Diseases of geraniums and their treatment

Diseases of geraniums sooner or later, if the growing conditions are not observed, become the No. 1 problem in indoor floriculture and require timely treatment in order to save the flower culture. After all, a modest delightful geranium is one of the most favorite plants in home growing. Having bright flowers and spectacular leaves, unpretentious in care, it is popular in garden areas and in landscape design, it looks original in pots, hanging baskets, good as a ground cover culture.

Geranium in house cultivation

Geranium diseases and their treatment are often knocked out even by experienced florists. Striking suddenly on fragile leaves and stems, cause a lot of trouble in the cultivation of a decorative flower with medicinal properties, estimated by ancient doctors. In the Middle Ages it was believed that geranium, in addition to healing wounds, stopping bleeding, curing stomach diseases, is able to fuse fractures.

Infusions from the aboveground part of the plant folk medicine uses to dissolve salts with urolithiasis and the treatment of gout. Decoctions from the roots are used in the treatment of skin diseases, ulcers, purulent wounds in the form of lotions, baths and washings. Also geranium, pests and diseases of which sometimes significantly damage the life of the plant, is able to normalize blood pressure, has calming properties and stimulates the nervous system.

With proper care, geranium will delight in active growth and abundantly colorful flowers. Its prolonged absence may indicate infection with a particular disease, which is important to promptly identify and take the necessary measures to heal the plant.

Fungal attack

A huge danger to geraniums is represented by the Botrytis mushroom, which affects the plant in any place, at any age and at any time of the year. The disease develops, the signs of which are spots with gray fluff, with high humidity of air and soil. Also, the plant can become infected by falling off the faded petals of the inflorescences on the leaves or by planting the cuttings from the infected geranium. Gradually increasing in size, the spots merge and lead to a large-scale circular or V-shaped lesion. In the stem part, the Botrytis fungus looks somewhat different: in the form of extensive brown patches, which, actively spreading, cause the death of shoots. Covering with a fluffy gray mass, the flowers of the plant fall early.

Measures to prevent problems

Preventative measures to prevent domestic geranium disease:

• Timely soil weeding, removal of weeds and wilted plants;
• Avoiding stagnation of water in the ground;
• Watering in the morning;
• Planting a plant without signs of disease.

With group plantings of geranium, the distance between plants should be optimal for ventilation.

Having found out a fungal disease, it is necessary to remove sick parts, and itself geranium to process fungicidal preparations.

Diseases of geranium (with photo)

The root system of geranium, when water is stagnant in the soil, can be affected by rot, which causes yellowing and drooping of the aerial parts of the plant. The disease gradually spreads to the stems and leaves, the indoor flower becomes brown with a transition to black at the base of the plant; At the roots there is a grayish-white, cobweb-like plaque. Root decay leads to the decomposition of the root system, a strong soaking of the plant and its death.

You can save a room flower by improving drainage in a pot and replacing the soil with a more breathable and friable. Also, during the treatment period, it is necessary to refrain from fertilizing plants with preparations containing nitrogen. When a disease is detected, it is recommended to treat geranium with fungicidal preparations, removing the previously affected parts of the plant.

Geranium: diseases of the leaves of bacterial type

Bacterial wilt is caused by pathogens, whose presence is determined by brown V-shaped spots on the underside of the leaves, clear dark streaks and dried edges. In the course of development, the infection causes a general lethargy of the plant, blackening and deformation of the stems with the appearance of dry rot on them, the death of branches. Young plants taken from an infected maternal specimen are not recommended for planting, since they are not able to take root, and, starting from the base, they slowly rot.

To prevent geranium room disease should be:

• Regularly remove weeds, faded shoots and periodically loosen soil to saturate it with oxygen;
• Replace the soil with a well-ventilated compound;
• For propagation, do not use cuttings of diseased plants;
• Avoid top irrigation;
• Supply moisture in the morning, up to 11 hours;
• When planting, leave gaps between geraniums for good air circulation.

If the leaves are rusty

Diseases of geraniums can be caused by fungi, namely to such include powdery mildew and rust. Distributed by sucking insects, diseased plants or infected soil. Rust is manifested in the form of yellow spots in the upper part of the leaf and pads with spore mass from the underside of the sheet plate, which when opened release spores. Serious defeat of such a disease entails a massive yellowing and complete falling leaves.

The appearance of powdery mildew can be determined from the rapidly spreading raid from the upper side of the leaf plate.

The first mandatory measure is the isolation of the flower from other plants. With a small lesion, it is recommended to remove the diseased parts of the affected specimen. If the infection has a neglected form, it will be necessary to apply treatment with fungicides: colloidal sulfur in solution or powder. This drug kills fungus spores, preventing their spread. It is also necessary to treat the neighboring flowers with the Kratan or Acrex slurry. In the control of the fungus, 0.5% solution of the Bordeaux liquid is effective.

Preventive measures include providing good room drainage culture, regular airing, watering in the morning hours and a soil composition that is able to pass water and air well.

Tomato spotted wilting

Stops of geranium growth, ring spotting, violet-brown lesions with depressions on stems, leaves and petioles are often caused by tomato spotted wilting. Specific grooves are visible on the above-ground parts of the plant. If the above signs of leaf disease are found, the flower needs to be destroyed. Prevention of geranium disease is the timely removal of weed plants and the control of insects - potential carriers of such infection.

Leaf spotting

Alternaria fungus is the cause of an alternative, recognizable by small, bubble-like spots on the underside of the leaves. With the course of geranium disease, the spots ripen, become hollow, acquire a brown color with yellow, reminiscent of spilled salt inclusions.

Cercosporosis - another form of leaf spotting - manifests itself in hollow pale areas, which subsequently acquire a gray shade. There is a spore formation, and in the infected parts of the plant appear dark areas, elevated in the center.

Swelling, or dropsy

In cloudy, cool weather, the surface of the sheet can be covered with chlorine spots, which later turn into bubbles filled with water. This disease is called edema (or dropsy) and manifests itself in the subsequent yellowing and falling leaves. Also, the infection can develop in the winter, with a lack of lighting and waterlogging of the soil.

Yellowing of plant leaves can be caused by a lack or excess of moisture. Lack of light is the cause of yellowing and falling of the lower row of leaves.

Indoor geranium can be affected by nematodes - large nodes on the roots of plants, causing it to stop growing and die. The infected plant should be disposed of.

Growth conditions

To prevent geranium diseases, care must be taken. Comfortable temperature of cultivation - usual room; In the winter period - from +10 to +15 ^о С. Geranium likes an abundance of light and even normally tolerates some sunlight on the crown. The lack of lighting will cause the leaves to melt on the plant and the scarcity of flowering. Watering is necessary abundant and regular, without stagnation of water. Spraying the plant is not necessary, and sometimes even harmful. Geranium does not like water on the leaves. It is also worth knowing that she does not perceive fresh organic fertilizers; During an active growth 2 times a month it is better to feed it with preparations for flowering plants.