Question
hi will.....I have read your advice on other related subject matter questions and I am confident you are the go to guy for answers with my situation.

I just completed my 4th day working at a very wild unkept greenhouse, that has been neglected over the winter and I am trying to salvage everything I can and make it great. It really feels like working in a post war clean up effort from a land mine, but I do enjoy a challenge.

I have 101 questions....but at the top of my list is a blackspot problem as well as some tiny white egg sacs on the back of the leaves of 33 palms and 15 ficus and one enormous philodendron.

I was told by the greenhouse owner to spray the plants with "safer brand, insect killing soap, with seaweed extract," "ortho brand orthenes garden insect & disease control,"  and "blondie brand Fun-onil multi purpose fungicide." I wanted your opinion on these products and what u think I need?

These plants share the space with over 200 different plants. Next week, I am being allowed to separate the diseased plants from the ok/non effected stock. The other greenhouse is where I plant to treat these sick plants and hopefully get rid of this nasty problem.

Let me know what u think is going on and what my best treatment option is? And I can send some pics as well if you need them, but literally best described as black spots and tiny white egg sacs are what I am dealing with.

thanks man!

Logan  

Answer
Hi Logan,

Your description doesn't match anything that I can think of. However, some good photos may change that. Send them to me at [email protected].

You may also be dealing with some kind of pest problem that is indigenous to your local area. Is the greenhouse ever open to the outside? Where abouts are you located?

When you treat plants for pests, it is important to know what it is your are treating and to use a treatment that is specific to that particular pest or pathogen. Spraying willy-nilly with an arsenal of products is never a good idea. Seaweed extract may have some nutrient value but it is not an agent to control pests or pathogens.

Regards,
Will Creed