Bumps on the Leaves of my Hibiscus

[Kelena]

This really is the least of my worries, I think, but I have several very tall hibiscus (red, non-native) that have little unattractive bumps all over them. They look like they have the mumps except the bumps are pretty close to the color of the leaves. The trees are flowering and seem otherwise healthy. I have a native white hibiscus growing between them and it doesn't seem to be bothered at all by bumps.

Seen this?

[Carey]

Scale, very common on non-native hibiscus

My best luck (low cost, easy, fariry safe if you are not a scale) has been just spraying with an oil/soap mix - kitchen oil & liquid dish soap mix w/ water & sprayed from a ol' household spray bottle

[rainyjim]

Scales, or Pinnaspis strachani are covered in a white "armor" and you can't see the actual insect unless you pry the "armor" off.

I think what you have sounds like the Erineum mite - the hibiscus leaf crumpling mite. It commonly attacks the non-native hibiscus and hybrids such as the chinese red hibiscus.

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/ip-7.pdf

http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop...strach.htm

[bananahead]

if its on the leaves it s a type of microscopic mite that makes these 'blister deformation' of the new leaves, the non-native mite hasnt been in Hawaii too long.... very common on introduced hibiscus, far less common on all of the endemic ones, Ive only seen mild cases a couple times on H.Clayi and H.Kokio, never on any of the other 10 native type.

Ive seen it on almost all of the hybrid types and non-native ones.
I use heavily deluded Sevin on the leaves and the new growth goes back to normal, but the affected leaves will always be deformed (In other words if you see the new growth growing back to normal the mite was killed off temporarily, but may show again later).

edited to say I see Jim knew about it too... cool

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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[Carey]

If the leaves are all curly & have galls (not just a bump ON the leaf, but a bump WITHIN the leaf...) Then it is mites...still have found oil soap to be good (but the galls will not go away, the soap will stop the mites & should stop the leaves from creating more galls around the larvae...

[Kelena]

That's galling! These hibiscus are really big. And horribly deformed! The bumps are within the leaves -- blister deformations as bananahead called them.

[Carey]

Time to spray! (ps, there are many recipes for homemade oil/soap spray on line...I have seen anywhere from a 4 parts oil: one part soap to equal parts of both (using any veggie oil & any liquid dish detergent) mix up & use diluted into a spray bottle (have seen 1TSP mix/PT-QT water ratios) The oil coats the buggers & the soap decreases the water tension, allowing the mix to flow over the entire bugger (along with possibly some irritant factor) this kills the buggers, as they cannot respire effectively...

[dayna]

I very aggressively treated the blister affliction a year ago. I cut the hibiscus wayyyy back and used the special soap to spray them.

They grew back lovely big healthy leaves, that became infected again right away....

So I think if you wanted to treat frequently it will probably keep them at bay but I'm way to busy on other parts of the farm to do it. Such a bummer because I love the hibiscus a lot!

Dayna

http://www.FarmingAloha.com
www.E-Z-Caps.com

[rainyjim]

You can replace with a native variety - they are very resistant and you will be doing yourself a favor.

[Kelena]

Right now, it is a very tall hedge between me and my lovely neighbors. I'd hate to lose it but it does seem like, from what Dayna says, it would be hard to keep the mites away. I may try the special soap combo.