Decorative date palm has long gained popularity among home gardeners. The plant has a very attractive appearance and is able to decorate any room.
but exists a number of diseases characteristic of date palm, as well as several types of pests. It is important to recognize the disease in time and know how to deal with pests.
Major diseases and disadvantages of care
Why does the date palm dry on the tips of the leaves? Why do spots appear? Date Palm Disorders May Be Related both illnesses and illiterate care.
Fungal and viral diseases
In date palm diseases guilty various pathogens:
- Fungi.
- Viruses.
- Bacteria.
Among the fungal diseases most common gray spot. Symptoms of the disease are gray spots on the leaves, more on the old. As the disease progresses, black blotches appear - these are fungal spores.
For treatment all infected parts must be removed before the disease has affected the entire plant. Next, the palm tree is treated with fungicides - special antifungal drugs. The same tools are applicable for another, equally common fungal disease - pink rot.
Bacteria lead to putrefactive processes. They are characterized by the softness of the stem and leaves, which also discolor and fall off. The appearance of bacteria is facilitated by increased soil moisture and content in a cold room.
If a mosaic-type image appears on the leaflets, it signals a virus infection. Most often a plant infect insectswhich must be destroyed on time indoors. They may be:
- flies;
- mosquitoes;
- moths
And other insects that can enter the room. For protection, mosquito nets should be installed on the windows.
Causes of loss of decorative appearance
Moisture-laden soil can lead to leaflets. brown spots. The same result results and watering with cold water.
Trunk softening, in conjunction with the putrid odor, also signals an excess of moisture that threatens the life of the plant.
To check you need to remove it from the pot and inspect. If dead roots are found, they must be separated from living roots and thoroughly cleaned. Transplant in another pot and in a drier soil.
Date palm leaves dry, what to do? If watering is insufficient, the leaves begin wither and turn yellow. It may also be associated with poor quality water - too hard or with a low content of essential trace elements.
Brown coloring of the tips of the leaves - The result of insufficient air humidity. The same symptom is characteristic and with hypothermia.
Diseases and pests
Red spider mite is one of the main enemies of not only date palm, but also of many other indoor plants.
The size of the insect is just half a millimeter. It is bred in rooms with extremely low humidity and high temperature. Plant first in the stem, gradually spreading to the leaves.
Symptoms - gray or yellow spots and cracks. If you do not take action, the green pet will die, completely covered with cobwebs. Particular attention should be paid in the spring, this is the time of the most likely infection.
Mealybug parasite on the leaves and young shoots, from which sucks the juice. As a result of infection, the plant slows down the development and almost stops growing. The main symptom is a solid, web-like white bloom.
Thrips parasite on the leaves, especially in their lower parts, laying eggs inside them. Damaged leaves become gray-brown in color, and whiten in the upper part. Thrips can kill the plant: first, the leaves turn yellow and fall, and then the entire palm tree dries.
Shchitovka It also feeds on plant sap and spreads very quickly. Insects gradually cover the entire palm tree, its surface becomes similar to the smallest scales. As a result of loss of juice, the foliage fades and turns yellow, shoots can dry out.
Usual spider mite parasitizes more than 200 species of cultivated plants, including the date palm. The insect damages the leaf epidermis and feeds on the sap of the plant, as well as the grains of chlorophyll. The sheet plate gradually darkens and dries out. In the absence of treatment and insufficient watering, the plant dies.
A photo
Diseases of the date palm: photos show how your plant may suffer from improper care or pests.
Ways to combat parasites
To save the green pet from the attack of parasites, there are several methods. As a primary treatment, you can lather a sponge and remove insects. However, this procedure is not able to completely defeat the infection, so radical measures are taken. The following preparations are used for spraying.:
- phosphamide;
- fitoderm;
- actellic;
- pyrethrum.
The proportion of the solution of chemicals - 2 g per 1 liter. water. Spraying should be carried out once a week.
For health and freshness
How to rejuvenate a date palm? The renewal of the date palm consists in the constant renewal of the leaves that appear from above and die from below. Must be removed withering or dried lower branches.
Upper branches can not be cut! This can lead to the death of the plant. The drying of the upper branch is an unnatural process and signals a disease.
To make the plant fresh leaves daily spray. Once a week you can produce abundant watering of the aerial parts of the plant, while covering the ground with a film. Not bad to wipe the leaves with a damp sponge, it will give the plant freshness and will serve as an additional prevention from parasites.
Proper care - a panacea for many diseases
The most susceptible to diseases are weakened plants, deprived of competent care. Compliance with all rules:
- glaze;
- top dressing;
- temperatures;
- light mode;
can prevent many diseases.
