Diseases and pests of petunias and their control

Petunia is a favorite of many gardeners, as it is distinguished by lush flowering throughout the season. But in order to achieve maximum decorativeness and preserve it, it is necessary not only to provide full care, but also to protect the plant from negative factors. To do this, it is necessary to study the main diseases and pests of petunia with a photo in order to be able to recognize alarming signs at the initial stage of the lesion. Only timely measures taken will help restore the plant to a healthy appearance.

Petunia with proper care blooms continuously

Petunia flower diseases

This culture has a high natural immunity. But since the growing conditions do not always meet the requirements of the petunia, this reduces its stability. Therefore, the plant can be affected by fungal diseases, which is especially dangerous at the stage of growing seedlings. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with what problems a gardener may encounter when growing it. Knowing the common diseases of petunia seedlings (photo below), and having studied their methods of treatment, you can help the diseased plant in a timely manner.

Blackleg

This disease manifests itself at an early stage in the development of seedlings, when they are not yet able to resist infection. The development of the black leg is caused by several types of soil fungi. The provoking factor of the disease is an increased level of acidity, high humidity and a temperature of more than +25 degrees. Under the combination of these conditions, sporulation in the substrate is activated.

A characteristic sign of the disease is a dark constriction on the stem of the seedling at the base at the initial stage of development. 2-3 days after its appearance, the petunia shoot in this place becomes thinner, which disrupts the metabolic processes in the tissues. In the future, the stem softens and breaks. This leads to the death of plants.

Under favorable conditions, the fungus continues to spread further in the substrate, covering ever larger areas. In the absence of adequate measures, it will not be possible to save petunia seedlings. The causative agents of the disease persist in the soil and organic residues, therefore, when affected seedlings appear, it is important to remove them along with part of the substrate adjacent to the roots.

To avoid the disease of the roots of petunia seedlings, that is, the black leg, experienced flower growers recommend using peat tablets for growing seedlings. The soil in them is already treated with fungicides, which eliminates the possibility of developing pathology.

Black leg can destroy all crops in 3 days

Chlorosis

The disease develops with a lack of iron in the soil. Chlorosis in petunia can be recognized by light leaf plates, on which dark green veins are clearly visible. Subsequently, the color of the flowers changes, it lacks a bright pigment. Against the background of a lack of iron, the development of the bush stops, and the general appearance of the plant becomes dejected.

Restoring the decorativeness of a bush with chlorosis takes a long time

Gray mold

This disease equally affects young and adult petunia seedlings. The causative agent of the disease penetrates into the tissues of the plant through microcracks on the roots and shoots.

The main provoking factors of the pathological process:

• increased humidity of more than 80% of soil and air;
• temperature within +14 degrees and below;
• excess nitrogen fertilizer in the soil;
• lack of sunlight.

You can identify the disease by gray-brown spots on the leaves, which initially appear at the base of the shoots. Subsequently, they increase in size and become overgrown with a fluffy coating of gray.

Petunia with gray rot without treatment dies after 3 days

Mučnistaâ rosa

Already by the name of this disease can determine its characteristic feature. It manifests itself as a white thick coating, which can initially be found on the leaves, and then on the flowers of the petunia. The disease disrupts the process of photosynthesis, which interferes with metabolism. As a result, the leaves of the plant are deformed and bent up, and then completely fade.

The disease develops with a combination of such factors:

• sharp temperature drops;
• high humidity;
• irregular watering;
• density of landings.

Powdery mildew gradually spreads to the entire petunia bush

Fitoftoroz

The disease affects all representatives of the Solanaceae family, and petunia is no exception. It is possible to identify late blight at the initial stage by the brown shade of the leaves and shoots at the base of the bush. In the future, the disease completely spreads to the entire plant.

With late blight, the petunia bush first dries out and then rots.

White rot

This disease is caused by marsupial fungus. Initially, weeping brown spots appear on the leaves and stems of the petunia, which subsequently become overgrown with a thick white coating. Damaged parts become soft, so food and moisture cannot pass through them. This leads to the fact that the tops of the bush begin to wither. The infection penetrates into tissues through mechanical damage on the surface of shoots and leaves.

The causative agent of gray rot remains viable in the soil for 3 years

brown spot

The disease is manifested by rusty spots that are localized on the leaves and shoots of the petunia. Subsequently, concentric areas are clearly visible on them. Initially, they have the shape of a circle, and then lengthen. As a result of sporulation of the fungus, light spots form on the affected areas. As a result, the plants gradually wither.

Brown spotting develops with high humidity for a long time.

How to treat petunia from diseases

It is necessary to deal with petunia diseases in a complex way. To do this, you can use chemicals and folk remedies. This will not only stop the further spread of the fungus, but also prevent its reappearance.

You can learn more about petunia diseases in the proposed video:

Preparations

Chemical fungicides have a depressing effect on pathogens. They must be used according to the attached instructions. In this case, processing should be done in dry calm weather, observing all personal safety measures.

