Powdery mildew on violets

Violets are incredibly delicate plants that are very fond of flower growers precisely due to the fact that they are very attractive, and at the same time, you can not make tremendous efforts to care for indoor violets - they are completely unpretentious. These flowers are beautiful, moderately capricious, and the florist should still spend some time and energy to take care of the flowers, as they deserve it. In response, violets give excellent decorative flowering, they look very fresh and interesting, their immunity and stress resistance are at a high level. But if the grower violates agricultural techniques, the rules and norms of watering and the content of Saintpaulias, then this leads to the fact that the plant is exposed to infectious and fungal diseases, which are really very dangerous for the plant. Ailments have several symptoms, among which are the appearance of uncharacteristic spots on the leaf blades, wilting and subsequent shedding of the petals. If suddenly the florist at some point noticed that a white bloom has formed inside the outlet, then this will just say that the violets are sick powdery mildew, and it is imperative to organize the treatment of the plant, otherwise it will simply die. Today there are many modern measures that, in combination, can destroy fungal spores. Only thanks to this it will be possible to save the flower, since powdery mildew on violets is a serious disease.

What causes powdery mildew on violets

photo: powdery mildew on violets

Powdery mildew is considered a disease that is provoked by microscopic fungi and spores that live in the soil. Myceliums, which are formed in the form of plaque, primarily appear on the leaves and petioles, as well as on the inflorescences and petals themselves. Fungal spores themselves look like dark brown or light brown balls that are carried by the wind, and can also move with water droplets when the grower is watering the plants. The disease can be recognized by the fact that a gray-whitish atypical bloom begins to appear on different parts of the plant. First, it covers the petioles, leaf plates that are located at the surface of the soil. Then the same spots begin to spread very quickly throughout the plant, which indicates that powdery mildew has reached its progressive form of the disease. If the grower blows lightly on the leaves, he will notice that dust will rise above them, and it may seem that this is just dirt that has accumulated on the leaves. But this is not at all the case, and if you just wipe the specks on the leaves, then powdery mildew will not go anywhere from such a measure. Much more serious measures are needed to save the landing.

When the disease is just incipient, the plaque is not so noticeable to the naked eye of the grower. Therefore, the plant must be regularly inspected for disease or lesions, damage. When myceliums with spores begin to take root, they are fed by the plants themselves, the leaves, and therefore the leaf plates are quickly covered with bloom. At the same time, the leaves cease to cope with the process of photosynthesis, the plant begins to weaken very much, loses its vitality, becomes inconspicuous, completely ugly. Small ulcers appear on the leaves, which then spread to the petals of the flowers. The affected parts of the plant should be removed immediately, and this should be done for several reasons:

• they are quite difficult to process, and treatment for powdery mildew may not give absolutely any result, and the disease will spread to healthy plantings
• flower stalks can take away strength from plants, and then he will have absolutely no energy left to fight the developed disease.

Powdery mildew on violets - types of fungal diseases

Powdery mildew on violets: photo

Fungal lesions can be of different types, and this classification must also be known in order to take timely and appropriate pest control measures. First, powdery mildew is a whitish bloom that covers multiple green parts of the violet, and can also spread to still healthy peduncles, affecting them. Secondly, downy mildew - this disease can be distinguished from powdery mildew by the nature of the lesion. White bloom predominantly affects the lower part of the leaves, but brown, red spots appear on top. The disease can progress and intensify if there is a draft, sharp gusts of wind and high humidity in the room where the violet is located, which contradicts the rules of agricultural technology. Downy mildew has an extremely negative effect on the immunity and stress resistance of planting. In order to get rid of the mycelium of the fungus, which provokes the development of the disease, it is necessary to use professional drugs. The most demanded and popular among them are topaz and sapropolis, quadris and ordan... It is necessary to use these drugs only in accordance with the instructions for use, otherwise you can harm not only violets, but also your own health.

Also, of course, in order to understand how dangerous powdery mildew on violets is, it is best to get acquainted in more detail with what consequences it can lead to. Fungi develop superficially, and the main harm they cause is precisely the decorative and attractiveness of the plant, its external characteristics. If you do not provide the planting with proper treatment and care, if you do not take timely measures, then the fungus will only grow. You can observe several effects that powdery mildew causes.

First, over time, the leaves that have been infected begin to gradually darken. They deform, curl, dry out and crumble from the bush. They can also form spots and irregularities, ulcers, which indicate that something terrible is happening to the shrub, and that it needs immediate measures that must be taken by the grower. Secondly, shoots and buds stop developing. The growth of the plant slows down, there is no flowering, which means the flower loses one of the most important functions - decorative. Thirdly, the plant stops growing, although in general, in the previous paragraph, we also indicated this moment. But in general, the violet looks very tiny, inconspicuous, sick, lost against the background of other plantings. The bottom row at the outlet dies off altogether, so that there can be no talk of any full-fledged further development of the plant.

