Why does your Brassica Coral F1 Feather Prince have sticky leaves? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.
Aphids are highly attracted to the tender, succulent leaves of Brassica varieties like 'Feather Prince'. They inject piercing-sucking mouthparts into the plant tissue to feed on sap, excreting a sugary substance known as honeydew which creates the sticky residue.
Scale insects attach themselves to the stems and leaf surfaces of ornamental kale to extract nutrients. The sticky honeydew they produce can coat the entire plant, often making the leaves feel tacky to the touch.
Whiteflies congregate on the undersides of Brassica leaves and feed on the phloem. Their presence results in significant honeydew production, which can lead to the growth of black sooty mold on the sticky surfaces.
While not the primary cause of stickiness, sooty mold is a fungus that grows on top of the honeydew left by sucking insects. It creates a dark, crusty, and sticky layer that can eventually block sunlight from the kale's leaves.
Your plant might also be experiencing one of these issues:
English
Italiano
