Diseases and pests of indoor flowers: causes and control measures

Of course, indoor plants are less likely to suffer from diseases and pests than their garden relatives, as they are usually under closer scrutiny. But if home flowers are nevertheless damaged by insects or infected, it is much more difficult to treat them, because "green pets" are more pampered and capricious, react worse to outside interference and, especially, to the use of chemicals.

Wrong location (very dark, too sunny, too cold, very warm, with low air humidity) as well as improper care (too much water, lack of moisture, wrong fertilizer, wrong substrate) can cause poor plant health. Unskilled care also contributes to the defeat of indoor flowers by pests and diseases, the plants refuse to bloom, wither, and, in the end, die.

Enemies, as they say, need to be known by sight. Therefore, check out the photos and names of diseases and pests of indoor plants, learn about the causes of damage and how to get rid of these insects and infections.

Spider mite

The spider mite is one of the most dangerous insects, since it is difficult to notice the defeat of the culture at an early stage, and in the future it is almost impossible to get rid of it completely.

In temperate climates, spider mites can easily appear on flowers by simply flying in with a stream of air through an open window or window.

Symptoms

As mentioned above, it is difficult to determine an infection with a spider mite, but if you know the main symptoms, you can detect it in the early stages.

Typical signs of spider mite lesions are (picture 1):

• A variegated color of leaves appears, and their very surface looks dusty. This means that the leaves are already affected by the flares, and are covered with their waste products.
• At a later stage, the leaves begin to gradually turn yellow and fall off.
• A cobweb can be seen between the trunk and leaves.

Figure 1. Flowers infested with spider mites
It is important to start treatment at an early stage, since only in this case there is a chance to preserve the culture. Otherwise, the flower may die completely.

Treatment

To eliminate the spider mite, you need to use special preparations-acaricides, the action of which is aimed specifically at this group of insects. The best means of this group are Vermittek, Fitoverm, Apollo and Neoron. These drugs can be used for any kind.

Note: There is also a more powerful drug Actellik, but its effect is so strong that it destroys not only ticks, but can also cause the death of the culture. It is especially detrimental to the growth of orchids.

In some cases, for prophylaxis, the leaves are periodically washed with warm water with dog shampoo, to which acaricides are also added. But such a remedy is not useful, and it is better to just clean the leaves with warm water, and if insects are found, use special preparations.

How to get rid of small white and black insects?

There are many pest control products on the market. You just need to apply them correctly and on time.

Processing a flower with chemicals at home

There are several well-proven drugs:

• Aktara - is considered a universal remedy, destroys insects in 30 minutes, 4 g of the drug is diluted in 5 liters of water and sprayed;
• Actellik - one ampoule is enough for 5 liters of water, it works in 20 minutes;
• Inta-Vir is a preparation for soil treatment, 1 tablet is dissolved in 10 liters of water.

All work should be carried out in a ventilated area using protective equipment. Better yet, do it outdoors, if possible.

Using folk remedies

There are also non-toxic agents:

• laundry or tar soap is diluted in water and the plants are periodically sprayed; as a rule, insects disappear in 2 weeks;
• water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate;
• orange peel is infused with vodka and sprayed on the stem, leaves and soil.

Parasites do not tolerate garlic and tobacco infusions.

Shields

It is not difficult to recognize the scale insect: on the leaves and stems, it looks like a tubercle or compaction. The insect sticks to the plant, making its stems and leaves sticky (Figure 2).

The scale insects feed on sap, which is why the flowers gradually weaken. As a rule, the presence of insects is determined before the culture dies, and they manage to take therapeutic measures in time.

You will find more information about this type of insect and how to deal with it in the video.

Ways to fight

To combat scale insects, systemic insecticides Confidor, Aktara and Mospilan are used. These products are effective against all insects except ticks. To obtain the desired effect, you need not only to spray the leaves, but also to water the soil with the prepared solution so that the drug is absorbed by the roots.

