How to Get Rid of Sooty Mold on Camellias

Keep camellias beautiful and mold-free.

Camellias produce an abundance of blooms. These shrubs thrive in warm climates with mild winters. Unfortunately, camellias also attract insects and the fungus that causes sooty mold. Mealy bugs and whiteflies are the usual culprits. These insects such the sap from camellia leaves and stems. As they do so, they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew. The sooty mold fungus thrives on the sticky honeydew, then it quickly spreads to unaffected areas of the camellia.

Things You'll Need

• Horticultural oils
• Pesticide
• Shears

Instructions

1. Inspect the camellia for the insect pests causing the sooty mold. Whiteflies resemble small white flies or moths. Mealy bugs gather on the underside of leaves in small colonies and are tan, brown or white.

2. Kill the insect pests. Treat whiteflies with a horticultural oil spray, following label instructions. Spray mealy bugs with horticultural oil or a pesticide formulated for mealy bugs.

3. Spray the camellia down with a sharp spray of water from the garden hose. Rinse the entire plant, including the underside of leaves to remove any honeydew and to dislodge the sooty mold. Rinse the camellia in the morning so the foliage has time to dry before cooler nighttime temperatures.

4. Prune out any heavily affected areas of the camellia. Cut back to the nearest healthy branch. Dip the shears in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water between each cut to prevent the spread of the fungus.

Tips & Warnings

• Check camellias regularly for insect infestation. Controlling the problem before sooty mold forms prevents most damage to the shrubs.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Growing Camellias
• Ohio State University: Sooty Mold on Trees and Shrubs