I went out to my Brugs on the back patio this morning and got a shock, all the leaves were black and hanging down, also on four Plumaria plants, I know we have had an awful lot of rain, but never lost plants like this befor.
NEED ANSWER
Sounds like some kind of black soot fungus that likes wet weather..Happens here when I get alot of rain and moisture.
I've had sooty mold on a few plants before, but the leaves never drooped. I used a wet soft rag to wash as much of the mold (fungus) away as possible. The mold is not supposed to harm the plants, but I have found that it does in a way. If the sooty mold is so dense that it blocks the sun, the plant goes into a decline and falls prey to something else. Washing the mold off and keeping the plants drier seems to help although you could use a fungicide as well.
Doris, have you tried rubbing the leaves to see if the black stuff comes off? If it is sooty mold, it will come off in your fingers. The droopy leaves could indicate root rot from too much water. Try taking one of your Brugs out of its pot to look at the roots. Healthy Brug feeder roots should look white when new. Older roots won't be white, but a plump healthy tan. Soft squishy roots are dead.
I hope you can salvage at least some cuttings if the problems has extended to the roots.
bettydee, it does not come off, it is like it was absorbed into the leaves and they were very soggy, I stripped all the leaves off and there are some healthy green shoots on the stems so I have repotted them in hopes of saving them
I went out and took a picture of a couple of the leaves to show what they looked like.
Those leaves look like mine will if I don't put them in the shade when I bring
them outside.
Reminds me now of sunburned leaves after something has been sprayed or sprinkled on..
Yes they do have that look to them... reguardless of what kind of light they have before going out... it's still an adjustment... not only light ... but the evaporation levels they are asked to perform at outside.. ..they will take on much more water ... and loose it through the leaves to the wind and sun... mine might be in the coolroom/grenhouse by then.. in front of a window or under a skylight... or right under a 400 watt metal halide bulb... surely bright... if they go right outside... it's a high stress time for them...I get them out into the shade.. or under a 40% shade cloth for a week and better... before the full sun...this is true couldy or not... you've heard the saying you can sunburn just as quick on a cloudy day... the same holds true for plants...
NOW.. a moment of silence for the plants that have given up leaf and limb to bring this full realization to me..
saucers under pots are bad water can't escape pots stay soggy plumeria don't take long to water log if your not using a good draining medium all this is points that add up