Question
my dipladenia (vine with yellow flowers) came indoors with scale and black spots. I got rid of the scale (or have it under control, using alcohol swabs and a pyrethrum spray), but what do I do about the small black spots and patches? The leaves fall off easily. The plantsis still blooming under combined light from halide and sulfur grow lights.

Also, since I have grow lights, is it okay to assume I don't have to put the plant into hibernation-winter-mode? Can I water it normally, give it fertilizer, as normally I do?

Thank you so much! - Jonathan

Answer
Jonathon,

Yes, you can treat it like it is summer as long as you are giving it longer days than nights with your light system. You have 2 fairly easy options for getting rid of the black spot. The first would be to spray it lightly with aerosol Lysol spray every 3-4 days making sure you get the fronts and backs of all the leaves. Continue this spraying until the black spots are gone.  Option 2 is mix baking soda in water and put that in a spray bottle and spray your diplandia with that. Again, making sure you get the fronts and backs of all the leaves. Continue this spraying until the black spots are gone.  The baking soda treatment is being used on roses to get rid of black spot and has been found to be very successful. The only drawback is it leaves a white haze over the plant. I have used the Lysol spray several times on houseplants very successfully. Yes, you can water it normally and give it fertilizer. If you keep it a bit cooler than usuall it is more likely to become healthier faster. Good luck.

Darlene