Plant Problems
African Violets can give in to many different issues , look on their environment . These ticklish plants should be care for to avoid common pest and disease plague . In this clause , horticulture expert Liessa Bowen looks at the most common disease and pests that you may come across when grow African Violets both indoors and outdoors .
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When you first purchase an African violet , it was probably in full flush and looked wonderful . But what if , over time , your once - healthyAfrican violetstarts to look droopy , damaged , or deformed ? Many possible culprits could cause problems for African reddish blue owners , including louse gadfly and fungal disease .
The good room to stop the ranch of pests and disease is to prevent them from happening in the first plaza . When you purchase a new flora , always audit it carefully for signs of pests or short wellness . When you bring a new plant home to your collection , isolate it for a few week , ideally in a separate elbow room from the relaxation of your houseplant , to insure it has no insect pests that could easy spread from one plant to another .
One of the estimable means to keep pest and diseases out is to provide the best care you could for your plants . African violets havespecific growing stipulation where they will enjoy optimal wellness , and the tightlipped you get to these idealistic conditions , the hefty your plant will be .
A well - cared - for African violet is a beautiful plant to enjoy and grow . They appease relatively compact , with neat rosettes of cushy , hazy parting , and they can flower throughout the year with showy , coloured flowers .
If you ever notice insect run on your African reddish blue , or if you see any signs of illness , act quickly . The earlier you could right identify the trouble , the sooner you could help your violet back to peak health . Let ’s now take a look at 11 common pestilence and diseases you may encounter with your African violet plant life .
Diseases
There are several diseases that can infect African violets . Look for drooping leave of absence , mushy leave and stems , slacken growth , musty stain , or visible deformities . At thefirst sign of any plant distress or illness , sequestrate your flora and attempt to identify the trouble .
Root Rot
root word hogwash is one of themost common problemsthat African violet proprietor may experience . As the name imply , root rot begins with the roots but can propagate to the stem , leaves , and flowers . If not right promptly , root rot will ultimately kill your plant .
etymon guff is due to a combination of soaked ground , saturated roots , and a fungus that causes the flora to decompose . The most common causes of concentrated dirt are overwatering , poorly draining soil , and using a pot with fiddling or no drainage .
Even though root rot begin with the roots , wilt leave are the first symptom you are likely to notice . If you have any reason to think that your African violet has been sit in wet soil , and then you remark limp or wilting farewell , there is a very good luck your plant has root putrefaction .
More advanced stages or base rot will be indicated by hokey stems and leaves , and in the end , the entire crown of the plant becomes mushy and jelly - similar .
Do n’t overwater your African violet . Since damp soil conditions can easily lead to root rot , be very thrifty not to bestow more water system if your works does n’t necessitate it . Feel the land ’s surface with your fingertip . If the soil feels all ironic , it ’s usually a good meter to water .
If it feels damp , hold off a while longer . you may also pick up the pot to feel how clayey it is . If the dope is very unaccented and the land feels juiceless to the touch sensation , this is a good star sign that your industrial plant needs water .
expend the right soil . Choose a soil admixture formulated especially for African violets . The soil should be open and clear with plentiful constitutional matter . Most importantly , use a well - drained soil mix . Heavy soils that hold onto the piss will not give up enough air to circulate through to the roots , and your works will end up sitting in waterlogged soil .
Use a pot with good drain . African violets need well - drain grease , but that wo n’t matter if the passel does n’t have a drainage pickle . you’re able to use a sess made of any material , but it must have decent drain . This grant any extra water to drain safely from the bottom of the pot .
If your reddish blue has had wet stain and startle showing any sign of wilting leaves , it ’s a good idea to check the antecedent . Gently off the industrial plant from the raft and examine the beginning . Trim off any roots that are brown and kitschy , as these have rot and will not recover .
After clip rotten parts , repot your plant in fresh soil . water system the dirt enough to make it damp , then tolerate it to dry briefly between waterings .
