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Diseases of zonal pelargonium. Diseases of pelargonium (geranium) - symptoms, control and treatment. Video about large-flowered pelargonium, its diseases and pests

Geranium (or pelargonium) is a herbaceous plant of the Geranium family with lobed or dissected fragrant leaves. Plants are grown as ornamental or commercial plants to obtain essential oils. In Russia there are up to 40 species of geranium. Unpretentious pelargonium has bright red or pink clusters of flowers.

Common causes of the disease

The main factors that provoke various diseases in geranium are:

Read about why the leaves of indoor geraniums turn red and dry out, and from there you will learn why the leaves turn white and how to help the plant.

Most often, geranium is susceptible to various ailments due to poor care. The most common diseases of pelargonium are as follows:

ATTENTION: A bacterial burn cannot be treated. To save pelargonium from death, you need to pinch off all infected parts from a healthy shoot and burn them.

If infected, the diseased flower is isolated, For healthy plants, prevention is carried out, which includes the following steps:

moderate watering;
when the indoor air is cool, the plants are provided with dry air;
sterilize the soil;
carry out pest control;
quarantine them.

We talked in detail about why leaf diseases occur in geraniums.

IMPORTANT: At an advanced stage, it is necessary to treat the plant with insecticides (Aktara, Aktellik or Fufanon).

And here you can see a photo of geranium affected by diseases:

Pelargonium resuscitation: care at home

There are situations that happen very quickly, literally before our eyes. In this case, the plant requires immediate restoration without identifying the reasons for such wilting. There are several effective ways to revive pelargonium:

washing and removing dry rotten roots;
cutting off rotten and dry leaves, up to their complete removal;
disinfection in Epin solution for about 1 hour;
soil sterilization;
transplantation into a warm and moist substrate;
moving the plant to a bright, slightly cool place without drafts;
exclusion of watering, in warm weather spraying with warm water;
feeding with Epin (once a week);
gradual transfer of geranium to the sunny side;
When new leaves appear, transfer to standard care.

Geranium rarely gets sick when it receives enough light, warmth and quality care. If, nevertheless, pelargonium is affected by some disease, then you should not delay treatment. Prevention and timely treatment of geranium will help to completely cure it.

Indoor geranium is a beautiful and unpretentious plant that our grandmothers loved. Thanks to breeding work, new varieties have appeared with the original shape of flowers and leaves, fantasy coloring, miniature and dwarf sizes.

However, the problems in cultivation remain the same - geranium diseases and pests invariably overtake the plant if care rules are not followed and agricultural practices are violated. However, you should not be afraid of them - it is enough to adopt methods of control and treatment that will be useful to both a beginner and an experienced gardener.

Most often, geranium suffers from fungi and bacteria that multiply due to improper watering, high humidity or excess nitrogen in the soil. The causes of infection can also be diseased bushes brought into the house without mandatory quarantine, as well as spores in purchased substrate that has not been disinfected.

Rust on leaves

This disease manifests itself as yellow and brown spots of varying sizes that appear on the leaves. Quite often you can see pads with fungal spores, which, after opening, spread the infection to other plants.

Over time, the leaves on a diseased bush dry out, and in an advanced stage the bush sheds its leaf mass and withers. If appropriate measures are not taken, the geranium begins to rot, turn black and die completely.

Treatment of leaf rust is advisable only in the initial stages of the lesion using the following measures:

Isolating the plant from other bushes and completely removing the affected parts;
Water geraniums only in a tray;
Application of fungicides (colloidal sulfur, 0.5% solution of Bordeaux mixture);
Treatment of bushes that were located next to the diseased specimen with Acrex or Kratan suspensions.

It is important to maintain maximum sterility so that fungal spores are not spread to other flowers.

Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease, the main symptom of which is a powdery coating on the leaves, similar to flour. The first lesions may be unnoticeable; they appear chaotically on the foliage of geranium in the form of small spots. As the infection spreads, the entire plate becomes coated with plaque. The appearance of powdery mildew is promoted by high indoor humidity combined with high temperature.

Treatment of geranium involves complete removal of infected leaves and isolation of the diseased plant from the rest, since powdery mildew is easily transmitted. Then the bush is treated with the following preparations:

Copper sulfate solution;
Ammonium nitrate;
Soda ash;
5% solution of laundry soap;
Colloidal sulfur;
Any available fungicide.

