Wednesday, April 29, 2009

What are these spots on my hollyhocks?

My hollyhocks have dozens (maybe hundreds) of tiny orange/bronze colored spots/dots on the top of the leaves. The underside has little "bubbles" or raised area under each spot that's on the top. Is that clear as mud?

What are these spots on my hollyhocks?
It's a fungus called (oddly enough) "rust". The only way to deal with it is to cut off the leaves that have it and burn them. If you hit it with water, it will release the spores and cause even more damage.
Reply:they are called rust spots you need to treat it with a special fungicide solution that you should be able to pick up in a garden centre ...
Reply:dying
Reply:Parasites or bugs i think. look at this article





Galls:





Galls are abnormal plant growths caused by various organisms (insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and viruses). Because of their unusual forms and colors, galls often cause homeowners to become concerned. However, galls seldom threaten plant health and their numbers are highly variable from season to season. For those reasons, control is generally not suggested.





Galls are formed by insect/mite feeding or egg-laying activity. Either mechanical damage or salivary secretions (introduced by insects and/or mites) initiate increased production of normal plant growth hormones. These plant hormones cause localized plant growth that can result in increases in cell size and/or cell number. The outcome is an abnormal plant structure called a gall.





Gall formation generally occurs during the accelerated growth period (late spring) of new leaves, shoots, flowers, etc. Mature plant tissues are usually unaffected by gall-inducing organisms. The gall-making organism develops inside the gall and the gall continues to grow as the insect/mite feeds and matures. Once gall formation is initiated, many galls will continue to form even if the insect dies. In addition, most galls are usually not noticed until they are fully formed and remain on plants for extended periods of time. During heavy infestations of leaf galls, leaves may drop prematurely from the tree. Most galls do not adversely affect plant health. Therefore, management is generally not suggested to protect plant vitality. Chemical applications are often ineffective since the precise timing of sprays is critical. To be effective, sprays must be timed to coincide with initial insect/mite activity before gall formation begins. Once galls start to form, they conceal the causal organism and it is too late for treatment.











I think this is what is on your plants.


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