help bugs on Serissa

violetann · White Belt Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 2

i brought my Serissa while on holiday at a bonsia nursery the leaves were light green. in my book it said it was meant to be a darker green leaves not light so it either didn't have enough light or enough water so i watered it on top and let the water drain thought the holes before placing it back on the table just under my window (window doesn't open so no draft). after about a week after i brought it and got home the leafs went healthy for a while then about 3 days later some started to turn dark brown and some light green again and i notices a few little bugs with wings crawling over the rock in the pot.
it has already flowered a little yet has some buds still waiting to open.

dose anyone know what i should do to get rid of the bugs and it to become back in shape?
i have stoped watering today encase that was it.

Stymie · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: help bugs on Serissa

Hello Violetann.
Try to place your tree in the best light, perhaps nearer to the window. (Which direction does it face?)
Don't stop watering it. Keep the medium in which it is planted moist.
First step toward getting rid of the lodgers is to spray the tree and medium surface with water to which a few drops of soap or detergent are added. This will not harm the tree and may be all that is required. Don't forget the undersides of the leaves as the spray has to contact the flies. Repeat applications on alternate days will be okay until the life cycle of the flies is over. Don't spray while the tree is in sunlight. In the event that this treatment is not sufficient, come back and we'll discuss alternatives.
Please let us know what part of the world you are in and any other details which may assist us, as requested in my 'sticky' thread above. Welcome to the site and post as often as you wish.

Dick · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: help bugs on Serissa

In another place in this part of the forum, there is a discussion about "fungus gnats." I believe that is the critter you have. If you will do a search on this site, you will find out how to deal with them. They are able to be eradicated from your tree and they really do not do any harm to the leaves. Which then leads me to say that the cause for the yellowing and spots is something else. Could be a fungus or anothe type of bug such as red spider mites. But as you described the circumstances, it seems to me that the problem started before you owned the tree. You can remove the affected leaves and destroy them and hope that you can resprout the tree to its original vigor.

violetann · White Belt Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 2

I'm from the UK BTW, I'm not sure what direction it faces i think it's west but I'm not sure.

thanks for the help i will try spraying it with deturgent and pruning off the discoloured leafs and have another look around the forums like you said.
hopefully it will get better soon.
thanks all.

Stymie · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: help bugs on Serissa

The sun rises in the East so if you only get afternoon sunlight it will be facing West.