Figure 2. Damage to flowers by scabies

With a small lesion, it is possible to eliminate the scale insects manually: collecting insects and wiping the stems with a damp clean cloth. After that, it is necessary to carry out preventive spraying with Karate or Actellik preparations, and all new copies must be quarantined.

How can pests be prevented?

Simple preventive measures will help prevent the reproduction of harmful insects on decorative potted crops. When buying a flower in a store or in the market, it must be carefully examined, and after bringing it home, it will arrange a two-week quarantine for it.

The new plant needs to be urgently transplanted into another container after purchase, completely change the soil and put it separately. During the quarantine, it will be possible to understand whether the plant was infected or not.

All flowers are regularly examined, providing them with comfortable living conditions. Plants need good lighting, moderate humidity, watering and feeding. In the spring, experts recommend prophylactic spraying of the flower collection with any biological product. When transplanting, the pots are filled only with ready-made purchased soil, having previously disinfected it in the oven at a temperature of 100 ° C. Regular proper care will guarantee protection from pests.

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Mealybug

It is very easy to identify the lesion by the characteristic white formations, similar to cotton wool or lumps of white cobweb. Most often, it affects cacti, spreading along their root system (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Symptoms of the spread of mealybug

For the fight, the preparations Confidor and Aktara are used, using the solution not only for spraying, but also for watering the soil.

Prevention measures

To protect plants from insects, to prevent the appearance of white insects in a flowerpot, soil and on a green mass, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

1. Water the earthen lump regularly, but without excessive moisture, flooding the plant.
2. It is important to ensure that water does not accumulate or stagnate in the pan.
3. Buy land in special stores, plus you should not use organic matter for feeding - optimally complex synthetic fertilizers.
4. For irrigation, take settled, clean water, and loosen the soil after watering and pouring.
5. Fallen leaves from the flowerpot should be removed in a timely manner, without creating favorable conditions for the reproduction of midges.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with: Agrotechnics of pear cultivation "Bere Bosk"

Note! The recommendations are simple, but allow you to always maintain the beauty of a green and healthy plant.

Mushroom gnats

Outwardly, they look like small midges that constantly hover around flowers, although the larvae are found and develop in the soil (Figure 4).

Note: This pest can tell you whether you are taking care of the flowerpots correctly, because mushroom mosquitoes start on flowers only with excessive watering.

Figure 4. Mushroom mosquitoes
To combat, first of all, the irrigation regime is normalized, and the flowers are sprayed with systemic insecticides: Confidor, Aktara and Regent. To destroy the insect, a single spraying is enough.

Tired of pest control?

Are there cockroaches, mice or other pests in the country or in the apartment? We need to fight them! They are carriers of serious diseases: salmonellosis, rabies.

Many summer residents are faced with pests that destroy crops and damage plants.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with: How to destroy wood lice in an apartment

I don't see the mosquitoes on my flowers yet, all the more thanks to my neighbor for the advice - to put orange and lemon zest in the flowerpot. Maybe it scares away insects. But at least it helps.

Rating:

Pauline

I work at school, in the biology office - there are many flowers on the windowsills. Therefore, from time to time, so as not to breed midges, I steam the tops of tomatoes, and in winter - dry wormwood and spray the flowers with such an infusion.

Rating:

Sasha

Previously, I processed flowers from midges with a solution of potassium permanganate, but once overdid it and burned the leaves on young shoots of dracaena. A neighbor advised me to Aktar - there is no longer such a problem as white insects on plants.

Rating:

Tamara

White moths appeared in my flowers - I had to transplant all the plants, steam the soil in the oven. After processing them with garlic infusion - it helps.

Rating:

Nicole

The article is interesting - I wanted to share my recipe. I insert matches into the ground, sulfur head down, plus I spray it with orange peel infusion - it smells nice and good for flowers.

Rating:

Ludmila

Note! There are a lot of recipes and means for controlling insects - pests, and these are both ready-made chemical preparations and recipes from the arsenal of traditional medicine. The main thing is to choose the best option and strictly follow the instructions.

