Troubleshooting
Painted Flowering Maple problems — and how to fix them
Painted Flowering Maple (Abutilon pictum) is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
One of the most common pests on Abutilon, especially under glass; clouds of tiny white insects under leaves produce honeydew and sooty mould, and weaken the plant. Use yellow sticky traps, introduce Encarsia formosa as biological control, or spray with insecticidal soap ensuring full coverage of leaf undersides.
Abutilon mosaic virus
Transmitted by whitefly, this virus causes yellow mosaic or mottling on the leaves; in the ornamental 'Thompsonii' cultivar it is deliberately maintained for the variegated effect. In unintended infections, controlling whitefly is the only management strategy as there is no cure; isolate affected plants from stock plants.
Prevent painted flowering maple problems before they start
Most painted flowering maple issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Painted Flowering Maple problems — FAQ
Why is my painted flowering maple whitefly (trialeurodes vaporariorum)?
One of the most common pests on Abutilon, especially under glass; clouds of tiny white insects under leaves produce honeydew and sooty mould, and weaken the plant. Use yellow sticky traps, introduce Encarsia formosa as biological control, or spray with insecticidal soap ensuring full coverage of leaf undersides.
Why is my painted flowering maple abutilon mosaic virus?
Transmitted by whitefly, this virus causes yellow mosaic or mottling on the leaves; in the ornamental 'Thompsonii' cultivar it is deliberately maintained for the variegated effect. In unintended infections, controlling whitefly is the only management strategy as there is no cure; isolate affected plants from stock plants.