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Question-Bird of Paradise
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Bird of Paradise


Cres
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Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 00:54 Hello,
We have a new Bird of Paradise that we bought six months ago. It is winter so I assume it won't grow much. But I have noticed for the past few months that one of the leaves has what seem to be small brown-golden roughened areas on the undersurface. There is also a whitish powdery substance that can be wiped off on the undersurface. I wonder if it is a type of fungus. I am not sure if the plant had these when we bought it. We have a money tree, a kroton, maranta and orchids in the same area. Would appreciate any input. Many thanks.
Cres
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zuzu
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 01:52 Hi Cres. Welcome.

Cres wrote:
Hello,
There is also a whitish powdery substance that can be wiped off on the undersurface. I wonder if it is a type of fungus.
Cres

Reading your description, my first thought is Mealy bug,
which can sometimes infest Strelitzia plants.
I'd suggest cleaning the foliage well with a soft cloth or cotton ball wetted with rubbing alcohol.
This is also a pretty effective treatment for scale insects, which are another pest known to attack Bird of Paradise plants.

I can't really tell from your description
if the brownish, roughened areas are a part of the leaf itself ...
or if it is superficial, and able to be wiped away?

Root rot can be a problem with these when they are grown indoors – so be careful not to over-water.



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Cres
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 05:30 Does Bird of Paradise like a lot of water? I usually water it once a week. I shall try the rubbing alcohol. Thanks.
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zuzu
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 16:43 I keep my own very large potted BOP very much on the dry side during the winter months.

Rather than watering on a schedule, I would recommend checking the potting medium regularly and then only watering when the medium is pretty dry.

This is one plant where keeping the soil constantly damp over the wintertime can cause real problems.

Now, during the summer, I water my plant much more freely.



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Cres
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 18:52 So I cleaned the plant with rubbing alcohol. It seems that the whitish stuff comes off but some of it settled on the plants around the B of P. Do you think I just infected the other plants? ALso are you able to see "mealy bugs" as the white spots that I wiped off did not move as far as I could tell.
Thanks a lot.
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zwaluw
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 19:53 if you think you infected the other plants - you can use the same formulae for them as well, Cres..

(right, Zuzu?)



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zuzu
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Re:Question-Bird of Paradise - 2009/02/08 19:56 Quite right, zwaluw.

Keep a very close eye on all of the plants that were growing anywhere near your BOP.
If those were mealy bugs, then yes, they could have infested other plants,
both before and during your recent activity.

There is some info HERE which might be helpful.



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