Thrips

Thrips are also considered common pests, and everyone has probably seen them. Bending down to sniff any wildflower, especially a dandelion, can be spotted inside small black midges. These are thrips, which in summer can enter the apartment through open vents and settle on flowers (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Symptoms of thrips lesion

Thrips eat the leaves, leaving characteristic black dots on them. For the fight, it is better to use systemic insecticides (Aktara or Vermitic), since contact ones do not have sufficient effectiveness.

Preventive measures to prevent small beetles from appearing

Prevention measures are not particularly difficult:

• flowers should be periodically examined from the underside of the leaves;
• new crops bought in the store should be quarantined for several days;
• avoid waterlogging of the soil;
• use drainage;
• do not allow excessive dryness of the air in the room;
• spray regularly.

The measures taken will be quite enough to protect the flower from the invasion of pests. And if it did happen, there is no need to panic. Try to determine who exactly you are dealing with. And get down to the fight - the sooner the better.

Aphid

Small insects that settle in whole colonies on crops in the open field and in the conditions of a city apartment. Aphids stick to the stems and drink juice from them (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Aphids on plant leaves

Since insects reproduce very quickly, they are able to destroy all plants in a short time. Therefore, when the first signs of damage are detected, the flower must be treated with Aktara's systemic insecticide or contact Decis and Karate.

How to recognize white bugs in the ground?

Some parasites live not only in the ground, but also on the plant. Certain species periodically crawl out of the ground to the surface. Such "intruders" are easier to spot and destroy. But there are those who can only be seen when examining the soil after signs of plant infection.

Whiteflies

Often these parasites settle in greenhouses because they love warmth and humidity. With the warming of the climate, they began to appear en masse in garden plots, moreover, the insect is almost omnivorous. From cucumbers, it climbs onto cabbage, then onto tomatoes, etc. The whitefly also does not disdain houseplants.

However, in natural conditions, its existence is difficult: the wind prevents insects from flying from place to place, and there are many who want to eat whitefly. Especially some species of bugs like to feed on their larvae.

Another thing is the window sill in the room. It's warm, there are no enemies, the plants are located close to each other, it's easy to migrate.

Signs of the appearance of this pest in flower pots:

• it is a small white butterfly, similar to a moth, up to 1.5 mm in size;
• the body is yellowish, the wings are covered with a kind of white pollen;
• damage to the plant is caused by larvae, which settle on the underside of the leaves and suck the juices out of them;
• the larvae themselves are pale green;
• like aphids, the larvae secrete a sweetish liquid, in which sooty fungi settle - also parasites, from which the leaf of the plant turns black.

IMPORTANT! Before turning into a butterfly, the larva is covered with a kind of waxy coating. At this time, even insecticides do not act on it.

It is very important to spot the colony as early as possible. These insects multiply rapidly and destroy a large number of plants.

Caterpillars

Small light green caterpillars of leafworm moths are also characterized by active damage to indoor plants:

• the butterflies themselves do not harm, but the caterpillars gnaw numerous holes in the leaves - this slows down the growth of the plant and leads to its death;
• the color of these pests is similar to the color of foliage, but you can still notice them with the naked eye if you periodically examine the flower;
• the most effective method of dealing with them is collection and destruction.

Heavily affected areas are treated with insecticides. Processing must be done several times at intervals of one day.

Puffs

These small nimble whitish (and sometimes brown) insects are also called springtails. Initially, they settle in the ground. Then the colony grows and rises from the roots up the plant. The pest is dangerous because it drinks the juices of not only leaves, but also roots.

There are several reasons for the appearance:

• excessive soil moisture due to lack of drainage or frequent abundant watering;
• damp climate in the room;
• residues of organic matter, for example, tea leaves, which are used as top dressing;
• podura love moss in a pot with an indoor flower;
• fallen dead leaves on the ground;
• the presence of fungal infections in the soil.