Powdery mildew on violets: photo

Of course, powdery mildew on violets has its own reasons. Spores can safely be in the air or in the soil, for the time being they sleep. The impetus for their awakening and subsequent development is that the immunity of the violet becomes very weak, it ceases to fight against attacks from the outside. In not the most favorable conditions, when the grower did not overlook something or did not follow agricultural techniques, the flowers lose their resistance to infections and, as a result, become infected with powdery mildew spores. But the question immediately arises as to how the spores themselves can get on the plant. Here we propose to consider several options for infecting violets with powdery mildew at once:

• they fall on the flower along with the new soil mixture
• spores are brought in by sharp gusts of wind, as well as on the clothes that the florist wears on himself
• the fungus can enter the room or room where the violet is kept, along with cut flowers.He can also get along with new houseplants. It is for this reason that gardeners recommend sending new flowers to quarantine for a while, and only then expose them along with the usual plantings.

Spores can easily be transmitted from diseased flowers to healthy ones, they can be carried through clothes, hands, tools with which the grower processes plants. It is also possible to transmit spores even with splashing water. This disease occurs most often in the spring and autumn. This is especially true when the room temperature drops, which, of course, causes the spores to intensify. In Saintpaulias, immunity begins to decrease too quickly, stress resistance disappears, due to which, in principle, the plant feels normal. It is also of course worth saying that a decrease in immunity can be triggered by several factors.

Firstly, a florist can violate the rules of agricultural technology. This becomes the main and most common reason why powdery mildew forms on violets. Excessive watering can also lead to this due to the fact that the container for the plant was selected too large. Secondly, an excess of nitrogen, a lack of phosphorus is exactly what can lead to the formation of fungal formations and spores of powdery mildew on the plant. Thirdly, if you keep a flower at a temperature below 18 degrees, and if the air humidity is below 70-80%, this will also affect the condition of the plant and the fact that it starts to hurt, immunity and stress resistance will noticeably decrease. Fourthly, insufficient illumination, provided that the plant is very thermophilic and is excellent for long-term illumination. If the violet receives very little light, then it becomes weaker and, accordingly, there is a vulnerability to diseases, viruses, and even more so to fungal infections. In general, the factor of keeping flowers in unsuitable conditions, the inability to create an optimal microclimate for plantings is also a significant moment, which just affects the fact that the plant will get sick. Inappropriate conditions in this case are the absence of wet cleaning, the accumulation of dust on the leaves, the close placement of the pots, the thickening of the crown of violets.

Powdery mildew on violets: flower treatment and how to deal with the disease

photo: powdery mildew on violets

Having considered the specifics of the disease, it is very important to understand what are the ways to treat violets from powdery mildew. Today, a large number of special preparations have been created that are just intended to fight fungal diseases and infections - this is a fungicidal group of drugs. In addition to the fact that plants are treated with agents and preparations, they must also be kept in the most favorable conditions. This means that something should be changed if, under the current conditions, the plant has managed to get sick.

For example, you can slightly adjust and lower the humidity. To do this, it is recommended to abandon watering until the top layer of the soil is completely dry. It is also recommended to place the flowers in a warm place that will be well lit so that the planting feels as comfortable as possible. Thirdly, experienced flower growers recommend removing the topsoil, since it is in it that fungal spores can live. After that, a fresh substrate is laid, to which the plant quickly adapts. The fresh substrate is preliminarily disinfected by calcining. After the plants have been treated with special preparations, it is recommended to wait for a while and not to expose the plants immediately to the light. They should dry out a little. And only after that, the florist returns the plantings to their usual habitat and puts them in their usual place.

It is worth removing all affected parts of the plant from the outlet, usually leaves and peduncles. The place where the bush was located, the surface of the container and the pallet must be well rinsed and disinfected with a drug such as Topaz. At the initial stage, leaves that have been infected can be treated with sulfur products. Also, flowers can be sprayed with lukewarm water, then powdered with sulfur powder, and put a bag on top for a while. It is necessary to remember about safety precautions, since the substance is toxic, therefore, during processing, it is recommended to protect the mucous membranes and do not inhale this powder.

How to treat violets from powdery mildew

how to treat violets from powdery mildew: photo

Fungicides are one of the most effective and fastest ways to treat powdery mildew in violets. Before the procedure, the violet should be cleaned, remove all dirt and dust that could accumulate on the flower, for this it is enough to rinse the plant under running water. Spraying with preparations should be intense and very abundant, until the liquid begins to drain from the leaves, which is this very remedy. I would like to describe several fungicidal drugs that are considered today one of the most effective, affordable and really very significant in the fight against such a scourge as powdery mildew.

