Leaf Spot and Twig Blight
Diaporthe vaccinii (asexual Phomopsis vaccinii)
2 host plants
Last updated
Ivy shows leaf spotting and twig dieback from Diaporthe fungi invading at leaf scars. Purchase healthy material without injured branches, prune out dead wood below symptoms, and provide good air circulation and hardening off before winter. Avoid wounding plants during active growth.
Remove blighted tissue promptly, cutting well below visible symptoms. Improve air circulation by thinning dense growth. Avoid overhead watering, especially during bloom and new growth periods when tissues are most susceptible. For recurring problems, preventive fungicide applications timed to protect new growth can reduce infection, but cultural controls should be your first approach.
Quick Reference
Management
Cultural Controls
- Purchase healthy planting material and/or do not use plants with injured branches. Prune out, remove, and destroy infected and dead branches. Prune 5 to 6 inches below symptoms. Avoid wounding or injuring plants. Encourage plants to harden off in winter to avoid frost damage. Provide adequate plant spacing and manage canopy size to promote good air