IMPORTANT! Podura often grow in soil if the plant is weakened and dormant.Therefore, even in winter, when flowers are often exhibited in a shaded place, green pets should be carefully examined.

The first sign of a possible appearance is a white coating on the ground. It often occurs on moist soil. If such a plaque is found, an earthen lump with the root system should be placed in a bucket of water for 15 minutes. The pests will quickly float to the surface. You just have to collect them.

Mites

There are several types of so-called soil mites that readily settle in the soil of indoor flowers. It is impossible to notice them with the naked eye, but the signs of their presence are quite easy to determine:

• a clear slowdown in plant growth, deformation of the peduncles;
• putrid smell of the soil after watering;
• small holes in the leaves;
• the dug out bulbs and tubers of the plant crumble into dust or are covered with mold.

IMPORTANT! Violets are especially susceptible to attack by this microscopic mite. In this case, they first stop growing, and then gradually begin to fade without any apparent reason for infection, even with top dressing.

There is only one salvation: immediate transplantation and removal of the affected roots. Disinfection of the flower pot is also necessary.

Flea-like beetles

These are sciarids. Most often, they affect the root system of the following plants:

• aloe of all kinds;
• "Decembrist";
• ficus;
• azaleas.

Adults love to settle on the leaves of these crops, but they are not harmed at all. But the larvae are already digging into the ground and feeding on the roots of plants.

IMPORTANT! But adult insects that jump and fly well can cause a lot of trouble to humans. They massively sit on food, dishes, etc., become carriers of infections.

The reasons for the appearance of these fleas are:

• contaminated soil;
• a large amount of organic matter in the soil;
• transplanting plants into containers that are too large in size;
• high soil moisture.

The pest can simply fly into the apartment from the basement if it is humid. You should start fighting with him immediately after detection.

Spiders

The most common member of the arachnid family that harm indoor plants is the spider mite. If the air in the room is dry, the plants are not periodically sprayed or wiped, wait for this guest. Due to its small size (it is almost invisible to the naked eye), it is easily brought into the room by a simple breath of wind.

It feeds on plant juices, multiplies quickly. A large colony braids the flower with a kind of thin web, after which the victim dries up and dies.

There are several varieties of the parasite:

• red - settles on roses, orchids, citrus fruits;
• wide - loves cacti and ficuses;
• Atlantic - prefers palm trees;
• briobia - loves exotic;
• clover - prefers bulbous;
• cyclamen - settles on violets, chrysanthemums, gloxinia;
• common - often found on roses;
• false - migrates everywhere and does not weave a web, it is extremely difficult to detect it.

IMPORTANT! Eggs laid by a female mite in the ground or even in a crack in a window frame can remain viable for up to 5 years, waiting for favorable conditions. Therefore, it is very difficult to deal with them, and it is a long process.

It is impossible not to fight too. If the plant is left unattended, it will die.

Thrips

These small bugs are also problematic to notice, but traces of their vital activity are clearly visible in the form of brown streaks and yellow spots. Pests feed on plant sap and bring them to complete depletion.

In nature, there are more than 6 thousand species of these parasites, but there are not many of those that attack decorative crops:

• quarantine is one of the most voracious;
• western - more often found on chrysanthemums;
• tobacco - the most inconspicuous;
• decorative - loves orchids very much;
• ordinary - drinks juices from buds;
• bulbous - prefers lilies.

INTERESTING! Thrips are attracted by the aromas of certain flowers. But this bug prefers greenhouse ones.

Among other things, thrips carry dangerous fungal diseases. In this case, the green "pet" dies much earlier.

Mealybug

This parasite has its own characteristics:

• it is easy to see, the size of the worm is from 3 to 5 mm;
• the body is covered with a powdery coating;
• the colony looks like pieces of dirty cotton wool;
• the insect has a long proboscis, with which it sucks out the juice of the affected culture.

After such an invasion, the leaves curl and fall off. The stem is deformed and the roots begin to rot. After a while, the flower dies.