The drug Bayleton is a systemic fungicide that rather quickly fights powdery mildew, as well as diseases such as rot and scab. The active ingredient of the drug is triadimefon, it is used for an effective express fight against fungal formations on vegetable and fruit shrubs and trees, as well as for combating fungi on flowers. This tool is available in two forms at once - a concentrated emulsion and a water-soluble powder. What form to choose is up to the florist himself, they have exactly the same sphere of influence. The drug is recommended to be applied in the form of a solution that is sprayed from a spray bottle. It is necessary to process both infected and healthy parts of the plant. The procedure will stop the spread of the fungus, localize it only on one part of the plant. The leaves should be processed very carefully, on both sides. The rest of the solution can simply be poured into a clod of earth, in which the violet root system is located. Also, in addition to the fact that the drug fights bacteria and fungi, it also helps to saturate the soil with zinc, since it is very important for recreating the decorativeness of the plant. In case of severe infection, it is worth treating the violet again, after about 7-10 days, no later than.

Powdery mildew on violets: photo of the disease

Topaz is a fungicide that contains an active ingredient called penconazole. The treatment of violets with topaz from powdery mildew is carried out not only for the treatment of fungal diseases, but also for prevention. Only a liquid concentrate of this drug can be found on sale, and in particular, the drug will be effective in the very early stages of powdery mildew infection. A solution is prepared from the liquid, observing the instructions for using the drug. The leaves are wetted on both sides. If the flower is very strongly affected, then an increase in the concentration of the drug is allowed. The number of treatments will depend on the condition of the plant, and more than one treatment may be required. Between spraying, it is worth maintaining a break of 10-14 days. The drug Topaz has its great advantages over many other drugs - it is odorless, does not leave marks and streaks on the leaves. It is also worth noting that the drug has a protective effect that lasts two weeks. The treatment of violets with topaz from powdery mildew is absolutely safe for both humans and animals, but it is still worth remembering the safety precautions when using such a tool, because it is, first of all, a chemical.

Fundazol drug - the tool has an effect on a huge number of pests and effectively fights pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It is most often used to treat violets and other indoor plantings, and is great for controlling powdery mildew. Fundazole is produced in the form of a powder, which is dissolved in a small amount in warm water. The drug can be used to treat any part of the violet; the effectiveness is also manifested if the drug is applied directly to the soil so that it is absorbed by the root system. But here you should not forget about safety measures - it is necessary to work with the drug with gloves and glasses, in a mask, since it is very toxic. After treatment, animals should not be allowed to the plant - they can also get toxic poisoning.

Powdery mildew on violets: photo of the disease

Powdery mildew on violets: treatment with folk remedies

There are also folk recipes to combat powdery mildew. One of these simple and yet effective methods is the use of iodine. Iodine from powdery mildew on violets can be added to water and sprayed on areas that have been affected by the disease. To measure the required amount of iodine, you should use the most common medical syringe. As a rule, about three milliliters of iodine from powdery mildew on violets is added to one liter of water.

You can also use whey - it is effective and completely safe for humans. The serum is mixed with water, and then the flower is processed with the liquid not in one, but in three approaches at once. The interval between treatments is no more than three days. Experienced growers also recommend using soda ash, which is excellent at fighting fungus. It can be mixed with liquid soap and water, the resulting solution can be treated with leaves and other parts of the violet that have been affected by powdery mildew. After about one week, the treatment with this liquid can be repeated. But it is still worth remembering that all these funds will be especially effective at the very first stages of the development of the disease, since then the fungi will be vulnerable only to chemicals.

Prevention of the onset of the disease

Powdery mildew on violets: photo

Let's talk a little about the prevention of powdery mildew on violets. It consists of several mandatory activities that can be performed in a different order:

• indoor plants are processed twice a year - in the spring and autumn, a drug called Topaz is used for processing
• it is worth following all the recommendations and nuances that relate to watering and temperature conditions, and in general, creating a favorable microclimate for the plant
• new flowers must be quarantined for some time, and only after that it will be possible to send them to all other plantings
• plants on which even the smallest signs and symptoms of disease have appeared should be immediately isolated from healthy plants. This will prevent the fungus from spreading further to other Saintpaulias.
• soil, containers and tools must be decontaminated
• violets should receive a sufficient amount of light. If necessary, the florist can use additional lamps and phytolamps.
• cut flowers should not be left next to indoor plantings, as they can become a source of infection. If you follow all these rules, then you can not only save your plantings, but also increase them. The most important thing is to be vigilant, understand your responsibility for your own indoor plants and take into account the nuances and agronomic subtleties. In this case, even a florist without experience will be able to cope with plants.

Powdery mildew on violets: how to get rid of the disease?