and stunted look are caused by 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.

Glassy-winged sharpshooters drain leaf fluids. The fluid waste they excrete dries to form a white layer on the branches and nearby surfaces. These bugs transmit the deadly Xylella fastidiosa bacteria. Organic insecticidal soap controls these pests, but complete control on large trees requires patience.

Soft scales are known to attack Eugenia. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Small, armored insects on leaves and twigs are armored scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Mineral deficiencies can cause tip chlorosis or necrosis or cause foliage to discolor, fade, distort, or become spotted, sometimes in a characteristic pattern that can be recognized to identify the cause. When nutrient deficiencies occur, nitrogen and iron are the most commonly seen deficiencies. Apply only the mineral found to be deficient. Excess nutrients, on the other hand, cause symptoms like leaf tip dieback, marginal leaf chlorosis, necrosis (or burn), branch dieback, and pest problems. In this case, you should provide good drainage, and use good practices during fertilization and irrigation.