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Pests and Disease
Pest and disease issues can occur when growing tropical species like ming aralia indoors.
Prevention starts with meeting the plant’s cultural needs: appropriate light, soil, moisture, temperature, and humidity.
Pests
Common sap-sucking pests include aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whiteflies.
These can cause leaf discoloration, distortion, defoliation, and, in severe cases, stunted growth.
These sapsucking insects can cause leaf disfigurement, discoloration, and defoliation. In severe cases, growth may be stunted.
Aphids, mealybugs, scale, whiteflies, and spider mites can often be rinsed off with a strong spray of water. Follow up with neem oil to control any lingering pests.
Fungus gnats are attracted to consistently moist soil. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults and apply neem oil to the soil to target larvae.
Neem oil is a home gardener’s go-to treatment for many pests and pathogens. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for application.
Bonide® Neem Oil is available from Arbico Organics in quart and gallon ready-to-spray bottles and a pint-sized concentrate.
Disease
Diseases that affect ming aralia are most often the result of excess moisture or poor airflow.
Keeping the foliage dry, watering only at the soil level, and ensuring good air circulation can go a long way toward prevention.
Alternaria
Alternaria leaf spot is a fungal infection caused by Alternaria panax. It appears as small, water-soaked spots near leaf edges or areas of previous damage.
These spots turn tan and then black, often with a yellow halo. Neem oil may help manage early infections.
Anthracnose
Fungal anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, produces semi-transparent tan lesions with yellow margins, similar in appearance to Alternaria.
Copper-based fungicides are the standard treatment.
Pythium Root Rot
Pythium root rot, often caused by Pythium splendens, an oomycete or water mold that attacks the roots. It may first present as yellowing lower leaves.
Neem oil applied as a soil soak may be useful early on.
Learn more about root rot here.
Rhizoctonia Blight
Rhizoctonia aerial blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, results in lesions and a network of fine, web-like fungal mycelium across leaves and stems.
Neem oil may provide control if applied promptly.
Xanthomonas Leaf Spot
Xanthomonas leaf spot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae, is a bacterial condition that creates corky lesions that darken to black with yellow halos. Copper fungicide is generally effective.
Keeping the foliage dry by watering at the soil level goes a long way toward inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, and water molds.
Need some copper fungicide?
Bonide® Copper Fungicide is available from Arbico Organics in a variety of sizes.
Prompt removal of affected foliage, correcting environmental stressors, and using treatments like neem oil or copper fungicide can help contain or eliminate infections.
Because symptoms often resemble one another, it’s wise to consult your local university extension office for accurate diagnosis if you’re unsure.
Tropical Serenity
While pruning and pampering a potted ming aralia, you may find yourself transported to a meditative zen garden where cares seem to drift away on a tropical breeze.
With the right care, ming aralia makes a striking and long-lived addition to any indoor collection. Give it bright, indirect light, humidity above 50 percent, and temperatures between 70 and 85°F.
Do you grow ming aralia? Please share your care tips in the comments section below.
If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more about growing houseplants, check out these guides next:
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Nan Schiller
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