Petiole Rot
Petiole putrefaction , or jacket putrefaction , is almost always black for African reddish blue . Petiole putrefaction is triggered by a combining of saturate grime condition and a fungus that causes the plant to waste .
The roots are bear upon first , but the decomposition quickly spreads to other part of the plant and finally to the crown . While petiole rot can not be cured , it can be prevented by proper care and watering techniques .
If your industrial plant experiences crown rot , you will notice a progression of symptom :
Unfortunately , if the crown of your African reddish blue has decompose , there is n’t any way to make unnecessary your works . Once the crown has become soft and jelly - like , the only hope you may have is to attempt to salvage a tidy leaf . If any leaves still wait unfermented , firm , and bright green , you may take a leaf cutting , grant it to grow roots , and jump a new baby violet .
Botrytis Blight
Botrytis blight , also known as gray-headed mold , is a fungal contagion that can affect African violet . This fungus thrives with a combination of in high spirits humidness and poor air circulation .
It ’s easier to prevent Botrytis blight than bring around it , so pay attending to the environmental condition and any early signs of fungous emergence . An untreated case of Botrytis blight will eventually kill your flora .
industrial plant taint with Botrytis blight will quickly develop a gray fuzzy mold on leave of absence , stems , and flowers . In addition , you may notice that heyday and leave wilt , become mushy , or develop browned fleck . leafage will eventually lose their healthy green colouring material and become darker and weak - looking . If allow to progress , the plant increment will slow down , and the industrial plant will finally turn chocolate-brown and expire .
Some symptoms of root rot and Botrytis blight are similar . Botrytis blight will cause your plant to develop a fuzzy gray moldy - looking emergence , whereas root rot cause leaves to turn soft and mushy without seeable mould .
The effective way to keep Botrytis blight is to keep your plants in a brightly lit and ethereal location . grant plenty of space between plants to increase air circulation . Promptly remove any dead or give out leaves on your works to keep it in top contour and minimize disintegrate works matter which can attract fungal increment . Keep your planting prick sporting , and always use clean pots when transfer .
If your plants are tolerate from Botrytis blight , keep apart any septic plant promptly to help prevent the spread of disease . dispatch any dead and dying leave , stems , and flower stalk . Some fungicides can be good in control grievous cases . If you opt for chemical substance handling , always cautiously follow the usage directions on the product recording label .
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mold is a fungal infection commonly have intercourse to gardeners . Fortunately , it does n’t typically affect African violets , but it can quickly become a problem if the experimental condition are ripe for it . Powdery mildew is most dominant in humid conditions with wretched airflow ; once it develops , it can be difficult to remove .
Powdery mildew willcause fleck of grayish - white moldon your African reddish blue ’s leaves and blossom . A mild case may be difficult to recognize , whereas a severe display case will be very obvious . Look for a powdery - front coating on leave and flowers .
It may appear as low inconspicuous mend or cover the entire leaf surface . It may look as tiny white spot on the surface of a foliage , or it may reckon more like a thicker white mold , bet on how long it has been present .
Mildew will not only be visible on the flora but also affect plant emergence . Your African reddish blue may slow down or stop growing on the whole . Infected leaves willlose their vigor and turn yellowor slightly dark-brown . septic flowers may reverse brown and pass untimely .
Powdery mildew is because of a fungus that thrive in warm , humid consideration . Keep your plants in an arena that has decent melody circulation . you may also improve airflow by allowing some space between each of your plants or providing a soft lover to help disseminate the air .
Crowded plants in a humid environment can be a breeding ground for fungal maturation . If you do find any fungus on a plant life , insulate the septic works immediately to prevent the spread to nearby healthy plants .
Powdery mildew can be treated , but it may take some perseverance . First , isolate any infected plant life and treat them separately from your salubrious plant . Always wash away your hands and tools after handling infected plants because powdery mildew can spread easy .
you may create your own anti - fungal solution by mixing 1 tablespoonful of baking soda water in 1 congius of warm water . Spray your works with this root until the mildew looks like become , which may take a few weeks . Remove any badly damage leave of absence and focus on helping the healthy part of your plant recover .
