Black stuff on gardenias

[jkpescador]

Anyone know what the black thing is on my gardenia plants ... on the leaves and stems? Anyone know how I can get rid of it?

[lavagal]

Anyone know what the black thing is on my gardenia plants ... on the leaves and stems? Anyone know how I can get rid of it?

Could be aphids. Spray with a mixture of Dawn soap and water; like 1:10 parts. Aphids and white fly die from it on contact, and it doesn't hurt your plants. I use it on my leia and citrus trees.

Good luck!

[Glen Miyashiro]

A quick Google search (http://www.google.com/search?q=gardenia+diseases+black) suggests that it's something called sooty mold (http://www.google.com/search?q=sooty+mold), which occurs as a consequence of the aphids. Good luck with that.