Black Leaf Spot Fungus Treatment on Bauhinia Kockiana

I've written in the past an article on the Bauhinia kockiana where I expressed my frustration in growing this plant. It's as if no matter what I did, the Bauhinia kockiana plant would have black spots on its leave that look like burn marks.

These spots seem to grow on the surface of the leaf. The areas on the black spot are paper thin and turn crispy. These spots do not disintegrate in that they create holes on the leaves. But they seem to burn the leaves.


Attempts to Treat the Leaf Burn Marks

Because of the "burn marks", I thought of only two possible causes for the seemingly scorched leaves.

1. Intense Heat from the Sun
   
   This was my first reaction. Because of this, I put the potted Bauhinia kockiana plant in the shade and then water it more. For recent Bahinia kockiana vines already planted on the soil, I put up a net on bamboo rods to offer shade.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Overfertilization
   
   When none of the action items above worked, I simply surmised that the burned marks may have been the result of overfertilization, meaning, fertilizer burn. Other than the browned patches of lawn grass that resulted from my dog's pee, I must admit I wasn't aware of what fertilzer burn looks like on plants.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

In other words, none of the previous Bauhinia kockiana vines I bought lasted long enough. I did have a Bauhinia kockiana vine that bloomed. Unfortunately, it only survived one blooming season. It succumbed to the same cause of death as the others before it.

It was one of three vines that I recently bought. The remaining two have never bloomed and are now showing the black spots on the leaves also.

So after I learned from Mrs. Varunee in a recent Los Banos Flower and Garden Show about how fungus might be the culprit, I bought the Dithane fungicide from her.


The Black Leaf Spot Fungus

Leaf spot is a common term that describe a number of diseases affecting the foliage of ornamental plants. The majority of leaf spots are caused by fungi, but some are caused by bacteria.

Some insects also cause damage that appears like a leaf spot disease. Leaf spots on trees are very common and generally do not require spraying.

Leaf spot may result in some defoliation of a plant. A stable plant can tolerate almost complete defoliation if it happens late in the season or not every year. Young or newly planted trees that lose their foliage are more at risk of suffering damage until they become more stable.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Leaf Spot Fungus

The chief symptom of a leaf spot disease is spots on the leaves. The spots will vary in size and color depending on the plant affected, the specific organism involved, and the stage of development. Spots are most often brownish, but may be tan or black.

Shown below are the relatively young leaves of the Bauhinia kockiana. These leaves have the black leaf spots.

(See Part 2 for the continuation of this article)