Oleander gets gray leaves

Gray, stunted leaves indicate spider mites

Stunted growing leaves with a grayish-white coating are often the result of a pest infestation, which is usually the case are spider mites. As soon as the leaves look like this, the infestation is very advanced - they are damaged by the sucking behavior of the insects and will no longer regenerate. Remove the leaves and shower the oleander with a sharp jet of water. Repeat this procedure over and over and also place the plant in a draftier location - Spider mites love the warmth and dryness, which is why they are very sensitive to regular showers and an airy place. In addition to the spider mites, pests like that also cause Red spider or thrips the described damage.

The oleander is also extremely sensitive to various fungal infections. In many cases, gray leaves are therefore also the result of an infestation with mildew or gray rot (gray mold).

mildew

The specialist summarizes two different clinical pictures under the term “powdery mildew”. Of the so-called powdery mildew causes a clinical picture with leaves covered with a floury, gray-white coating. This disease, which is quite common in oleanders, is mainly caused by excessive humidity. The host fungus deprives the plant of valuable nutrients, so that growth comes to a standstill and the oleander only develops a few flowers. Treatment with a milk-water mixture (whole milk and water in a ratio of 1:10) is helpful Mix), which you spread generously on the affected parts of the plant with the help of a spray bottle. Repeat the process several times at intervals of a few days and weeks.

Gray mold (botrytis)

Gray mold occurs primarily on the double-blooming oleanders; varieties with simple flowers are almost never affected. As a prevention, you should pluck the faded flowers before putting them into winter quarters and thus deprive the fungus of any nutritional basis - it first settles on the flowers.