Root rot and Alternaria blight

Root rot occurs due to infection of a geranium bush by a fungus. At risk are plants that suffer from excess moisture in the soil, frequent spraying, poor indoor ventilation or overfeeding with nitrogen.

You can notice signs of root rot damage by the leaves - they turn yellow, and then turn brown or black. Parts of the geranium become covered with a light cobweb-like coating, and the bush itself withers and withers.

Geraniums affected by root rot can be saved if appropriate measures are taken:

Avoid fertilizing the bush with fertilizers high in nitrogen;
Remove and completely destroy infected parts;
Constantly loosen the soil, reduce watering;
Treat geranium with a fungicide (Bordeaux mixture, Fundazol).

If pelargonium continues to wither, it is recommended to replant the plant and completely replace the soil with a new one. It is important to sterilize the pot by dousing it with boiling water or treating it with a solution of potassium permanganate. The root system must be carefully examined and all roots affected by the disease must be removed.

Alternaria blight manifests itself in the form of spots with a white coating, arising as a result of prolonged exposure of geraniums to conditions of high humidity. If infection with this type of fungus is suspected, treatment with fungicides (Ridomil, Gold-M) is recommended.

Blackleg

This fungal disease affects the stem of geranium - a dark spot first appears above the ground level and then spreads upward, causing the bush to fracture. Blackleg often occurs due to too heavy soil, systematic overflow and lack of drainage in the pot.

A geranium bush affected by a black leg cannot be treated, but the variety can be preserved. To do this, the top or side stems of the plant are cut off for rooting. For prevention, cuttings should be soaked in a fungicide solution before planting.

Stem and root late blight

The causative agent of the disease is late blight fungus. The main signs of the disease are wilting and curling of leaves, similar to a consequence of lack of water. It is not uncommon to see dark, sunken spots that appear on the leaves or stem. With high humidity, a fluff-like coating appears on the stains.

The danger of late blight lies in its manifestation in the later stages, when the plant can no longer be treated. However, if small areas of the bush are infected, you can try to save the geranium:

Replant into new disinfected soil;
Treat with Previkur, Profit Gold, Ridomil;
Reduce watering and reduce indoor humidity.

Bacterial rot and fire burns

The main symptom of bacterial rot is watery spots on the leaves that dry out over time but remain on the geranium. If signs of the disease are detected, you must:

Cut off all affected parts;
Stop any spraying;
Feed the plant with fertilizer high in potassium;
Treat with Oxyx.

Bacterial burns are leaf lesions caused by various microorganisms. First, dry spots appear on the leaves, which subsequently become deformed. In this case, wilting is characteristic - the leaves droop, resembling an umbrella.

Geraniums suffering from bacterial burns stop growing, but do not die, since the root system remains healthy. Pelargonium becomes infected through dirty tools, water, substrate or insects. The disease cannot be cured - the only thing you can do is to root the shoots that the disease has not spread to. It is better to burn the rest completely. Since a burn can quickly “eat” a geranium, you should not wait until the leaves turn completely yellow, but cut the bush immediately.

Verticillium wilt

This disease is the scourge of large-flowered pelargoniums, which suffer from it most often. The signs of the disease are quite characteristic: the leaves do not wither completely, but most often in halves and even sectors. Subsequently, the affected plates dry out and remain hanging on the bush without falling off. If you cut the stem, you can see browned vessels, but the roots of the plant are not affected.

Many gardeners advise completely destroying bushes infected with verticillium wilt, without even leaving a pot. Plants that were located next to infected geraniums must be treated with Gamair and Alirin-B.

However, if the geranium variety is dear to you and you want to preserve it, it is worth fighting for a cure. First you need to isolate the bush from other plants, then remove all parts affected by wilting, disinfecting the tool. It is recommended to adjust watering so that the soil maintains moderate moisture and does not dry out. The drug Trichodermin is used for treatment. If the bush cannot be cured, burn it.

Leaf spot

Spotting appears as dark green, round spots that subsequently turn brown. Their edge is often darker than the middle and slightly raised, and in the center an olive-brown coating of sporangia can be discerned.

Large-flowered pelargoniums and zonal hybrids that are in the garden in rainy weather or in a greenhouse with high humidity are susceptible to spotting.