Other pests of indoor plants

The most common pests of indoor plants have been described above, but there are other insects that can cause significant damage to flowers.

Pests of indoor crops also include (Figure 7):

1. Whitefly: a small white midge that colonizes the lower part of the leaves;
2. Miner fly lays the larvae on the leaves, and young individuals gnaw through the leaves and stems;
3. Caterpillars rarely attack domestic flowers, but if they are found, it will be easy to get rid of them by collecting the caterpillars by hand or treating them with any insecticide;
4. Snails gnaw at the roots, getting into the house along with forest or garden soil. To get rid of them, you need to spread apple pieces on the ground and pick the snails by hand;
5. Centipedes - long insects with many limbs. Insects gnaw at the roots, and diazonin preparations are used to combat them, which are injected directly into the soil.
6. Puffs appear with excessive watering and are found mainly on the ground. They are not dangerous for flowers, but they spoil its aesthetic appearance.

Figure 7. Common pests of indoor flowers: 1 - whitefly, 2 - miner fly, 3 - caterpillars, 4 - snails, 5 - millipedes, 6 - podura
To combat most of these insects, except for snails, systemic insecticides are used.

Whitefly control methods, as an example of a pest of indoor plants, are shown in the video.

Diseases of indoor flowers: photos, causes and methods of struggle

In this section of the article, you will learn how to deal with some diseases of indoor plants and can see what the symptoms of the lesion look like.

Brown leaf edges

The reasons: excess or lack of water, excess fertilizer, soil that has lost its suitability, dry air.

Control measures: optimize care, increase air humidity.

Twisted leaves

The reasons: low air humidity, dry land. Also root damage can be the cause of this plant disease.

Control measures: optimize care, transplant if necessary.

Pale leaves (chlorosis)

In plants that prefer acidic soil, such as azalea and euphorbia. The veins of the leaves are still green.

The reasons: hard water, iron deficiency.

Control measures: soften the water, add an iron preparation to the water.

Light spots on the leaves

The reasons: temperature changes, too cold or too warm water. Moisturizing in the sun (for example, in the uzambara violet).

Control measures: change location, optimize care, water from below.

Powdery mildew

Symptoms: powder-like bloom from white to dirty brown color on both sides of the leaves.

The reasons: fungus spores.

As you can see in the photo, you can fight this disease of indoor plants with the help of fungicides:

Control measures: for prevention, spray with horsetail infusion. Remove diseased leaves.

Gray mold

Symptoms: gray-brown bloom on leaves, petioles or flowers.

The reasons: not suitable for spraying or cold water, too high humidity.

Control measures: remove diseased parts of the plant, reduce air humidity, put in a brighter place.

Bacteria and viruses

Bacterial wet rot is found in alpine violets and indoor calla lilies.

Symptoms: rot at the base of the stem.

As shown in the photo, with this disease of indoor flowers, if there is no proper treatment, rot spreads throughout the plant:

Control measures: Not.

Mosaic virus

Affects primarily anthurium, orchids, hydrangeas, gloxinia, hippeastrum.

Symptoms: light green and dark green spots.

Control measures: Not.

A kidney flush is most often caused by an imbalance in water balance. Either the plant lacked moisture, or as a result of over-watering, the roots were damaged so much that they could not absorb and transport a sufficient amount of moisture. Some plants, such as gardenia, stephanotis or camellia, shed their buds even when the location changes abruptly. Premature discarding of flowers is also a consequence of a change in the place of growth and is especially manifested when the plant is not sufficiently hardened. Inactive flowering may be due to genetic factors (some varieties bloom less than others) or a lack of phosphorus, a violation of the dormant period, or improper wintering. Cracked pedicels are thought to be the result of irregular watering. This can lead to tension in the tissues and rupture of the shoots. Rotting flowers or buds indicate a gray mold infestation.

