Symptoms

• Powdery mildew is evidenced by white or gray powdery patches on the foliage. Flowers may die before opening and foliage eventually curls, turns yellow and falls from the tree.
  
  

Cause

• Although powdery mildew is generally a problem when the weather or the interior of the home is warm and dry, the spores require moisture to germinate. Sageretia theezans requires moderately high humidity levels for the mildew spores to propagate.
  
  

Solution

• Remove affected parts of the plant. If growing it indoors, try to reduce the humidity around the plant. Since this isn't possible when growing the Sageretia theezans outside, use a fungicide soil drench, according to label instructions.