🌿 Gardenia

Gardenia just got checked.

Most likely diagnosis

Sooty mould from sap-sucking insects, most likely scale or aphids

The dark patches look like a surface coating rather than dead leaf tissue, and your check says they do not wipe off easily, which strongly suggests sooty mould buildup on gardenia. On gardenias, that usually means there is an underlying sap-sucking pest problem such as scale, aphids, or whitefly. The plant is getting worse, so this is a problem-recovery case rather than normal leaf aging.

86% confidence ⚠️ Problem detected

Save & start plant timeline 🌱 Your next photo becomes the follow-up →

Expert move today ✅

Today’s best next step

Focus on the pest source first; cleaning the leaves alone will not solve it if honeydew is still being produced.

Inspect stems and undersides of leaves for scale or aphids

Prune out the worst-coated leaves if they are heavily affected

Rinse foliage gently with water to remove some surface coating and pests

Differential diagnosis

Also possible, but less likely

Fungal leaf spot

Excess dust and pollution buildup on foliage

Localized leaf scorch or sunburn causing darkened patches

Targeted checks 🔎

What would prove it

Look under leaves and along stems for brown scale bumps, sticky residue, or clusters of tiny insects.

Check for ants visiting the plant; they often protect honeydew-producing pests.

If a leaf is sticky before it turns black, that points strongly to honeydew and sooty mould rather than a leaf disease.

Next expert check-in ⏰

Within 3–7 days

Confirm and treat the pest source

If you find scale or aphids, use a gentle, garden-safe control such as horticultural soap or oil, following label directions, and repeat as needed.

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Turn this into a recovery case

One photo gives a diagnosis. Tracking proves whether the plant is recovering.

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Photo comparisons

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Cause tracking

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Recovery timeline

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Next-step reminders

Don’t leave the diagnosis hanging 🌱

Save it now, then use the next photo to confirm if this was the right call.

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