These photos show the symptoms of some diseases of indoor plants:

Other diseases

Many diseases of indoor flowers are not caused by viruses, bacteria or fungus, but by violations of conditions of detention, improper care.

Chlorosis

A decrease in the intensity of the color of the leaves, their yellowing or discoloration indicates disturbances in the process of chlorophyll release, slowing down of photosynthesis. The disease is less dangerous than many others, but affects the appearance. The main reason for the occurrence is a lack of useful minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium, nitrogen. Illiterate watering, the use of hard water can also lead to chlorosis.

Consequences of the disease:

• slowdown in growth;
• reduction in foliage size;
• color change;
• deterioration in the appearance of flowers.

Most susceptible to chlorosis azalea, ficus, hibiscus, gardenia, abutilone.

Eden (dropsy of the leaf plate)

Dropsy (the second name is edema) is the result of constant waterlogging of the soil, especially if it is accompanied by insufficient illumination and stuffiness. Most often occurs in peperomia, fat women, Kalanchoe, sheflers, pelargonium.

More liquid enters the green mass than it can consume and evaporate. The leaves are oversaturated with moisture, in some places the tissues are torn, bubbles appear. In the future, these edemas become denser, and begin to resemble a cork to the touch.

If you adjust the watering, allow the soil to dry out, the process of spreading decay will stop, new leaves will grow healthy. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, become sticky, serious treatment is necessary.

Bacterial diseases

Bacteria are the most primitive unicellular organisms that can exist in almost any environment. These are the smallest living creatures, thanks to which they easily penetrate into any pores, a person brings them into the house on clothes and shoes. Another way of infecting indoor plants is seeds or soil. The emergence of a focus of infection and the development of the disease depends on the type of bacteria, the susceptibility of the plant, and environmental factors.

Common types of bacteriophages:

1. For wet rot the appearance of soft tissue areas is characteristic. Bacteria that have penetrated microdamages secrete a special enzyme that causes tissue breakdown. A small spot grows in size, turning stems and shoots into a rotting mass. The same fate awaits the root system.
2. Bacterial rot spreads along the veins of leaves, causing them to turn black.Bacterial spots with a clear outline and a yellow border look like burns.
3. For bacterial cancer the appearance of growths on the roots and stems is characteristic, impairing the health of the plant, leading to its death.

Treatment is possible only if the lesion has affected an insignificant part of the plant. If both the roots and the ground part rot, the disease is incurable, the flower must be burned.

Bacterial cancer

Pests destroying the root system

Of particular difficulty in the complex of protective measures are pests in the soil of indoor plants, the presence of which is detected only by indirect signs, and for destruction it is mainly necessary to water the soil with insecticides.

Roots affected by gall nematodes

1. Mushroom gnats - sciarids

Adult flying insects do no harm, and the larvae living in the soil, feeding on organic debris, are able to eat up the roots.

Noticing a lag in growth, it is advisable to carefully remove the plant from the pot and examine the roots. When white, small enough worms are found, it becomes clear that the roots have been eaten by enchitrea, lovers of excessively moist soil. An earthen lump is placed in a container with water for soaking, after which the roots are thoroughly but carefully washed from the soil. The plant is transplanted into newly prepared soil. In some cases, we can allow watering with an insecticide.

Insecticidal preparations

Insecticides of the contact and systemic spectrum of exposure are effective agents in the fight against pests of plants and flowers. Since their assortment is quite large, a number of features of some should be considered.

Many growers try to avoid the use of chemicals once again, due to their toxicity. In reality, they are dangerous exclusively for pests, and not for humans. The degree of toxicity of any composition is determined by the LD50 level, which determines the maximum amount of a substance required to be consumed or inhaled for death.

Insecticidal products against harmful insects, in most cases, are low-toxic and safe for people. They include only substances harmful to insects. The lethal dosage for humans usually exceeds several hundred grams.

