Hi everyone, I've been very frustrated with my phoenix roebelenii not being able to figure out what this brown crusty stuff at the base of the leaves along the fronds is and how to get rid of it. It has been on this plant for years and I've tried spraying it with systemic insecticide and fungicide, but doesn't seem to help. What I would like to know is first, what this stuff is. Insect or fungus? Next I'd like to know how to get rid of it. I'll post some photos so you can see. Mostly, this brown crusty stuff grows on new fronds and keeps the leaves from opening up. when they do, this crusty brown stuff stays at the base of the leaves (see close up). I have 4 other phoenix roebeleniis and none of them have ever had this affliction. Also, I have this annoying rust fungus on my plumeria plants and was told that if I take all the leaves off and throw them away, the new growth will come in clean and stay that way. I did just this and when the new leaves came back in, they eventually got the rust fungus. Nothing surrounding has the rust fungus so I'm perplexed as to where it is coming from. I read somewhere that systemic fungicide doesn't work on plumeria rust fungus. Is this true? Any other suggestions on how to get rid of it? Thanks, Craig
Although the photos are not close enough for detail, I expect you are right it is a rust. I was going to suggest looking for the alternate host, as I know with other rusts the strategy is sometimes to remove alternate hosts, but my quick googling of that question generated a few pages stating alternate hosts are not (yet) known for the rust typical to this plant. The Romans used to try to placate Robigus, the god of rust fungi, to leave the crops alone ... but I have no info as to the efficacy of their efforts :-). If you have not already tried consulting a subforum relating to this family of plants, that might be worthwhile to do? good luck -frog