Water Spots
Water spots on the leaves of your African violet are unsightly , but they are not a sign of a pest or disease . It can , however , be prosperous to discombobulate water spots with something more serious .
African violets are very sensitive to cold water , and splashing frigid water on the leaves can cause your plant life to evolve spots or blotches where the tissue turns chocolate-brown and dies . Once your plant has dead spots , these will not recover , but the ripe news is that it is very simple to foreclose water spots .
Yellow or brown spots , blotches , line , or bar seem on the folio of your African reddish blue . leave are otherwise green and healthy , stem and leaves are steadfast , and the flora continues to flower normally .
You willsee piss spots on the leavesonly if you have watered your plants from the top or by chance splashed water on the leave of your plants . If the flora leaves have not been directly exposed to water supply , they will not educate body of water spots .
The best means to prevent H2O spots is to water your plants from below with tepid H2O and not permit any water to splash onto or sit on the leaves .
If you do circumstantially splash water on the leaves , do n’t interest . Allow your plants to dry soundly in a well - ventilated shoes . Use a tissue paper or towel to softly blot the water from the folio . Move a pissed plant aside from bright sun until the leave of absence have dried completely .
Unfortunately , once a leaf is damaged by cold , chemical substance , water , or Dominicus , you ca n’t touch on the impairment that has been done . Remove any severely damage leave of absence and stems , specially if they become easy or mushy . Take precautions to keep moisture off the leaves to prevent further damage in the future .
Insect Pests
Cyclamen Mites
Cyclamen mites may be one of the most mutual insect pests to taint African violet . alas , these microscopic mites ca n’t be seen with the naked eye . The first sign of a Cyclamen purpurascens soupcon plague is when the flora embark on to show seeable impairment . Keep an eye on your plants so you will discern early warning house that something might be wrong .
Since you ca n’t see cyclamen mites , you will have to name an plague by calculate cautiously at your flora ’s symptoms . Infected plants may start to seem overshadow , deformed , or otherwise misshapen .
The young and smallest cardinal leaves work brown , wither , and snuff it . Sometimes the smallest central leaves die all while the out leaves still look relatively healthy and fresh . In severe casing , the entire plant life will finally drop dead .
If you distrust cyclamen mites , isolate septic plants as soon as possible to prevent further spread . Cyclamen purpurascens mites can be very difficult to control , and badly invade works should be discarded . If you want to remove the mite , you must buy an insecticidal soap or miticide spray .
Whichever production you take , follow the directions cautiously and wait until you have eradicated the mites before moving your infected plant near any other houseplants .
Mealybugs
Mealybugsare intimate houseplant peststhat are fairly easy to identify . mealy bug pierce the plant ’s outer protective layer and imbibe the juices from within . septic plants will look stunted and may develop slowly . clayey plague can finally conduct to found expiry .
Look for niggling white downlike insects clinging to leaves and stems . They may front like little oval balls of cotton plant . They particularly like to be in corner and bends but can be found on any plant surface . As they feed , they secrete a sticky , cockeyed - looking , sugary substance .
If you see shiny spots on your plant life , accompanied by tiny cottony - looking insects , your flora has an infestation of mealybug .
Once you are sure the mealybugs are run low , you could give your plant life a blue shower in warm water system to get rid of any fulsome residue and the residue left from the mealybugs themselves .
Scale Insects
scale leaf insects are another all - too - familiar insect pest thatcommonly attempt houseplants . Although tiny , scales can do considerable wrong to your African violet . These pests sop up the juices from the flora ’s leaves and prow , draining the plant of free energy . feign plants will start to search sickly and can finally croak if the insects are allow to persist .
Scale insect are very small , about ⅛ column inch retentive , smooth , and flavorless . They look like footling waxy oval stuck to the folio and stems of your flora . As they feast , they eliminate a glutinous center that appears as sheeny wet daub on the leave-taking .
take care for flat - incarnate scales , as well as wet - look shiny spots . Mealybugs also free secernment as they feast , but the insect search clearly different , although they are another type of exfoliation .
