All fungal diseases appear as a result of improper care of the violet.
Poorly organized conditions of detention led to the death of violet with a weakened immune system, and in this case, it will be difficult to cure it.
But before figuring out how to treat and how to save plant powdery mildew on African violets, it is necessary to carry out the correct diagnosis of the disease in order to apply the necessary drugs.
powdery mildew on african violets
It is a fungal disease that damages the leaves and flowers of the violet. At the very beginning, it can be defined as dust that has appeared on various parts of the plant. At a later date, the dust turns into powdery mildew on African violets and the violet resembles a flower sprinkled with wheat flour.
Causes of powdery mildew on african violets
Most often, the cause of the disease can be improperly organized care of the plant:
- frequent watering with cold water at low temperatures provokes the appearance of fungal spores and their development;
- lack of lighting in winter also leads to a reduced immunity of the violet, and when it is flooded, this will lead to disease.
Correctly created living conditions will raise the plant’s immunity and make sure that it does not hurt.
Check detail guide on African Violet Leaf Problems And Diseases.
How does powdery mildew on african violets spread?
The disease occurs due to the spread of fungal spores, which can be transmitted from one infected plant to another.
Also, spores of the fungus can be located in the substrate and doze for a while, but under certain conditions, they wake up and begin their vigorous activity, which leads to the death of the plant, if timely treatment is not taken.
IMPORTANT! If a disease is detected, it is necessary to rearrange the plant in the quarantine zone in order to avoid the disease in the entire collection.
Syptoms of powdery mildew
The first sign of the disease is first a dusty, and then a white flour coating that appears on the leaves of the violet.
Often it appears in the center of the rosette, and you need to take a couple of leaf cuttings from the last row, treat them with fungicides and root them separately from the rest of the flowers. This will help save the variety.
The rest of the violet must be treated in the same ways that the grower has available or he can purchase in his flower centers.
powdery mildew appearance
If the plant is completely sprinkled with flour, which is not washed off, and later ulcers appear on the leaf plates, completely depressing the leaf, then this disease is powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew appears as a white powdery coating.
Consequences for the plant
If you do not pay attention to the development of the violet in a timely manner and skip the first phase of the disease, this may well lead to the death of the plant.
IMPORTANT! In order not to miss various diseases, the collection should be examined once every 1-2 weeks.
Varieties of mildew on african violets
The cause of the disease is improper care of African violets or acquired contaminated soil.
Therefore, creating the right conditions for your pet, do not forget that it is necessary to sterilize even purchased soil in order to guarantee your plant normal development and abundant flowering.
There are two types of powdery mildew:
- powdery mildew;
- downy mildew.
Powdery mildew
In this disease, a white bloom completely covers the entire flower and after a short amount of time the plant dies.
Downy mildew
It is also a fungal disease caused by fungal spores, but the difference is the light spots located on the petals of the violet flower, and the leaves are covered with small brown specks.
IMPORTANT! It must be remembered that when working with violets, it is necessary to sterilize the tools and wash your hands since the spores of the fungus are spread due to the use of common tools and water used for watering. That is if bottom watering is used, and more than two flowers are placed in one dish, then there is a likelihood of infection through water poured into one container.
are you facing a problem regarding African Violet Leaves Drooping.
Folk methods to treat powdery mildew on African violets
Sometimes a florist cannot use chemicals, since there may be children and animals in the house, or he himself is allergic to chemicals. What to do in this case? It is worth using folk remedies to help get rid of powdery mildew.
Milk serum
To make a solution from whey and water, the preparations are diluted at the rate of 1:10. Processing is carried out three times with an interval of 3 days.
Iodine
This is one of the simple recipes with which to get rid of the disease. To do this, create a solution based on iodine in a concentration of 3 ml per liter of water. iodine. After that, the socket is processed.
Milk whey or iodine can help with powdery mildew.
In order not to be mistaken with the dosage, iodine is measured with a syringe.
Soda ash
Soda helps with fungal diseases. To prepare a composition suitable for processing, you need to mix the ingredients:
- 5 gr. soda;
- 1 gr. liquid soap;
- 1 l. warm water.
Everything must be mixed well and applied to the affected areas. After 7-10 days, repeat the treatment.
Copper sulfate
A fungicide that helps to rid Saintpaulia of the fungus. For this 5 gr. copper sulfate is mixed with 50 gr. liquid soap and topped up in 5 liters. water. Processing is carried out once.
