I have always believed that geranium is an unpretentious plant that does not require special care until my flower got sick. It turned out that the watering was too abundant.
What leads to improper care
When my geraniums began to wilt and shed their leaves, I revised the rates and frequency of watering and fertilizing. What errors lead to:
- Too moist soil is not suitable for this flower. The roots will start to rot. She will rather tolerate drought than over-watering. She needs water if the soil is 10-15 cm dry.
- Low room temperatures and drafts have a detrimental effect on this plant.
- Lack of lighting causes geraniums to stop blooming.
- A large container in which pelargonium grows provokes the development of roots, there is not enough strength for flowering.
- An excess of nutrients, like a deficiency, have a negative effect on this plant.
How to deal with fungal diseases
Fungus is the most common disease in geranium. Botrytis fungus can appear on a flower at any time of the year and on any plants, young and old. At first, you will see a dark fluff on the leaves, which will very quickly spread to the entire plant. Most often, it appears as a result of excessive watering or high humidity.
Prophylaxis
- Pruning withered flowers.
- Correct watering.
- Dilution of dense plantings.
- Removal of infected shoots.
- Treatment of the plant with a fungicide.
Root rot appears when water stagnates in the soil. Starting from the roots, the whole plant is captured by rot. My geranium was sick with this very disease. If I hadn't stopped the process, the geranium would have died.
How I fought this fungus
- Improved pot drainage.
- I replaced the soil mixture with a more crumbly one.
- I removed the diseased parts and processed the flower.
The causes of late blight can be waterlogging, lack of lighting, dense plantings. The lower part of the plant and roots are affected. Treat with Ridomil prophylactically.
Verticillium wilting can be seen when the leaves and inflorescences turn yellow on the plant. This is facilitated by an increase in temperature and drying out of the soil. Preventive treatment with Trichodermin is recommended.
Why are bacterial diseases dangerous and how to avoid them?
Brown spots on the underside of the leaves, black streaks indicate bacterial disease. With the development of the disease, geranium withers, weakens and gradually dies.
Prophylaxis
- good drainage;
- moderate watering;
- loose soil;
- treatment with fungicidal preparations.
With the development of rust, the most effective remedy is copper sulfate. You need to water the plant with a solution twice at a frequency of two weeks.
Geranium pests
Pelargonium, like other indoor plants, is attacked by aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and other pests.
What to use for pest control:
- Aspirin helps with almost all parasites. Treat the flower with 1 tablet diluted in 1 liter of water. Carry out the procedure until the pests disappear.
- The marathon does not need to be bred. Just sprinkle the granules on the soil and water. It helps against whiteflies and aphids.
- Flowers and buds are sprayed from the caterpillars with a solution of Monterey.
For the purpose of prophylaxis, the "Messenger" agent is used, which increases the plant's immunity, makes it healthier and stronger.
Since I streamlined watering and began to care for my geraniums more competently, and also introduced preventive measures, pelargonium got stronger and began to bloom even richer, decorating the windowsill intact caps of flowers.
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