Seedling dieback, Guam

October 2006. Guam requested the help in identifying a dieback disease of Acacia confusa at the Department of Agriculture, Guam. The trees respond favorably when treated with Dithane,

Suggestions were as follows:

First, the plants were kept too wet and a root rot (may be Pythium) has developed and the roots cannot take up nutrients.

Second, the plants are extremely deficient in nitrogen or potassium. Try a foliar application of a complete fertilizer (0.5 g/litre maximum). Check the pH of the growing medium, too. Maybe, planting three seedlings in a pot is too many!