Several days ago we bought a Money Tree from Target, and when we bought it it had this white stuff on most of the leaves. This morning several of the leaves look damaged. I'm kinda new to caring for plants, especially 'foreign' plants, so I'm wondering what/why this is (both the white stuff and the leaves being destroyed) and what should I do about it? Is it something serious enough I should move it away from the other plants (contagious?)

I took some pictures:
Some of the white stuff
Some of the damaged leaves
More of the damaged leaves
An underside shot, showing a little bit of the white stuff around the edges
More white stuff
More white stuff and a bit of the damaged leaves
More damaged leaves
More of both
Where it resides

It's ontop of our entertainment stand next to our Bonsai Japanese Juniper, and on the other side are two vases of Lucky Bamboo. The thing in the middle is fake. They're there because our apartment faces north by north-west and doesn't get much sun. Usually between 4pm to 6pm the sun peeks around the building and gives some direct sunlight to the entertainment stand and the plants. This is the best place I could find indoors that gives the plants direct sunlight. The rest of the day the plants receive indirect sunlight from that window (I leave the blinds open 24/7 to make sure they get as much sun as possible.)

Any help or opinions are greatly appreciated. Also some help/resources on caring for our various new plants (we got the Bonsai from a street vendor a few days before we bought the Money Tree and Bamboo.)

Thanks

I did some research on this and leaf cutter ants are common to that type of plant, and it looks like your white powdery stuff might be a fungus. It said to spray with a fungus spray.

I think I'd try wraping a small picec of typw (sticky side up) around the base of the tree and see if something stuck to it going up or down the next morning/ night. Might work better than trying to guess at what you have. Since it's an inside plant.

The soapy water wash (bath) might work for the fungus. Couldn't hurt to try.

Suzy

* * * *


I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-

I hope you catch what ever it is. I'd love to come up with some thing brilliant (love that word thanks) that actually works.

I'd just use a little seven dust around the base, what ever is eatting it is going up and down the trunk of the tree and into the dirt.

the spots...don't know that could be air born.

* * * *


I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-

oh, I'm sorry I grew up around gardening people so I just assumed. So sorry. Sevin (I've been mis spelling it too) dust is a dust you can buy to put on plants for bugs. They have all size bags, since you do not garden veggies a small bag will do you. you can buy at most any place that sells plants (wal mart, freds, target etc.)
Just ask for some seven dust, bag is red and white and yellow will say SEVIN DUST across the front in big letters. It's a really fine dust (they have a grandular one too) just flip the bag over and see what it kills, they'll have a list on the back. the dust should be fine since you're not sure what type of incent you're trying to get rid of.

If you get some on the plant it will not hurt it. JUst do not cover all the leaf areas becuse this is how the plant breathes.

I use it on alot of stuff because it's made to get rid of several types of ants and worms. As long as I have just a few I don't use, but when they clean every leaf off in a day I dust.

http://lawn-and-garden.aubuchonhardware.com/pest_control_and_fertilizers/insecticides_and_insect_repellants/sevin_dust-758255.asp

* * * *


I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-

Now you have me cross posting.
I posted in your new members thread.
Catlover

* * * *