Mustard
5 liters. hot water, brought to 60 degrees, add 1 tablespoon of mustard powder and stir thoroughly. With the cooling solution, you can spray the violet and spill the soil in which the damaged flower grows.
Mustard powder is used to combat powdery mildew.
Garlic
To make a garlic solution, you need to take 25 grams. garlic and chop on a fine grater. After that, pour a liter of water, let it brew for a day.
The solution is filtered and sprayed on the plants.
Other homeremedies to treat powdery mildew on African violets
A few more tools than to treat a violet from powdery mildew:
- infusion of rotted cow dung – the manure is poured with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and allowed to stand for 3 days. Then they are diluted with water and sprayed with rosettes of flowers;
- field horsetail decoction – 100 gr. herbs are poured with a liter of water and insisted for a day. Now you need to boil it for 2 hours, let it cool. Then it is filtered and diluted 1: 5 with water. The broth is ready for use;
- copper-soap solution has a great effect due to the fact that the composition contains copper sulfate. First, at 250 gr. water is diluted with 6 gr. copper sulfate, add all this to a soap solution. It can be made by diluting in 5 liters. water 50 gr. liquid soap. Treat with this solution several times at weekly intervals.
Here is How To Make African Violet Soil Mix At Home?
Using fungicides for powdery mildew on African violets
For advanced diseases, flower growers use chemicals created against fungal diseases. Next, we will tell you how to cure violets from powdery mildew using the most popular and effective drugs.
Plant preparation
Before processing with chemicals, it is necessary to prepare the plant. For this:
- It is necessary to rinse the leaves with running water, ridding them of dust;
- Remove everything that has already died;
- Remove all buds by tearing them off completely with a peduncle.
Processing technology
In order to remove powdery mildew, there are various preparations.
Ampoule 2 ml. bred in 5 liters. water. If you need a smaller amount of the drug, you can measure the drug with a syringe, thereby dividing the ampoule into 2-3 treatments. The drug has unambiguous advantages – there is no smell, no streaks on the leaf mass after processing, it is safe for children and animals.
Full instructions on how to process violets with Topaz can be found on the packaging of the product.
Topaz treatment helps well at the onset of the disease.
Fundazol
It is produced in the form of a powder and fights well against the action of fungi. It is even better if this powder is applied not only to the leaf mass but also poured onto the soil in which the violet grows. The active ingredient is benomyl, diluted 20g. per liter of water.
Bayleton
This is a systemic fungicide, in addition to powdery mildew, it destroys rot and scab. The active ingredient in the preparation is Triadimefon 250 gr. per kg. substances. In stores it can be found in the form:
- emulsion concentrate;
- in powder, diluted with water. To make a solution, take a gram of the drug and mix it with a liter of water.
The foliage is processed on both sides and the soil is shed. The action will be visible after 5 days.IMPORTANT! It is necessary to process the plant abundantly so that the solution flows from the leaf mass.
Multiplicity of application
- Fundazol – a single treatment is enough;
- Bayleton – apply 2 times with an interval of 15 days.
Expected Result
On those leaves that were only sprinkled with white flour, the plaque will go away after the correct treatment. New foliage should develop according to the variety.
Those parts that have been affected by putrefactive spots must be removed, as the spots will not pass.
All affected areas of the plant should be removed.
Precautionary measures in Using fungicides for powdery mildew
When processing drugs, special attention should be paid to the protection of the hands and mucous membranes of a person. Therefore, when starting the processing of plants, you need to put on yourself:
- robe;
- gloves;
- mask;
- glasses.
After finishing work, the dressing gown is put into the wash and hands are thoroughly washed under running water. If a chemical gets on the mucous membrane of a person, you need to call an ambulance, and while it drives up, thoroughly rinse the place of contact with running water.
How to prevent powdery mildew on African violets?
It is important not only to know how to get rid of powdery mildew, but it is also much more important to understand that it is better to avoid the disease.
So that the plants do not get sick with fungal diseases, it is necessary to follow special recommendations for caring for Saintpaulias:
- planted violets should have a drainage layer of at least 2-3 cm in their container;
- starting in September, timely feeding should be carried out so that the plant does not weaken;
- carry out an annual planned spring transplant of violets;
- if the violet has grown, it is worth removing the bottom row of leaves.
Conclusion
Powdery mildew often appears with improper care and low maintenance temperatures. To prevent powdery mildew on African violets from arising, you need to take good care of your flowers, and then they will delight the grower with a beautiful cap of flowers.