You should not be guided by the smell, since most chemicals have a sharp and unpleasant smell. Modern drugs are produced without fragrance, but do not lose their effectiveness in killing pests. When choosing a drug for the extermination of plant insects, it is better to use different groups in turn: organophosphate, neonicotinoid, pyrethroid. This technique helps to avoid the development of immunity in insects.

Today, an expanded selection of insecticides is on sale. The most popular drug is "Aktara", endowed with a wide range of damaging effects on plant pests and absolutely harmless to the people around.

Available in the form of microencapsulated water-soluble granules. The aqueous solution obtained from them does not exude an unpleasant odor. Plus the funds in its systemic nature - after being applied to the plant, it accumulates in the tissues for a long period of time, providing protection against parasites, for at least 2 weeks.

Apaches, similar in composition to Aktara, can be classified as progressive chemicals. The tool is more economical to use.

List of modern chemicals:

• Pegasus;
• Rogor;
• Talstar;
• Fury;
• Arrivo;
• Cypermethrin;
• Talstar.

Biologicals include:

• Verticillin;
• Mycoafidin.

To help gardeners, there are various sticky traps that are placed near the affected plantings.

No less common in home use are herbal products endowed with insecticidal and acaricidal effects. These include infusions: red pepper, onion, garlic, tobacco. They are effective against: aphids, scale insects, thrips, ticks.

Drying

Excess moisture must be removed from the flowerpots.

It is impossible to get rid of podura in an orchid, ficus, gardenia, dieffenbachia without thoroughly drying the soil in a pot. The soil is dried thoroughly, to a powdery state: the pot should become much lighter than its original weight. If dracaena, lemon and other indoor crops withstand a lack of moisture, then azalea, gardenia immediately begin to shed their leaves and dry out. Therefore, the process is monitored for each plant separately. The roots taken out of the soil are carefully examined, putrefactive, damaged areas are removed.

Attention! Excessive moisture in the soil is not always a sign that soil podura or other bugs must live in it. In pots with hygrophilous cyperus, they are never there, just as there is no rotting organic matter.

White podura

White puffs are jumping insects that can be found in pots of indoor plants. They differ:

• An elongated body on which sparse hairs grow.
• The presence of 3 pairs of legs.
• The presence of a long mustache.
• Conditions with a humid environment are preferred.

The diet of these pests includes the remains of plant components, as well as a living root system. If you do not pay attention to these parasites in time and do not destroy them, then they can lead to the death of indoor plants.

Why do plants get sick

Often times, houseplants don't get sick because they are poorly cared for. On the contrary, excessive care becomes the cause of the disease:

1. Often watered with cold tap water, with drops falling on the leaves.
2. Withered buds and leaves are not picked gently, by hand. Carefully cut with a sharp tool, then sprinkle with coal flour.
3. Transplanted into a tight container.
4. Top dressing is applied regularly, but without a specific dosage - "by eye". They use mainly non-complex supplements, without trace elements in the composition. Flowers react sharply to both excess and lack of nutrients.
5. They contain the plant all year round in the same temperature regime. But many plants need a dormant period when the room temperature needs to be lowered.

Indoor landings can not be set:

• on through blowing by the wind;
• in a place with low illumination;
• next to heating systems;
• on the windowsill, close to the ventilated frames;
• between the tightly drawn curtains and the window pane.

All these factors negatively affect indoor vegetation, leading to insect damage.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars are enemies not only of garden plants, they also love indoor flowers. These insects "work" mainly at night, during the day they prefer to hide.

You don't need to rack your brains over how to get rid of the caterpillars. The main way is to collect them by hand. If it is not so easy to do this in the garden, then it is quite possible on indoor plants. The emergence of these pests can be prevented by spraying with biological preparations - "Lepidocid", "Bitoxibacillin". They are absolutely harmless to humans and pets.

Whitefly

This is an insect with a body length of no more than 2 mm. A characteristic feature is white wings and a yellowish body. They can be found:

• On the back of the leaves, where they are located in colonies.
• Following the characteristic sweetish traces, on which a sooty fungus appears after a while.

