What is wrong with my tobira?

Are there any oozing cankers on the branches and buds?

Do the roots and crowns have dark brown spots at the soil level?

Are the leaves distorted and yellow?

Is the plant yellow and stunted, with roots that have swollen galls?

Are the leaves yellow and the plant looks weakened?

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

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

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

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

Is there a black, sticky residue on the plant, small, white, cottony insects are present?

Oozing cankers on the branches and buds are caused by bacterial blight. The spread of the disease is greatest during humid, wet weather conditions. Practice good garden hygiene at the end of the season and discard, do not compost, possibly diseased plants and plant parts. Space plants to allow for adequate air circulation. Prune all infected branches below cankers.

These symptoms indicate fungal disease Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot. Phytophthora pathogens are favored by wet conditions, and the risk of disease can be reduced with good water management. The disease tends to affect plants in poorly drained areas. Provide adequate drainage and know the water needs of individual plants.

Distorted, yellow 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.

Yellow, stunted plants and roots that have swollen galls indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms are plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying chitin or introducing parasitic nematodes to the soil before planting. Solarizing the soil also helps in preventing root-knot nematodes.

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.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They produce the sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Soft scales are a known pest of tobira trees and shrubs. 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. 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.

Cottony cushion scales leave a black, sticky residue behind after feeding. Cottony cushion scale damages a tree by sucking sap from the leaves, twigs, branches, and trunk. Infestations can cause a tree to become defoliated and cause a dieback of the tree. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. 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.