If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re wondering why my rhododendron is sticky, the short answer is that I most likely have a pest problem.
There are certain types of pests that rhododendrons like to get their hands on and they feed on the leaves and cause all sorts of damage.
More importantly, these pests leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew, which is likely the reason for your rhododendron’s sticky leaves.
Possible signs of parasites.
Pests can cause all sorts of problems beyond your rhododendron being sticky, and often the pests are so small that you notice the signs before the bugs.
Here are some other signs that you might have a pest problem.
- Holes in the leaves
- sticky sheets
- falling leaves
- understory growth
- yellowing of leaves
- brown leaves or tips
- leaves or black spots
- Bumps on leaves or stems
- leaves or white spots
- the leaves fall
As you can see, there are many symptomatic signs of a pest problem, and honestly, having your rhododendron sticky is one of the mildest issues compared to most.
Although molasses eventually turns to soot and who wants that?
I don’t and I’m sure you don’t either.
Pests you may have to deal with
Below are some of the types of pests your rhododendron may currently be dealing with to give you an idea of what to look for and how to identify them.
aphids
Aphids are small, pear-shaped pests (1/16 to 1/8 inch) that can vary in color from green, red, black, brown, or colorless.
They are often found on the leaves and unfortunately also in clusters, so they can make a lot of noise on the rhododendron.
They are also made to feed on the sap of the leaves, causing the plants to lose nutrients, causing many of the symptoms listed above.
When they are done, they excrete honeydew which makes the rhododendron sticky or the leaves stickier than normal.
Flat
Scale insects are slightly larger than aphids (1/8 to 1/2 inch), so they are much easier to spot and are often mistaken for simple bumps on branches.
Mealybugs are usually black or brown and like to perch on branches and the undersides of leaves, but they also feed on leaf sap.
Once again they leave behind that honeydew that is responsible for their sticky rhododendron which eventually turns to soot.
Worse, there are normal ladder bugs and then there are armored ladders, it sounds like a joke.
white fly
Whitefly bugs are intermediate in size (1/16-1/10 inch) and just like their name, they look like whiteflies.
Unfortunately, you guessed it, they love to feed on leaf sap, causing all sorts of trouble and to top it off, leaving that nasty honeydew behind.
An interesting aspect of treating whiteflies specifically is that they are attracted to the color yellow, so yellow sticky traps can be used to remove them from your rhododendron.
The more you know.
how to do with
As you can see, these are just a few different types of pests that can make your rhododendron sticky.
In any case, the way to get rid of parasites is pretty much the same for most types of parasites.
You can try different things to get rid of it as given below.
- Water with light pressure to spray them.
- Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean the blades.
- Insecticidal soap can be sprayed on the plant to kill insects.
- Neem oil can be sprayed to get rid of them and keep them away.
These are some of the ways you can get rid of most pests, which is necessary not only to avoid sticky leaves, but also to keep your rhododendron healthy.
When you first notice pests, be sure to isolate your plant before applying the treatment, so the insects don’t spread along the way.
For a more comprehensive guide to pests, you should read my article on Removing Insects on Rhododendrons.
How to get rid of molasses
You really don’t want the honeydew stuff sitting around too long, because it will turn into sooty mold and ruin the aesthetics of your rhododendron.
Fortunately, honeydew can be easily removed from your rhododendron by simply using warm water and a cloth to clean the plant.
If the honeydew has already turned into sooty mold, it will fade on its own once the honeydew is gone, or you can apply horticultural oil to speed up the removal process.
final thoughts
So there you have it, if you were wondering why my rhododendron is sticky, now you know the pest is to blame.
All in all, I hope you learned something new today to keep your Rhododendron looking its best and continuing to grow no matter what.