Sticky Stuff on Leaves

I noticed this afternoon that my Bay tree (in a pot) and the rose next to it (my beautiful Sunseeker) about to bloom are both covered in a sticky substance.

1 .. what is it?
2 .. how do I get rid of it?

The roses are already attracting whitefly so I've sprayed with soapy water, but all the roses are about to bloom .... help!

 

Sounds a bit like honey dew - the result of aphids. A picture would be helpful

 

Evening, Fran.

I thought so too but this early in the year in our rain season? Will get a pic tomrorow and post in the evening.

Will give you a shout over the weekend and hope you have a nice Bank Holiday one .. not sure if that counts like you, like me .. if you know what I mean?

 

Hi LoL I think Fran is right we already have them causing havoc, amild soap solution will wash the honeydew off treat the plants with a systemic insecticide, I got rid of my bay tree it was a magnet for whitefly used to get heavily infected every year.

 

Ain't no time to early for aphids following a mild winter - in greenhouse or outside.The first aphids appear in my garden way back in January - and have continued. Thank goodness for blue tits. :D

 

Thanks for the input walnut and Fran ...

Here are my pics from earlier, and I was horrified at the whitefly that attached themselves overnight on the obvious honeydew ...





Must go have dinner now ... will come back later.

 

I would guess that the problem is greenfly causing the stickyness, the "White fly" is the skins left behind by the aphids as they grow.

 

This all sounds horrid at this time of the year but you are perhaps right, pete.

I have hosed, sprayed with soapy water and hand picked (lovely) whitefly off the buds of the roses. I bought this bush in the UK especially for here because it was called Sunseeker.

I'll keep soapy water spraying ... don't like chemicals with my little furry babes.

 

After another good hosing, spraying with soapy water and hand picking, Sunseeker opened today ...



Thanks everyone for the input.

 

A nice reward for all that work