Whitefly larvae have sucking mouthparts, so they suck the juices out of the plant. As a result, the plant loses its vitality, gradually loses its attractiveness. If you do not take any measures, then the plant will soon die.

Interesting fact! Appearing in greenhouses, the whitefly prefers plants such as hibiscus, pelargonium or begonia. After the appearance of only one individual, after a short period of time, a whole colony of these insatiable pests appears in the greenhouse. In this regard, the fight should be started immediately.

Viral

The most severe diseases in terms of form and diagnosis! Primary signs are often confused with care errors. The plant can lag behind in growth, lose its decorative effect, the leaves are deformed and disappear. Usually viral infections do not lead to the death of a flower: it can fight the disease for a long time and stubbornly. Frequent carriers of viruses are all the same pests, especially aphids, whiteflies and thrips!

Mosaic disease

White, light green, or light yellow spots of various shapes appear along the veins, caused by the breakdown of the chloroplast in the leaf cells. Over time, the number of spots increases, as a result, the entire surface of the leaf plate is covered with small, mosaic-like spots of various sizes and shapes.

mosaic disease

Curly leaves

The result of this virus is leaf deformation. First, convex and wrinkled areas appear, similar to bulges, then the sheet loses its shape, as if twisting. Gardeners often face a similar problem! So, currant leaves are highly susceptible to curl, which are carried by insect pests.

curly leaves

Jaundice

This dangerous disease affects the crown and affects the general condition of the flower! The first symptoms are similar to chlorosis: the leaves lose their natural greenery, gradually turn yellow, become lethargic and lifeless. Jaundice causes necrosis - tissue death in the form of progressive brown spots. In addition, the stems become brittle due to an overabundance of starch in them! The process becomes massive and affects young shoots and buds, and also affects flowering, discoloring the petals.

jaundice in plants

Risk group for all viruses: exotic flowering crops, calla lilies, orchids, pelargoniums, primroses, bougainvillea, poinsettia, begonias.

Treatment

Not a single drug will give a 100% guarantee of recovery! At the initial stage of a viral infection, you can try to save the plant. First, quarantine the flower, isolating it from others! Disinfect the equipment, because the virus can enter the soil with soil particles. Remove all affected parts - leaves, shoots, make anti-aging pruning, covering the cuts with activated charcoal.

Disinfect the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate in the proportion of 3 grams of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water. Observe the patient's condition! If the disease persists, the flower will have to be parted in order to avoid contamination of the rest of the members of the home collection.

Prophylaxis

In the case of viral diseases, it is actually easier to prevent than to cure! It is enough to follow the general rules of care (you can read about the important rules here): temperature regime, watering regime, prevent waterlogging and, of course, protect the plant from pests, at the first signs of which to treat with fungicides. Only use cuttings from healthy plants! Feed your pets with organics and minerals, observing the dosage, take out in the summer to fresh air, increase their immunity. After all, no virus is terrible for a healthy flower!

Important!

• Diseases of garden flowers: we continue the list.
• Folk recipes for the treatment of plants.
• How to get rid of pests - signs and methods of control.

Causes of occurrence

It is quite easy to notice white bugs in the bud of indoor plants, since they differ in their light shade. They can appear in the ground for a number of the following reasons:

1. Excess moisture from excessive watering, stagnation of excess liquid in the pan of the pot.

   

2. Insufficient soil loosening.
3. Transplanting a plant into contaminated soil.
4. Decay of plant fertilizers (often this applies to tea leaves that are poured out under the root of the flower), which attracts pests with its smell.
5. Buying infested flowers and placing them next to pets can spread the insects to healthy plants.
6. Placing flowers in the kitchen, where their pores and soil are clogged with fat that is released during cooking.
7. Watering the soil with substances that are not intended for these purposes, for example, the remains of drinks.

Also, insect pests can be brought into the dwelling along with cut flowers, through ventilation holes, on clothes, through an open door or window, by pets that are free-range.