Treatment methods for spotting are as follows:

Reduced air humidity;
Removing affected leaves;
Reducing spraying of bushes;
Treatment with Fitosporin, Gamair, Bordeaux mixture.

Viral diseases of geranium with photos

Viral diseases cannot be confused with anything - they leave a characteristic mesh pattern on the leaves of geranium. Plants are more often attacked by viruses in the cold season due to a decrease in natural immunity.

Although viral diseases affect the growth of pelargonium, slowing it down, this does not affect the life span of the bushes. The virus cannot be treated, so the grower must make the appropriate decision - completely destroy the bush, remove leaves affected by the disease, or continue to grow the affected specimen. If you still decide to leave the bush, move it to another place to avoid contact with other plants, in particular pelargoniums. It is also not recommended to use the same pruning tools, since the likelihood of infecting a healthy bush is very high. Remember: the virus is easily transmitted by insects!

Dropsy

Dropsy is a physiological disease caused by improper living conditions, in particular overwatering of the soil, low temperatures and high humidity in the room.

Mostly ivy-leaved pelargoniums suffer from dropsy, and swollen, swollen areas appear on the back of the leaves. The further spread of the disease can be prevented by adjusting agricultural practices and living conditions:

Reduce watering and spraying;
Provide the plant with good drainage;
Ventilate the room regularly.

The most common pests with photographs

Healthy pelargonium is not the most “delicious dish” for various types of pests, but the situation changes in the opposite direction when the protective forces of the bush weaken. Improper watering, heavy soil, and putrefactive processes provoke insect attacks that damage and “finish off” the geranium. However, you can fight them - special preparations and other methods of eliminating pests will come to the rescue.

Mite. It settles on the underside of the leaf blade and slowly eats it, which appears as yellowish specks that develop into large discolored areas.

Fighting methods: in case of mild damage, the plant is treated with a soap solution; in case of severe mite spread, it is necessary to spray with Fitoverm, Akarin, Actellik or other acaricides.

Thrips. This small insect causes deformation of young leaves and growing points. Cork-like growths appear on the underside of the leaf blades. Spots appear on blooming flowers, and the edges of the petals turn brown. In the center of the buds, near the stamens, thrips multiply.

Fighting methods: For complete destruction, repeated applications of insecticides are required at intervals of 5 days. The drugs used are “Confidor”, “Aktellik”, “Aktara”, “Fitoverm” and their analogues.

Aphid. Provokes yellowing and curling of leaves. The insect settles on the geranium bush in large colonies and eats young shoots, leaves and flowers. Easy to see with the naked eye.

Fighting methods: affected shoots and leaves must be cut off and destroyed. If the aphids have not yet had time to multiply significantly, treatment with a soap solution will help. In case of severe damage, the drugs “Actellik”, “Antitlin”, “Fitoverm”, “Iskra”, etc. are used.

Whitefly. The insect mainly attacks large-flowered hybrids and royal pelargoniums. On the lower surface of the leaves you can see white larvae and the most adult insects measuring 2-3 mm. The pest feeds on the juices of geraniums, eating its tender leaves. The corroded plates turn yellow and a sticky discharge appears on them.

Fighting methods: To get rid of whiteflies, geraniums must be made poisonous to the insect. To do this, the soil in the pot is spilled with Aktara (for plants up to 40 cm, the dosage is 1 g per 10 liters of water). Spraying with “Confidor” (needs to be covered with a bag and left overnight) or “Teppeki” is also carried out.

Mealybug. The pest hides under lumps of white sticky substance that looks like cotton wool. Since the bug quickly spreads to other plants, the bush must be urgently isolated when the first signs of damage are detected.

Fighting methods: You can remove the pest manually using a damp cloth, and then wash it with a soap-alcohol solution (20 ml of alcohol, 20 g of laundry soap per 1 liter of water). In case of severe infection, the use of insecticidal preparations (Aktellik, Aktara, etc.) is recommended.

Caterpillars. This pest causes significant damage to leaves in the form of gnawed areas. You can often notice traces of their vital activity.

Fighting methods: The caterpillar can be easily collected by hand by inspecting the bushes every evening. Biological and chemical insecticides “Bikol”, “Lepidotsid”, “Arrivo”, “Tzipi”, “Zolon” are also used.

