Hi:

I noticed a yellow discharge on some of my plants on Friday. This yellow discharge was as if some animal/insect had sprayed tiny yellow grains on the stem and leaves. Two days later, this yellow stuff is now hardened into white stuff. What exactly is this? Please see before-after pictures below.

On Friday:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-3T2ekjY60o/TFdjMrnFtLI/AAAAAAAAAFw/wP0IDwom0e4/s640/IMG_5421.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-3T2ekjY60o/TFdjNRVcmJI/AAAAAAAAAF0/W8K65xSdFvY/s640/IMG_5423.JPG


Two days later:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-3T2ekjY60o/TFdjNkYv3bI/AAAAAAAAAF4/GGDEHR5FP40/s640/IMG_5426.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-3T2ekjY60o/TFdjOB_V6II/AAAAAAAAAF8/QDNpP6Wyr4s/s640/IMG_5427.JPG

Thanks,
K

It's the spores of a fungus. Is it on the ground as well? (mushroom type) It will be dead in a few days and brown. It often shows up on hardwood mulch as well. When it dries up, pick it off. How many plants are affected, when this happens usually the plants are in a bad state or dying.

Hi Missouri Bond:

Thanks for your reply. It is on a couple of plants and the yellow spores were on the mulch as well on the trunk and branches. Is there anything that I can do to prevent this fungus from spreading?

Thanks,
K

I did some additional research after Missouri's post and I found out that the fungus is called Fuligo septica aka the dog vomit slime mold. It is harmless to humans, animals and plants. For details, see Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month (http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/june99.html).

Thanks,
K

I had this happen in my foundation plantings. It appeared only on the hardwood mulch. Apparently hardwood mulch which is not treated with a fungicide will allow this to grow. And you are correct, other than it's appearance it's not a danger to anything.