Hi All, I have a two year old Akebia Quinata that has a problem and if anyone could give me any advice I'd be very greatful (I couldn't find any useful web pages that answer my question.) Despite being in good fertile, moist (but not soggy) soil, with lots of sun and feeding in the summer my Akebia has developed a disease and is loosing some of it's leaves and it seems to be getting worse...even some of the one's that are part of this springs new growth are being affected. Rather than try and describe I've enclosed pictures. I've already sprayed it a couple of times with a bug gun (aphid / greenfly / white fly etc all rounder) but it doesn't help. Thanks for any ideas you may have, Geoff
Hi Geoff, Your Akebia looks like it's suffering from fertilizer burn and possibly too damp conditions. They like a poor soil and just a topdressing of compost will keep them happy. Most vines do not need or like fertilizer. It can make them produce lots of top green growth and no flowers or fruit. From this site: http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/handbooks/vines/3.html "Horticulture notes No special fertilization is necessary for Akebia quinata to produce fruit." From this site: http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/handbooks/vines/3.html "The following vines are remarkably tolerant of poor soil: Five-leaf akebia (Akebia quinata)". I'm also wondering why you "sprayed it a couple of times with a bug gun (aphid / greenfly / white fly etc all rounder)". What bugs did you see? From this site: http://www.hortsource.com/Insectpagesbk/InsectsVines.htm "Akebia quinata - Five-Leaf Akebia - No serious insects or disease problems, but subject to San Jose scale." I don't see any evidence of scale. Have you found any? They also sometimes suffer from powdery mildew. Your second picture looks like some type of mechanical damage. Newt