To prevent geranium from suffering from diseases and pests, follow all the rules of care and cultivation, and also carry out preventive treatments. Be sure to quarantine new plants, especially if they were purchased at a flower shop and not from a private collector.

Diseases of pelargonium (geranium) - control and treatment, symptoms and photos. Why do geraniums turn yellow and wilt? Geranium diseases can ruin your efforts to care for these beautiful flowers. As a result of the action of pathogens, pelargonium turns yellow and fades, losing its flowers or leaves.

Diseases of pelargonium (geranium)

In order not to be transferred to our garden or balcony, it is necessary to obtain newly acquired plants from a reliable source. When purchasing them, if possible, check to see if they have any pests or signs of disease.

Particularly dangerous for geraniums is exposure to excessive amounts of moisture in the soil and air, which contributes to the development of fungal diseases. Therefore, when planting geraniums, maintain a distance between plants of about 25 cm, take care of the soil pH at 6-7. It is worth placing small stones or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot, which will serve as drainage. This will make it easier to get rid of excess water and prevent rotting of the pelargonium roots. If possible, pots of geraniums should be placed under a roof before the rains arrive. Also, avoid exposing plants to high temperatures as this will burn the leaves.

Proper fertilization of plants is also important. In particular, nitrogen fertilizer promotes the development of fungal diseases. Therefore, it is worth using a special fertilizer for pelargonium or flowering plants with a reduced dose of nitrogen. Use fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium compounds that support abundant flowering. Following these rules will help you avoid geranium disease, yellowing and drying of pelargonium leaves.

Pelargonium: fungal diseases

One of the most common diseases of pelargonium is gray mold. It appears when the humidity in the air and ground is too high. Frequent sprinkling and abundant watering are the ideal environment for the development of this pelargonium disease.

Gray mold shows up as browning of the leaves, watery spots, and a powdery gray coating. The spots appear from the edge of the leaf and are narrow to the center of the leaf blade. The pathogen quickly spreads to other plants through spores.

To prevent the appearance of gray mold in pelargonium, first of all, the plant needs proper growing conditions. Once symptoms of the disease are detected, the infected parts of the plant are removed and then sprayed with organic preparations: Biosept Active, Agricolle spray for fungal diseases or Teldor 500 SC fungicide.

Pelargonium diseases photos, treatment, means and methods of control

Geriatric fusarium manifests itself in the same way. The disease begins at the base of the plant. The leaves turn yellow and watery spots appear. Over time, the plant becomes smaller and dies. Fungicides against this disease: Topsin M 500 SC and Dithane NeoTec 75 WG.

Pelvisone is also often attacked by powdery mildew and powdery mildew. Untreated symptoms of powdery mildew lead to complete degradation of the plant. High temperature and humidity contribute to these diseases. This is why they usually appear in the summer, with heavy rainfall.

Pelargonium powdery mildew appears as a white coating on the leaves, both upper and lower, which later turns brown. The recommended product for controlling powdery mildew on pelargonium is Topsin M 500SC or Discus 500WG.

Powdery mold of pelargonium appears only on the underside of the leaves, in the form of a white coating. The drugs recommended to combat downy mildew are: Miedzan 50WP, Dithane NeoTec 75WG.

A disease that is easily recognized is geranium rust. It is characterized by yellow, round spots on the leaves. Brown spots of rust spores are often visible in the stains. Leaves turn brown and fall off. The disease is favored by high humidity and too dense planting. Remove infected parts of the plant. Fungicides recommended for spraying: Amistar 250 SC, Domark 100EC.

Geranium is generally unpretentious. She loves warmth, sun and simple soil. The conditions for its maintenance are simple:

moderate watering;
bright sun (9 out of 10 points);
warm air;
good drainage and loosening of the soil;
nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in equal proportions and very small quantities;
not very nutritious soil with a slightly acidic pH;
weeding;
periodic pruning of the upper shoots, removal of dead flowers and leaves.

Important! It is best to water geraniums before 11 o’clock.

