Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: Catwheazle on September 07, 2025, 08:37:09 AM

Title: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Catwheazle on September 07, 2025, 08:37:09 AM
Hello,
I bought a Magnolia figo from a French nursery this spring. Upon arrival, it had already lost a lot of leaves in the package,
even though the transport was short and the root ball was wet. I originally thought it was spider mites. But that's definitely out of the question now.
I then planted it in a larger container (hardiness zone 6a-5b) (a raised bed and rhododendron soil mix), and it seemed to be recovering. Now it's had a setback, and it's losing almost all of its leaves again.
Upon closer inspection, the leaves of my plant look like they have a fungal infection. Not the secondary infection of sucking insects, as I first thought?
- see pictures - .
I couldn't find anything online.
Thanks!
Bernd
Hardiness zone 6a-5b

Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Herman Mylemans on September 07, 2025, 09:38:25 AM
Bernd, you can use the picture on ChatGPT: they think sooty mold
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Catwheazle on September 07, 2025, 10:01:29 AM
Was my first thougt.....but is something different :-(
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Herman Mylemans on September 07, 2025, 10:34:44 AM
Bernd, have you tried ChatGPT?
ChatGPT: If you can't rub the spots off, it could also be a leaf spot disease: Cercospora/Septoria
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Catwheazle on September 07, 2025, 10:45:50 AM
Hi, dont use Chat GPT. Cercospora/Septoria seems possible
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Jeffnz on September 07, 2025, 11:14:41 PM
I get leaf spotting on my port wine magnolias, not sue what it is but a regular spray with a combination insecticde and mould spray seems to fix the problem but it does return..
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: MarcR on September 14, 2025, 05:57:39 AM
Hello,
I bought a Magnolia figo from a French nursery this spring. Upon arrival, it had already lost a lot of leaves in the package,
even though the transport was short and the root ball was wet. I originally thought it was spider mites. But that's definitely out of the question now.
I then planted it in a larger container (hardiness zone 6a-5b) (a raised bed and rhododendron soil mix), and it seemed to be recovering. Now it's had a setback, and it's losing almost all of its leaves again.
Upon closer inspection, the leaves of my plant look like they have a fungal infection. Not the secondary infection of sucking insects, as I first thought?
- see pictures - .
I couldn't find anything online.
Thanks!
Bernd
Hardiness zone 6a-5b

Brend,

If Captan is available it is an effective low toxicity fungicide.
If Captan is not available try painting the leaves alternating vinegar [distilled white works well] and chlorine bleach[sodium hypochlorate] diluted 2:1 with water..[2parts bleach 1 part water]. Rinse the plant with a hose after 15 minutes.
Title: Re: Magnolia figo loses lot of leaves
Post by: Catwheazle on September 14, 2025, 06:44:11 AM
got Captan
thx :-)
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