My rhodo has had buds covered in a black 'stain', but not sticky, for several years. I picked each one off and gradually the problem lessened and nothing this year. Not all the plant was affected and other buds flowered normally.
Possibly bud-blast. Picking off helps to stop spead. But getting rid of the leaf-hopper carrier is more efective.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
My rhodo has had buds covered in a black 'stain', but not sticky, for several years. I picked each one off and gradually the problem lessened and nothing this year. Not all the plant was affected and other buds flowered normally.
That's quite a common problem on plants Mrs B. It can be deposits from sap sucking insects - creating sooty mould. It often occurs when they're below something else and it drops onto them. More inclined to be on foliage though. If you do a search you should get some info and you can compare photos. The RHS site will likely be a good place to start
That could also be the problem with your rhodo @billy5. Sooty mould. Aphids are often around at this time of year, although it can also be caused by scale insect. Rhodos don't tend to be affected by scale too badly, although I expect it could depend on where you are. Never had it on anything, including Acers, which many people find.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl - The plant is not rotting it looks perfectly healthy. Drainage holes are clear as water runs out of bottom of tub during watering. Neither is it drying out as I check the dryness of the soil regularly and water when necessary. There are no visible insects, aphids etc on the plant. If I could send a photo I would. But, all you would see is a very healthy plant with green shiny leaves and perfectly formed flower buds. As previous, I have removed a bud and made an attempt to unfurl the flower. This is not easy. It's as if the leaves around the bud have been superglued together. But, when unfurled, there is a perfectly healthy flower inside.
Bede - Sorry! I may have given the wrong description. The plant has never had sticky buds before. So, it's not a natural occurence - like say horse chestnuts. I intend leaving the plant insitu whether it flowers or not as I would create a very empty corner in my garden. I will try to be patient but, unfortunately, with this plant anyway I don't have much optimism! The plant has never been treated with any form of insect deterrent.
Mrs B3 - Thank you for your input. I have already suggested that I cut off all the buds. But been advised not to be so drastic.
Internet info would suggest that some form of insect lays eggs in the buds and these form some sort of 'honeydew fungus'? All very vague and nothing specific about a possible cure or prevention.
Once again thank you all for your advice. But, I reckon I have resigned myself into not seeing any flowers - hopefully for just this year - on this once beautiful plant.
Did you see my previous comment about the sooty mould? If you Google a few sites, as I said to @Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants, that may give you some ideas to look into.
It may just be slower to flower this year, so give it a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Mine is certainly slightly later than usual, along with some other plants
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl - If the problem is, as you say, sooty mould and the plant does not produce flowers? What should I do? If the buds are 'infected' is it advisable to cut off all the flower buds? Or do I leave them, presumably, to drop off without flowering? Is this sooty mould a seasonable infection ie Will the plant recover next year? Or is it ongoing?
I must point out that there has been no sign of any insect or aphid infestation this year. I suspect, only a guess, that this happened last season, although it was not visible, and is, to be pessimistic, ongoing.
I've never had sooty mould on them, or on anything in any garden, so I can't really advise further. You'd have to determine if it is that or not before doing anything. It sounds likely but it's impossible for any of us to advise accurately without seeing it.
If it is that, it's not an infection as such, just a by product of aphid infestation, so it's worth looking it up as I suggested earlier, to see if it looks like that, and following the usual procedures to clean it off. Check out the RHS site I mentioned, or similar ones - but avoid American sites and youTube. Anyone can write what they like on the latter without any validity. It can happen if there are overhanging trees with aphids as the secretions drop onto other planting, which then creates the problem. If in doubt, wait and see how things develop. It could simply be that the buds haven't developed properly which is usually due to lack of water the previous summer when they form, and aren't thriving, in which case they'll drop by themselves or shrivel up. From your description, a flower within the tight bud, it sounds as if they've just stalled.
I'd also add that when you mentioned water coming out the bottom of the container so it's therefore not dry - that isn't always the case. If a pot of any size dries out, it's extremely hard to rehydrate it properly, and water can just run through and out the bottom, giving the appearance of the soil within being damp enough when it isn't
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl - Once again thank you for your advice. I think it's about time we put this one to bed and maybe write it off as a bit of a mystery.
I can assure you that the soil has been watered regularly and that the tub has never been left to dry out. I assume that flower buds would not have formed if I hadn't watered it regularly? I intend leaving the plant now and waiting to see what happens. If no flowers appear I will let buds drop off naturally and keep my fingers crossed for next year???
That's great @Billy5 - glad it was all ok Many plants reliably flower every year, with hardly any difference in timing, but it doesn't take much to knock that sideways.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
If you do a search you should get some info and you can compare photos. The RHS site will likely be a good place to start
That could also be the problem with your rhodo @billy5. Sooty mould. Aphids are often around at this time of year, although it can also be caused by scale insect. Rhodos don't tend to be affected by scale too badly, although I expect it could depend on where you are. Never had it on anything, including Acers, which many people find.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Bede - Sorry! I may have given the wrong description. The plant has never had sticky buds before. So, it's not a natural occurence - like say horse chestnuts. I intend leaving the plant insitu whether it flowers or not as I would create a very empty corner in my garden. I will try to be patient but, unfortunately, with this plant anyway I don't have much optimism! The plant has never been treated with any form of insect deterrent.
Mrs B3 - Thank you for your input. I have already suggested that I cut off all the buds. But been advised not to be so drastic.
Internet info would suggest that some form of insect lays eggs in the buds and these form some sort of 'honeydew fungus'? All very vague and nothing specific about a possible cure or prevention.
Once again thank you all for your advice. But, I reckon I have resigned myself into not seeing any flowers - hopefully for just this year - on this once beautiful plant.
It may just be slower to flower this year, so give it a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Mine is certainly slightly later than usual, along with some other plants
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I must point out that there has been no sign of any insect or aphid infestation this year. I suspect, only a guess, that this happened last season, although it was not visible, and is, to be pessimistic, ongoing.
You'd have to determine if it is that or not before doing anything. It sounds likely but it's impossible for any of us to advise accurately without seeing it.
If it is that, it's not an infection as such, just a by product of aphid infestation, so it's worth looking it up as I suggested earlier, to see if it looks like that, and following the usual procedures to clean it off. Check out the RHS site I mentioned, or similar ones - but avoid American sites and youTube. Anyone can write what they like on the latter without any validity.
It can happen if there are overhanging trees with aphids as the secretions drop onto other planting, which then creates the problem.
If in doubt, wait and see how things develop. It could simply be that the buds haven't developed properly which is usually due to lack of water the previous summer when they form, and aren't thriving, in which case they'll drop by themselves or shrivel up. From your description, a flower within the tight bud, it sounds as if they've just stalled.
I'd also add that when you mentioned water coming out the bottom of the container so it's therefore not dry - that isn't always the case. If a pot of any size dries out, it's extremely hard to rehydrate it properly, and water can just run through and out the bottom, giving the appearance of the soil within being damp enough when it isn't
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I can assure you that the soil has been watered regularly and that the tub has never been left to dry out. I assume that flower buds would not have formed if I hadn't watered it regularly? I intend leaving the plant now and waiting to see what happens. If no flowers appear I will let buds drop off naturally and keep my fingers crossed for next year???
Once again thank you for all your help.
I am pleased that your rhodie flowered this year after all.. Your patience was rewarded.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Many plants reliably flower every year, with hardly any difference in timing, but it doesn't take much to knock that sideways.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...