Gardenia

Question

Why does my Gardenia bush have a black looking color to the leaves? Could it be a type of mold? What do I need to do?

Answer 1

This is sooty mold. It happens when the plant gets a pest infestation. I would recommend using neem oil, as this will get rid of the sooty mold fungus and kill the pests. Here are some articles that will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm