Hello.
I grow Plumbago auriculata up here as an annual. Once the leaves get more than 6 wks old, they develop a sort of white grittiness on the underside of the leaves. It doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on the plant and the leaves stay on so I'm not terribly concerned about it but I'm wondering if this effect occurs on Plumbagos that are planted outside as well. Does anyone know?
Thanks, Karl
Plumbago query
Karl, my plumbago out in the yard have the same thing on the leaf backs. I'd never noticed it before, but went and looked when I read your post. No idea what it is. It sparkles in the sun, too, but it's not salt crystals. (some plants filter salts out of irrigation water and deposit it on the leaves)
As far as I can see, this is normal for that plant. Mine is huge, and perfectly healthy other than some bug nibbles.
Elaine
mine gets that too. i always figured it was a mildew of some sort or buggy infestation of some kind. mine dies to the ground each winter so whatever it is, it doesn't hurt the plant for too long.
Well, thank you both for checking. I took it to the plant diagnostic lab up here and they had never seen such a thing. I was wondering if it was the leaching of salts too but the lab people said, probably not. That's also why I was curious about the state of plants that were grown in the ground since pot culture can become very saline.
Thanks again!
Karl