I have now brought my hibiscus tree indoors and, of course, some of the leaves are yellowing. I expected that. I am also seeing tiny white flecks on some of the leaves and some dark, almost soot looking stuff around the buds. Can this be controlled with a soapy water solution? Should I spray it on or wipe it on the leaves with a sponge? Thanks for any help Peggy
it sounds like aphids are on your plant,thw white ones are the aphids and the black is most likely excrement or dead aphids,soap and water may workalone,but i add vegatable oil to that the solution,it will smother the aphids ,it works well on my sago palms.
The tiny white fleck are probablt white flies or aphids,and the black is sooty mold. This is a fungas that grows on the honeydew that whiteflies and aphids excrete, it can be wiped or sprayed off. To get rid of the insects i suggest using some insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, spray your plant once a week for about 3-4 weeks(or untill problem is gone) to make sure you have killed all the adults and larva. If that doesn't work you can also pick off all of the leaves off of your hibiscus and cut back the stems a bit,this way the insects will be cut off and not have any new food source and the hibiscus will sprout nnew growth in no time at all and be perfectly healthy. Hope you can rid yourself of the problem.
