madoherty
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Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/28 19:28
My fukien has been in trouble for a while. I discovered aphids on it about a month ago, and at the same time I found white worms in the soil (very thin and long- not larvae as far as I can tell). I started treating it with neem. The aphids are mostly gone, though I still find a couple here or there (still apply neem about once a week). Around the same time as the aphids popped up there was a black fungus (?) on a couple leaves. That blackness has hung around and is getting worse, and now there are leaves with brown spots on them that are dried and eat through some leaves. In addition there are some leaves with yellowing. I tested the soil, and there is very little nitrogen in it. I have started to use the seaweed/fish food, but haven't really hit it with a watering with it yet, only a spray on the top soil here and there. I also tested the soil for ph, which was 7.5+, and so I have added some sulfur to the top soil. Any ideas?
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-Michael A Doherty
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/28 19:29
picture #2 
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/28 19:29
Picture #3 
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/28 19:30
Picture #4 
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crash712us
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/29 16:10
I have notice this on my fukien tea before, don't know what it was. But I rubbed it off the leaves and haven't seen it back. And I drench the plant from the top down when I water, this may aid washing away whatever this is.
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jp8127
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/29 17:38
I have read that malnurished trees can become succeptable to disease and be generally sickly. Hopefully it is a case of this and your tree will recover promptly.
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/29 18:31
I ended up re-potting yesterday. The soil was very very peaty and wet. I think that it must have been in the same soil for quite some time. I treated it with fungicide just in case as well. I am hoping for a re-bound. Thanks!
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iamurthman
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/29 19:25
Hi Michael, here's a brief run down on your tree. Fukiens need high humidity to flourish. They enjoy high temps, allowing that the humidity is equally high. Always be cautious not to expose the tree to sudden blasts of cold outside air. Indoors they prefer partial shade. Don't expose to direct sun past mid-morning. Feed low-nitrogen fert. all year if winter temps. are high, but reduce feeding if growth slows in winter. Excessive nitro. will reduce flowering. Keep soil wet in the growing season and evenly moist when growth slows. A soil mix with about 80% organic material will satisfy their love for water. Repot every 2-3 yrs. Don't feed until growth has restarted and keep soil evenly moist (not wet) for about two weeks after repoting. Aphids and black spot are two main enemies of fukiens. The spots in pic 2 looks like dead aphid bodies. Add a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle and drench the tree from top to bottom, making certain to wet the under side of the leaves as well. Try to wash off all aphids you can see, live or dead, at the same time. Some of the leaf damage may be the result of the aphids eating into the under-side of the leaves. Getting rid of the aphids will solve alot and daily misting and better ventilation should clean up the black spot, which, while unsightly, rarely causes damage to the tree. I hope that helps, it's as brief as I could be.
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/30 02:11
That is helpful. Thanks much.
Would you suggest a fan to help ventilation?
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/11/30 04:10
A small oscilating fan would help keep spores mobile.
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 17:44
Well, leaves are still turning yellow, and falling off- some with dried brown tips. The black stuff continues to spread. Any chance of recovery for a fukien after all the leaves are gone?
Post edited by: madoherty, at: 2009/12/01 18:00
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djlen
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 18:03
I had one almost completely defoliated from Aphids and it's coming back nicely.
I'm not sure what to tell you with regard to the Black Spot. I used Neem Oil for that and then the d*mn Aphids went after it and I used Safer's Soap for them. The Safer's is a great product for Fukiens. I spray mine with it every other week to keep the Aphids at bay. They are very hard to eradicate, but I'm assuming that they will eventually give it up if I'm resolute about the spraying.
Post edited by: djlen, at: 2009/12/01 18:07
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 18:10
I had one almost completely defoliated from Aphids and it's coming back nicely.
I'm not sure what to tell you with regard to the Black Spot. I used Neem Oil for that and then the d*mn Aphids went after it and I used Safer's Soap for them. The Safer's is a great product for Fukiens. I spray mine with it every other week to keep the Aphids at bay.
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Len
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 18:21
Yeah. I don't see any aphids anymore, so I think that they gave up on this tree for now. Good to hear that your bounced back. I wonder if I should give it another shot of neem...
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iamurthman
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 19:35
Two things will cause yellowing and defoliation like that. Too sunden exposure to direct sunlight. When moving the tree from indoors to outside, or from a shady spot indoors to a sunny window, the tree needs to be slowly acclimated to the sunnier spot. Sudden drops in temp., a blast of chilled air when the front door opens, or you open a window to let in some fresh air, if it's colder than 55F outside, you need to protect the tree. They will bounce back when the situation is corrected, but sudden exposure to the sun can be more debilitating.
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/01 19:43
I did move it into a room with more more light and under under a fluorescent lamp. I will move it away and slowly acclimate it to the new area. thnx
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/23 19:25
Update: The fukien had kept only three leaves after the defoliation. This morning I saw the first hint of a new leaf on its lower trunk!
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/24 16:06
Good sign that it's starting to re-generate. They are tougher than one might think.
Just try to keep it's environment as stable as possible, making only small changes at a time.
They get cranky if you don't. 
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Len
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/29 01:56
This is why I keep my Fukien indoors year round  . Insects LOVE them no matter what you do, and I've found that they really go downhill when you use any type of insecticide, even neem, on them. It's the one tree that really is ok being inside all the time (with the right environment), which is a relief. She's kept in the bright bathroom or near the fish tank in the bedroom (moisture, air movement). Once you are sure you're rid of those pests, do everything you can to prevent reinfestation. It's an easy tree, but it has this one big Achilles heel. 
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madoherty
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Re:Fukien Troubles - 2009/12/29 18:53
I found this note of caution that was most likely the cause of the defoliation of my fukien... word to the wise:
"IMPORTANT: Do not use products containing Neem Oil within 14 days of applying these fungicides. The mix of both products can greatly increase risk of phototoxicity (burning) to your plant."
This is what happened to my fukien.
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