Ming Aralia with gray or moldy leaves

Question

We have a 9-foot tall ming aralia in our great room. We brought him home about a month ago, and at first he (his name is Sigmund) was dropping yellow leaves but also putting out new growth. Some of the new growth thrives and grows normally, but some of it becomes gray and eventually falls off after it has grown to about a quarter of the size of a mature leaf. Recently, instead of being just gray, these leaves seem to have a whitish mold on them. What can this be and how do we treat it?

Answer 1

It could be powdery mildew. You can use neem oil as a spray for the top of the plant, and wettable sulfur in the soil to get rid of any remaining spores.

Here is an article for more information on the care of these plants: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/aralia-plants/polyscias-fruticosa-ming-aralia.htm