Diagnosis of problems

Brown areas

Brown spots on the lower leaves of geranium may indicate infection with gray mold. These spots are the first symptom, followed by a dense gray coating appearing on the affected areas.
Brown spots with a light center are a sign of Alternaria blight. Manifestations of the disease: geraniums do not bloom and dry out, and with high air humidity a velvety coating appears on them.
Brown-red spots on the leaves and stem - geraniums are cold or have too much sun(read about why indoor geranium leaves turn red and dry out). You should move the geranium to a warmer place and select the optimal lighting level - 9 out of 10 points.

On a note. Common causes of discoloration of geranium leaves are associated with improper care.

What to do if the flower is sick: detailed instructions

The main condition is to create a quarantine so that the disease does not spread to other flowers. A careful examination of the leaves on the top and bottom, stem, flowers, soil and assessment of the condition can give a lot of information about what happened to your geranium.

Rust

If the flower is affected by rust, you must:

move the geranium to a cool and dry place;
reduce watering and stop spraying;
remove diseased leaves;
treat the plant with Topaz.

Note! Treatment is effective only in the early stages of the disease.

Fungus

If your symptoms indicate Botrytis fungus, you will have to:

remove affected plant fragments;
treat it with systemic fungicides;
reduce watering;
loosen the soil.

Ring spot

If ring spotting is detected, it is unlikely that the flower will be saved. The disease is viral and affects the entire plant., therefore the prognosis is most often unfavorable, and it is better to destroy the plant along with the soil.

Getting rid of spider mites is possible if the owner is willing to devote a lot of effort to it. A tick is a microscopic arachnid, not an insect. It is useless to fight it with insecticides.

How to get rid of spider mites:

wash the flower with warm water and laundry or tar soap - after this, half of the mite population will be destroyed;
disinfect the window sill and everything that was there, wash the windows, wash the curtains;
Water the geranium thoroughly and wrap it tightly in polyethylene for three days - the mites will die from high humidity.

To enhance the effect, some gardeners recommend tincture of garlic in water followed by wrapping: cotton swabs are moistened with a caustic solution and placed 2-3 on each pot.

Also Spraying with aspirin (1 tablet per 1 liter of water) is considered very effective. You can do without wrapping, using insectoacaricidal preparations every 2 weeks. However, they only affect adults. To stop the appearance of eggs, it is necessary to use hormonal drugs (Clofentesine and Flufenzine), and for a more powerful effect, combine them with any biological product.

If everything has been tried, and the pest does not give up, you can release a natural enemy on it, which will gladly destroy mites, small and large, but will not touch your flowers, animals, or yourself: this is phytoseiulus. During the day, it destroys up to five adult individuals or up to a dozen eggs, and when left without food, it dies. You can buy it at a garden center, flower shop or online.

Attention! If the cobweb has entangled the entire plant, it can no longer be saved.

Gray rot

How to cure gray rot:

treat geraniums with systemic fungicides to destroy the fungus;
reduce watering, cancel spraying, reduce air humidity.

Infection with this disease occurs through the soil. Treatment:

replacing soil and pot;
treating the plant with Ridomil Gold or Skor;
good ventilation;
loosening the soil;
optimal watering regime.

Insects

wash the flower in a soap-ash solution;
wipe the leaves with alcohol - this must be done quickly so as not to burn them;
treat with special insecticides;
replace the soil.

Prevention

The plant is quite resistant to disease, but prevention will help avoid unnecessary problems. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the flower and maintain:

correct temperature conditions;
a certain soil moisture;
optimal lighting;
timely feeding.

So, geranium is not the most difficult flower to care for and maintain, but it also requires attention and care. By being vigilant about the condition of the leaves, flowers, and stems, you can significantly extend the life of the geranium, and it will decorate your home for a long time with lush blooms or the invigorating aroma of the leaves.

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A plant with the complex name “pelargonium” is a geranium familiar from childhood. Bright, colorful clouds over the green leaves of pelargonium leave few people indifferent. Interest in it is constantly growing. After all, pelargonium not only fascinates with its beauty, but also has healing properties.

Pelargonium care

Geranium is easy to care for. It can purify indoor air, soothe and heal wounds. These and other properties of geranium are used in folk medicine.

Pelargonium is a picky plant. You can admire its long-lasting flowering both at home and in the garden.

It is better to water geraniums in the morning before 11 o'clock. In cool climates and excessive humidity, reduce watering. And it is also necessary to drain the soil.

