How to Treat Leaf Rust Disease in Plumeria

Finding powdery, yellowish-orange, raised spots on the undersides of your plumeria (Plumeria spp.) tree is a sure sign it is infected with leaf rust disease. Leaf rust is a fungal disease that attacks the leaves of the tropical tree -- which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 -- but doesn’t affect its stems or waxy flowers. The topside of infected leaves develop yellow spots, which will enlarge and begin to sink and turn a grayish brown as the disease progresses. Implementing proper care in conjunction with fungicide treatments will control leaf rust disease in plumeria.

Things You'll Need

• Myclobutanil-containing fungicide
• Sprayer

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Weed the area near the plumeria by hand, pulling undesirable plants. This will help prevent leaf rust by improving airflow and reduce humidity.

   • 2

     Practice good sanitation by picking up all fallen plant matter and removing heavily infected leaves from the plumeria. The fungal pathogen causing rust survives on plant debris and can lead to new infections.

   • 3

     Mix 1 fluid ounces of myclobutanil-containing fungicide with 1 gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a sprayer. Spray the leaves of the plumeria infected with leaf rust to the point of runoff. Repeat at two-week intervals until the leaf rust disease subsides.