Content
- Petunias: diseases and possible countermeasures
- The powdery mildew at the petunias
- The Wurzelhalsfäule
- The chlorosis: a deficiency symptom
- Tips
Too much wetness gets petunia not good
Petunias: diseases and possible countermeasures
In many places, hanging petunias nowadays compete with geraniums as balcony plants because they grow quickly in a sunny spot and can be found in a variety of attractive colors. However, petunias can also be attacked by a number of diseases that can greatly limit the flowering of flowers without countermeasures.
Previous article Let the petunia grow splendidly with optimal care Next article Lice on the petunias: what to do?The powdery mildew at the petunias
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can spread quickly in dense petunia populations without treatment. The occurrence of powdery mildew is favored when it comes to petunia, the wet rainy weather are delivered without protective roof. Maintaining a constantly wet weather for permanently moist plants, which are also not well dried by wind and sun because of their growth, so the powdery mildew usually does not wait long. It is recognizable by its white coating, which can cover all parts of the petunia like a flour-like layer. Possible prevention and treatment options are:
Unlike downy mildew, powdery mildew thrives only on living plants, so distant petunias can be safely composted.
The Wurzelhalsfäule
The so-called Wurzelhalsfäule is a disease that is transmitted with the plant substrate used. The upper root area and the stem ground turn black or brown before the whole plants wither and die off. In such a case, there is no salvation for the petunias. However, you should replace the potting soil and dispose of the old substrate as possible (not on the compost). So you ensure that the newly purchased or pulled from seed young plants are not re-infested by the Wurzelhalsfäule.
The chlorosis: a deficiency symptom
Chlorosis is the name given to leaf-yellowing, which usually occurs on the young leaves of petunia. Strictly speaking, this is not a disease, but a deficiency due to insufficient nutrients in the plant substrate. This often occurs when petunias are overwintered in the same balcony box for several years without significant fertilization. Since it is usually a chlorosis due to iron deficiency, often helps a foliar application with a special egg fertilizer.
Tips
Deficiencies in petunia are often not necessarily due to diseases, but may also be a symptom of persistent wetness in the root area. Especially in winter quarters petunia may be poured only very sparingly, otherwise they can easily die from root rot.