By following simple rules for caring for pelargonium, you can admire the lush flowers throughout the year. It is enough to control the temperature, monitor the lighting and soil moisture:

In winter, geranium enjoys the coolness, but you should not risk keeping the plant at temperatures below 10 o C.
Geraniums will grow best on the south side, as they love the sun.
In order for geranium to delight you with flowering all year round, it is enough to provide it with light and the necessary nutrition, because the birthplace of geranium is South Africa.
In order for the plant not to stretch out, but to grow as a lush bush, the shoots need to be pinched.
Geraniums should be fed in a timely manner (the fertilizer should not contain a lot of nitrogen).
It is necessary to systematically inspect the bush for damage and stains.
Wilted flowers must be removed.

What diseases and pests most often affect pelargonium?

If you notice yellowed leaves on a geranium, red-brown spots or watery pads on the foliage, or if it drops flowers or the stem darkens at the base, it means the plant is sick. Aphids, caterpillars, mites, whiteflies and termites can also harm pelargoniums.

Table: symptoms of diseases and pest damage, maintenance errors

Symptoms	Causes
Symptoms	Care errors	Disease	Pest
Drying of the flower or yellowing of its leaves.	Tight flower pot excess moisture, draft direct sunlight.
Gray-brown spots appear on the plant, it spends energy fighting the disease and does not bloom. The foliage turns yellow and dries.	Excess moisture in the soil, excessive spraying, insufficient ventilation, excess nitrogen content in the soil.
Gray-brown spots with a lightened center appear on the leaf and petiole. Subsequently, with excessive air humidity, a velvety coating forms on the stains. Pelargonium foliage turns yellow, dries, and flowering stops.	Insufficient ventilation excessive watering, dense substrate.	Alternaria blight
Dark depressed spots form at the bottom of the stem. The number of spots increases and covers the stem of the plant. Geranium does not bloom. Subsequently, the leaves turn yellow and the plant withers.	Excess fertilizer in the soil, high air temperature (especially in winter), excess moisture in the soil, insufficient ventilation, little light.	Rhizoctonia rot
In the lower part of the plant, the foliage turns yellow, and then turns black and withers.	Untimely removal of plant debris, poor quality soil, excessive drying of the soil.	Verticillium wilt
Clearly defined yellow spots appear on the leaf. Brown growths form on the inside of the leaf. At an advanced stage of the disease, the foliage of the plant becomes yellowish, dries out and falls off. Geranium does not bloom.	Contact with infected plants, high air temperature and oversaturation of soil with moisture.
The plant stops blooming, withers, rots, and the foliage dries out. Depressed spots are visible on the roots of the dead plant. Damaged areas of the plant are covered with a grayish fungus. The causative agent of late blight is in the ground.	Too dense plantings, insufficient ventilation bad light, high air temperature, too wet soil, oversaturation with fertilizers, poor quality soil.	Late blight
The plant's stem and roots rot. Infected geraniums stop blooming, quickly wither, and then die. Dark depressed spots appear on the root neck and on the roots themselves. At an advanced stage of the disease, the affected areas of the plant rot, and the diseased flower “lies down.” A grayish-white fungus appears on the affected areas.	Dense plantings, poor lighting, excess nitrogen in the soil, substrate is too wet high air temperature.
Geranium leaves turn yellow and curl.	Dry air.		Aphid
The upper leaves of pelargonium stop growing, become coarser and curl up. A dark scab appears on the petiole and underside of the leaf.	Warm and humid environment.		Multi-clawed tick
Geranium cuttings do not take root and die from rot at the base of the stem.	Poor quality soil.		Fungus gnat larvae
Small growths have appeared on the underside of the foliage, and the flowers are covered with brown spots.	Dry and warm air.		Thrips

Photo gallery: geranium diseases, their treatment and prevention

Root rot can destroy geraniums
Rust is a common disease of pelargonium.
Gray rot can be eliminated by replacing the soil and properly caring for the plant.
Verticillium wilt often occurs due to poor-quality or overdried soil.

Fungal rot - gray rot

When a plant is affected by gray rot on the edges of the leaves, brown spots with a light center appear on the cuttings, which may subsequently become covered with a dark velvety coating. Zonal pelargonium is most susceptible to infection with gray mold.

