The spots quickly enlarge and become soft and watery. Flowers rot and stick to the leaves. Infection is easily spread from flower to flower by wind, rain and insects. The fungus survives the winter in the soil. This fungus survives in the soil, so it is important to replace the ground litter with uncontaminated mulches.
Fungicides are available for cases of severe infection on azaleas.
Select a product that contains captan, chlorothalonil, maneb, PCNB, triforine, vinclozolin or triadimefon. Apply all chemicals according to directions on the label. In April and May leaves and buds of infected plants develop distorted growth. Leaves and possibly stems become thickened, curled, fleshy and turn pale green to white. In the later stages of the disease, the galls become covered with a white powdery substance.