Beautiful and vibrant Honeysuckle vines are eye-catching. They make the garden background look amazing with clusters of bloom.
But will they still look lovely if the leaves are getting white spots all over them?
White and black spots both can be very annoying problems for Honeysuckles. As soon as you see the spots, you need to take immediate action. Because these spots can even lead your plant to death. But before that, you need to know what are the causes of white spots on your Honeysuckles..
Luckily I’ve done thorough research about this. In this article, I am going to tell you how to fix the white spots on your Honeysuckles.
3 Reasons create spots on your Honeysuckles including Fungal Problems, Nutrient Deficiency, and Aphids.
So, let’s Get down to Business-
3 Reasons For White/Black Spots On Honeysuckles- Troubleshooting
1.Honeysuckle’s Fungal Problems
Powdery Mildew, Leaf Blight, and Rust are the most common fungal problems of Honeysuckle.
Powdery mildew is a fungus that creates white patches on honeysuckle. Then, there are small grey spots on the lower side of the leaves. When the honeysuckle gets powdery mildew it looks like powder is dusted over the leaves. When the disease advances the leaves start to drop off.
Leaf blight is another problem caused by a fungus. This disease arrives during the spring on new leaves. It starts with curling up the honeysuckle leaves. Then the leaves start to have brown spots with a yellow ring around them.
Eventually, the whole leaf turns brown. Severely infected honeysuckle plants start dropping their leaves. Even white spores can develop on the lower side of the leaves.
Rust is a common fungal problem for honeysuckle vine. It can cause brown, black, white, or yellow spots. Badly infected leaves start curling and die.
Control Measure
Fungal problems are sometimes hard to get rid of. So, the common question is how can you treat the fungus on your Honeysuckles?
First, remove the infected spotted leaves. Safely throw away the affected leaves without contact with other plants. Then you need to apply the best non-toxic fungicide to your beautiful honeysuckles (our pick: Bonide Copper Fungicide)
You should not overwater your Honeysuckles. It will encourage more fungal problems. Water every week and avoid overwatering by checking the soil moisture with a moisture meter (Our pick: Atree Soil Soil Tester Kits with Moisture, Light, and PH Test for Garden)
I am giving recipes of a couple of natural home remedies that are very practical and effective to solve these fungal attacks.
# Recipe 1:- Baking Soda Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- Baking Soda 2 teaspoons
- Liquid soap 1 teaspoon
- 2 liters of water
Steps:
- Mix the baking soda with water then add the liquid soap.
- Spray thoroughly on both sides of the leaves.
#Recipe 2:- Vinegar Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
- 2 liters of water
- Few drops of liquid dishwashing soap
Steps:
- Mix the ingredients very well
- Spray on both sides of the infected leaves twice a week until the problem solves.
# Recipe 3:-Milk Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
- 500 ml of sour milk
- 500 ml of water
Steps:
- Add the milk and water together and start spraying
- It is a very effective remedy against fungal problems especially powdery mildew
- Use it as an instant mixture. Throw the leftovers
- Spray it twice a week until the fungal problem stops.
Tip: For all new homemade recipes, use a small part of the solution in a small area of your honeysuckle leaf. If the leaf burns or discolors then dilute the solution by adding some water. And again apply to a small leaf.
Preventive Measure
Don’t let your Honeysuckles in damp and humid conditions. Keep proper planting space between the plants for better air circulation. They grow very fast so keep at least 25 inches distance among each. Do not over-fertilize with nutrients.
Make sure they get full sun. Prune off some old leaves to provide more aeration. Water your Honeysuckles at the base during the morning. In this way, the extra water drops on the leaves will dry out in the sun.
2.Honeysuckle Aphids
Aphid infestation also causes brown spots on Honeysuckles. Sooty mold grows on the honeydew that is secreted by aphids. It makes black spots on the honeysuckle leaves and branches. The sooty mold doesn’t kill plants but a severe mold coating can totally block the sunlight. As a result, the leaves turn yellow and drop off. If you don’t fix the aphid problems, they transmit other diseases. Some of these viral diseases kill the plant within a few days.
Control Measure
Aphids are very pesky ones. They strike on a big scale. Within a few days, they can damage the Honeysuckles a lot. So you need to kill them as soon as possible. Get the best ornamental plant insecticides for your Honeysuckle. We recommend- Monterey Garden Insect Spray
#Recipe 1:- Neem Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.5 tablespoons of neem oil
- 3 liters of water
Steps:
- Add these ingredients together and spray on the Honeysuckle plants every week.
#Recipe 2:- Basil Insecticide Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 Cup of fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap
- 2 liters of water
Steps:
- Bring the water to a boil
- Then remove it from heat
- Now add the basil leaves and cover the pot with a lid.
- Let the water completely cool down
- Then strain the leaves
- Mix the liquid dish soap and
- Put the mixture into the sprayer.
- It’s very effective against aphids.
#Recipe 3:- Horticultural Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap
- 500 ml of any oil like soybean oil or olive oil or vegetable oil.
Steps:
- Add these ingredients and mix very well
- Store the mixture in a bottle.
- Add a tablespoon of this mixture with every cup of water and pour it into the sprayer.
Preventive Measure
Don’t let the soil be too dry. Because insects love dry conditions. Always avoid overwatering your Honeysuckles.
You can introduce some beneficial insects like ladybugs, and ground beetles to get rid of the aphids in advance. These insects feed on aphids and do not harm your Honeysuckles.
3.Nutrient Deficiency of Honeysuckles
The deficiency of manganese, iron, or zinc causes the leaves to turn yellow and curl. Black spots around the edges appear. Some angular brown spots also can show up.
These deficiencies occur when the soil pH goes above 7. So before fertilizing you need to check the soil pH with a pH meter.
Control Measure
You need to feed your Honeysuckle once every spring. Apply the best slow-release all-purpose granular fertilizer for your Honeysuckles. We recommend- Nelson Plant Food For All Flowering Vines
If you are certain about iron deficiency on your plant then spray iron chelate on the foliage. For Manganese deficiency, you can pour a solution of Epsom salt on the base of the plant.
Preventive Measure
Do not fertilize your Honeysuckles more than once a year. This can encourage more aphid infestation. Spread an inch layer of organic mulch around the base of honeysuckle plants once or twice a year. Apply well-rotted manure, blood meal, and bone meal. It will help prevent other nutrient deficiencies.
Conclusion
In this writing, I have tried to talk about the reasons behind white spots on Honeysuckles with all the relatable information. I hope you found the solutions helpful.
Get rid of the Aphids and fungal problems with pesticides and fungicides, and feed the correct amount of fertilizer. Both white and black spots will be fixed soon.
Share your experience with the spots of your Honeysuckle in the comments section below and let us know how you treated them. We would love to get your feedback.