The causative agent of gray mold is found in the soil. To avoid the appearance of gray rot, it is enough to increase the space between plants for ventilation and provide them with optimal lighting.

Methods of protection:

Remove diseased flowers and leaves.
Sprinkle the affected area with ash.
Apply a paste of the drug Trichodermin (Fungistop). To do this, moisten a small amount of powder with water and treat the affected areas.
You can spray the plant with Topsin-M solution (0.1%) or Fitosporin solution (you need to dilute it to the color of tea).

Rhizoctonia stem and root rot of pelargonium

The causative agent of root rot is in the soil, infecting geraniums. At the base of the stem of a diseased plant, dark depressed spots appear, on which the grayish mycelium of the fungus subsequently multiplies. If emergency measures are not taken, the number of spots increases. Pelargonium is dying.

Methods of protection:

Stop watering.
Treat the flower with fungicidal substances, for example, Rovral, Vitaros, Fundazol.
If the disease progresses, in order to preserve the variety, you can try cutting the plant. When planting cuttings, it is necessary to use sterilized soil.

Verticillium wilt

With a fungal disease such as verticillium wilt, the lower leaves of pelargonium turn yellow first. Remaining on the stem, the leaf withers, and the yellowness moves higher up the plant. The causative agent of the disease lives in the soil. The fungus can remain in contaminated soil for up to 15 years.

Methods of protection:

Remove damaged foliage.
Treat the soil with fungicidal substances.
If the plant is severely affected, all that remains is to destroy it. You can no longer plant anything in this land.

The so-called rust appears on pelargonium leaves when infected with the Puccinia fungus. With this disease, brown spots appear on the stems of the plant, after which the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

Methods of protection:

It is recommended to systematically inspect the plant.
In case of infection, geraniums should be sprayed with fungicides.
If signs of infection appear, it is recommended to reduce air humidity, remove infected leaves, and treat with fungicides, for example, Topaz.

Photo gallery: geranium pests and their control

Whitefly very often attacks the tender leaves of geraniums.
As a result of aphid infestation, pelargonium loses resistance to other diseases
Fungus gnat larvae - thrips can only be destroyed by repeated use of insecticides

Aphid

An effective way to get rid of insect pests is to remove the affected leaves. After you have removed the leaves, the pelargonium should be thoroughly washed with an ash-soap solution. If your plant has a large colony of aphids, you can spray it with fungicides. Among them: Antitlin, Tobacco dust, Aktellik, Fitoverm, Akarin, Aktara, Decis, Tanrek, Iskra, Bison, Biotlin, Commander.

Multi-clawed tick

Ticks multiply quickly in warm and humid environments. A systematic inspection of pelargonium will help you notice pests in time. At the initial stage of mite infestation, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the plant with soap and water. In case of severe damage, it can be treated, for example, with drugs such as Fitoverm, Lightning, Kungfu, Vertimek.

Fungus gnat larvae

If geranium cuttings do not take root and die from rot at the base of the stem, it means that fungus gnat larvae have settled in the soil and climb into the stems of young plants. If you are not sure about the quality of the soil, then to protect and prevent the plant from pests, it is advisable to treat the seedlings and cuttings with chemicals, for example, Fly Eater, Grom-2, Aktara, Aktellik. But it is better to take high-quality soil for growing pelargonium.

Thrips

Thrips deform the delicate leaves of pelargonium, where the growing point of the plant is located. Flowers become covered with brown spots. Thrips actively reproduce in flowers. In order to protect young pelargoniums from thrips, sticky fly trap tapes can be hung near them. To completely exterminate thrips, pelargonium is sprayed with fungicidal preparations. After 4-5 days, the treatment must be repeated.

Pelargonium can also be affected by whitefly (a 2-3 mm long insect with white wings), which settles on the lower surface of the leaf and lays its larvae. With severe whitefly infestation, the leaves turn yellow. And just like when fighting thrips, sticky tapes are hung around the plants. They are treated with a soap solution or special preparations, for example, Aktara, Aktellik, Iskra, Inta-Vir, Zubr, Biotlin and others.

In general, pelargonium is resistant to diseases and pests. If a plant is infected, it is necessary to: remove affected leaves and weeds, increase the distance between plants for ventilation. Processing the plant should be done very carefully, with clean hands. And it is also necessary to destroy insects in a timely manner.