Content
- The most common diseases of the olive tree and how you treat them
- Diseases and pest infestation usually result in incorrect care
- Potted plants are particularly endangered
- Scale insects are a common plague
- Other pests
- Bacteria and fungi diseases
- Tips & Tricks
The most common diseases of the olive tree and how you treat them
Like any other plant, olives can be attacked by fungal diseases or pests, especially if they are weakened. However, typical olive pests and diseases are rare in Germany, as the tree is rarely cultivated in gardens for further distribution.
Diseases and pest infestation usually result in incorrect care
Harmful insects, fungi and pathogenic bacteria can spread to weakened plants and multiply rapidly - such trees often have no strength to defend themselves against the pathogens. Therefore, olive diseases are usually - exceptions they confirm - due to incorrect care and / or unfavorable location and weather conditions. Prevention is better than cure, ensuring the best possible living conditions:
Potted plants are particularly endangered
These measures help to keep your olive as healthy as possible. However, even the best conditions are no guarantee that the tree will not be attacked by pathogens or insects. Potted plants are particularly vulnerable to disease, especially because olives are not suitable for houseplant.
Scale insects are a common plague
Especially scale insects are a real plague. These animals are increasingly prone to improper hibernation and are difficult to get rid of. You can detect an infestation by rolled and / or dried leaves. In the case of a larger infestation, a whitish coating can be seen with the naked eye. Scale lice love the warmth, which is why they appear mainly in the spring after a too warm winter. In addition, they multiply extremely fast - you can only prevent an infestation, if you overwinter your olive tree as cool as possible, but frost-free.
Other pests
Other very common pests are spider mites and aphids, which can usually be distributed with a homemade nettle stock.
Bacteria and fungi diseases
Also fungal diseases are usually due to an incorrect wintering. Very common is the so-called ophthalmopathy, in addition, fungal diseases as a result of infestation with scale insects are also not uncommon. As a rule, fungal infections can only be effectively treated with a (copper-containing) fungicide. However, if your olive tree loses leaves or the leaves turn brown, it is not always pests that are at work - these signs often indicate dehydration, overhydration or frost damage.
Tips & Tricks
Do not throw away a dried-up olive tree right away. Instead, you can also prune it vigorously and continue to water it - often the tree drifts out in the spring.