Question
My oleanders have some kind of disease or bug on them.  Whatever it is attached to the underneath of the leaves and the stems of the buds and was very thick and yellow.  It sort of looked like sand.  I applied Ortho Fungicide which didn't help.  I waited 7 days then applied Malathion.  It appears the Malathion turned the yellow to black but it is still stuck to the leaves and buds.  The plants are full of buds but the buds die as soon as they begin to open.  Can you tell me what this "disease" is and how to get rid of it so my oleanders can bloom and be beautiful.  I live in Southern Louisiana.

Thank you.

Answer
Donna,

The problem with the Oleanders was not actually a disease, but the insect pest known as Aphids. The Malathion that you sprayed killed the aphids, so there should be no further damage. The aphid bodies will eventually weather off the plant.

I would recommend fertilizing the plants with a low nitrogen fertilizer to help speed their recovery.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen