For many years I have grown a standard hibiscus which has always looked beautiful when in bloom. Over the past couple of years a grey and yellow growth (cant remember the name of this) has grown on the branches and seriously affecting it. Anyone know what this is and if anything can be done about it, or will I have to admit defeat and dig it up :'( A couple of photos attached. ( photo / image / picture from Gardengirl's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Gardengirl's Garden ) Moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Looks like gray mold, also known as botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea). Trim off all affected parts, remove blooms and leaves that have brown spots on them, that's how the mold begins. Throw them in the trash. Clean up the bed around it, you might want to replace mulch too since the spores can be living in it. Someone at your local garden center can recommend a fungicide to use on the rest of the plant. You might loose it though, if there is as much on it as appears in the photo, I can't really tell. Water at ground level not with a sprinkler that hits the leaves, that creates a perfect environment for mold spores.
Many thanks Toni. I think you are probably right about losing it, the mould is everywhere and if I trim the affected parts there will be nothing left. I may take a sample as you suggest to my local Garden Centre.
It looks more like lichen to me. And that is harmless and an indicator that your air quality is good. Can you take a closer picture of it?
No need to take another photo Eric, I think you are right, lichen it is. I remember recently Monty Don mentioning this on Gardeners World and he said it was harmless. Having said that, why is my hibiscus in such a sorry state? Will it recover to you think maybe next year? I also have it on my magnolia stellata and that bloomed really well this year and still looks healthy.
The lichen could be hiding other problems. Or it could just be that the plant is getting old. We expect things to live for ever, but they do have a life span like everything else.
I agree. Licken can hide other problems or even cause a secondary problem. Licken makes an interesting look for the Winter. We have allot of it there and I always worry about the host, or whatever it is.
Glad to hear it isn't grey mold. We don't get lichens in the city (quality of the air thing) so I am not familiar with them.