You need to spray not only the affected petunia bushes, but also healthy ones, as a preventive measure. During treatment, treatment should be done 3-4 times with a frequency of 7 days.

Effective drugs that help fight petunia diseases:

1. Ridomil Gold.

   

2. Speed

   

3. Order.

   

4. Hom.

   

5. Quadris.

   

6. Topaz.

   

For the treatment of chlorosis, you need to use “Iron Chelate”. The drug must be diluted in water and water the petunia. Apply the remedy every 10 days until the symptoms of the disease are completely eliminated.

Use the prepared solution on the day of preparation

Folk methods

These funds should be used as a preventive measure. In the event of a massive spread of the disease, they will be useless. In this case, you need to use chemicals.

Recipes for folk remedies for petunia diseases:

1. Heat 5 liters of water to 40 degrees. Add 200 g of wood ash and 40 g of grated laundry soap to the liquid. Insist 4 hours, mix, clean. Spray the bushes 3 times with an interval of 3 days.
2. Dilute 5 g of soda ash and 80 ml of dish liquid in 10 liters of hot water, mix. Cool and use for processing. Spray the bushes at intervals of 3-5 days.
3. Dissolve 50 g of mustard powder in a bucket of water. Use to spray and water petunia bushes every week.

petunia pests

Petunias can be harmed not only by diseases, but also by pests. They feed on the juice of the plant and thereby weaken its immunity. Therefore, you need to study the main signs of the appearance of pests on petunias (photo below) and how to deal with them.

aphid

A small pest, the body length of which does not exceed 0,3-0,8 mm. Forms numerous colonies, which are localized on the tops of young petunia shoots and on the back of the leaves. The pest feeds on the sap of the plant, which leads to deformation of the plates. A weakened petunia ceases not only to bloom, but also to develop.

Aphids are a dangerous pest and carrier of viral diseases.

spider mite

A pest that cannot be seen with the naked eye. With a lesion, small bright dots appear on the leaves of the petunia, which are initially localized along the edge. Subsequently, a thin cobweb appears on the tops of shoots and flowers, which is a characteristic feature of this pest. The plant takes on a dejected appearance and completely stops growth.

To destroy the spider mite, you need to use acaricides

TRIPS

The pest is 1,5 mm in size, with a dark brown body color. Forms small groups that can be seen on the upper and reverse side of the leaves. You can identify the lesion at an early stage by light dry stripes on the plates. At the same time, the petunia begins to wither, and the flowers and buds are deformed.

With a massive lesion, green excrement of the pest appears on the leaves.

whitefly

A flying pest of white color in the form of a small fly. The provoking factor is high humidity and temperature. The whitefly is a carrier of the soot fungus, which causes serious damage to petunias. You can identify it by touching the plant. In this case, a white cloud flies up. The pest is localized on the reverse side of the leaves.

Mostly the whitefly appears in the greenhouse

Slugs

This pest causes irreparable damage to petunias. But he feeds on her young succulent leaves, as a result of which holes appear on them. This negatively affects the decorativeness of the plant.

Slugs are nocturnal, making pest control difficult

How to deal with pests

Chemical and folk remedies can be used to destroy and repel pests on petunias. The former should be used when there are clear signs of damage, when any delay can lead to serious consequences. The second means are more suitable as a preventive measure.

Preparations

To combat pests, you need to use special chemicals that initially cause paralysis and then death of insects. They must be used strictly in accordance with the instructions.

Effective preparations for pests on petunias:

1. Actellic.

   

2. Inta-Vir.

   

3. Confidor Extra.

   

4. Aktara.

   

Folk remedies

This method of pest control on petunias is suitable at the initial stage of the lesion or as a preventive measure. In case of mass distribution, it may be ineffective.

Pest control recipes:

1. Grind 100 g of garlic cloves until smooth. Pour 1 liter of water, leave for 24 hours. At the end of the waiting period, bring the total volume of liquid to 5 liters and spray the petunia bushes from pests. Repeat every 10 days.
2. Finely chop the shoots and leaves of marigolds (200 g). Pour the resulting mass of 5 liters of water, soak for 6 hours. Then strain and use for processing. Repeat every week.
3. Take tobacco dust, mustard, liquid soap and wood ash, 100 g each. Pour 10 liters of water. Insist 12 hours, clean. Apply to the treatment of petunia bushes 1-2 times a week.

Prevention

To prevent damage to the plant by pests and diseases, you need to follow simple rules. They cannot completely eliminate this possibility, but they can minimize it.

Preventive measures:

• avoid crowded landings;
• disinfect the soil for planting;
• regularly ventilate the seedlings;
• control humidity and air temperature;
• timely remove plant residues;
• lime acidic soil;
• regularly fertilize with phosphorus-potassium mixtures;
• periodically spray with drugs;
• avoid overflow.

Conclusion

Knowing the diseases and pests of petunias with a photo, you can determine exactly what to do in each case. To do this, it is only necessary to periodically inspect the plants in order to identify the problem at an early stage. This will minimize damage and quickly restore the plant.