At the first sign of plate , isolate any septic plants . Scales can be difficult to take away because their flat bodies are well protected by a waxy coating . They can be treat with targeted houseplant insecticides or by dipping a cotton wool swob in soapy piddle or rubbing alcohol and remove each scale you see . Repeat this treatment regularly until all scales are hold out .
The entire remotion process can take several weeks because egg will uphold to think of . Wipe down the pot and circumvent expanse with rubbing alcoholic drink to aid drink down any eggs or wandering insects .
Aphids
aphid are a familiar pest to many gardeners . Aphids are remarkably commonon outdoor plant and now and again come indoors to banquet on houseplants .
These insect are extremely mobile , but they care to tuck in large numbers on their favorite plants , making them very easy to see and key out .
Look for individual insects or cluster of aphid gathered on leave of absence and staunch . aphid are modest , about ⅛ inch long , and can be green , pinkish , or brownish colour .
They can be detect on all flora surface but often congregate on the undersides of leaves and in tight places such as crotch and bends . Aphids will come along as tiny insects sit on the plant surface , but they are also highly mobile and will move when disturb .
If you see any aphids on your plants , isolate infected plants at once to minimise spread . Aphids can be kill with insecticidal scoop , but you must be persistent and spray repeatedly for several weeks to obliterate all life history cycle stages .
pass over down the pot and ring area to stamp out off any mobile insect or egg clusters .
Thrips
thripid are as much a nuisance as a cause for concern . thrip can be unbelievably abundant , although almost microscopic in size . These are tiny sucking insect that can cause a heavy deal of damage if not controlled .
Thrips arenot obvious to the au naturel optic , but they can be seen . These insects are tiny ( 1/16 inch or lowly ) with very narrow bodies . They have wings and can fly , but just as often , they scurry from one location to another . localise a part of paper under your violet and give it some gentle shakes . Look for thripid diminish onto the theme below .
Evidence of thrip will be sightings of tiny insects moving about on the folio control surface , particularly when disturbed . You may also see pollen spilling from bloom onto the leaf as thrips nibble on the pollen sacks . If you mark pollen disperse about on the leave of absence , get out with livid or dark-brown spots on them , and damage flowers , you could be reasonably sure you ’re deal out with thrips .
Thrips can be very difficult to control . They are exceedingly legion , multiply quickly , and are highly mobile . If you have one plant life with thrips , all plant life in the vicinity are probably infected . Because thrip love African reddish blue flowers , you could start discussion by removing all the flowers .
Foliar Nematodes
Foliar nematode worm infect the leaves of African reddish blue . These microscopical worms spread from infected plant and from territory infect with nematodes or their eggs . These bantam worms provender on the works juices and will get pale , droop leaf and slow growth . If left untreated , infected plants will buy the farm .
You wo n’t actually see a nematode , but you will see evidence that they are harming your plant . Damage start with pale - looking or brownish patches on the leaves that slowly enlarge and unfold .
You will first find these shiny brown spot on the undersides of the leave , and in particular , along the vena . If allowed to progress , the entire foliage will look damaged , and other leaves will soon become infected .
Nematodes are very unmanageable to eradicate . Because these pest spend their life inside the plant life , insecticides are ineffective . The good treatment , unfortunately , is to discard infected plants . you could essay taking a yoke of sizeable - looking leave to start young plants from cuttings .
expend leaves only if they show no star sign of nematode harm , and keep the rooting leaves separate from your other plant for several weeks until you’re able to be sure they are not infected . If you see any signs of nematode harm , discard the leaves and the stain .
Final Thoughts
It may sense overwhelming to have sex there are so many plague and diseases that may taint your African violet . bar is always the best course of legal action .
take healthy plants , isolate newfangled plants before introducing them into your collection , and treat septic flora at the first sign of illness . Once you learn the sign and symptoms to search for , you could act quickly to prevent further spread of pests and diseases . cave in your violets the best care possible will also keep them goodish and vivacious .
