Whenever you first bought an African violet, it was most likely in full bloom and regarded incredible. However what if, over time, your once-healthy African violet begins to look droopy, broken, or deformed? Many doable culprits may trigger issues for African violet house owners, together with insect pests and fungal illnesses.

The easiest way to cease the unfold of pests and illnesses is to forestall them from occurring within the first place. Whenever you buy a brand new plant, all the time examine it fastidiously for indicators of pests or poor well being. Whenever you convey a brand new plant house to your assortment, isolate it for just a few weeks, ideally in a separate room from the remainder of your houseplants, to make sure it has no insect pests that might simply unfold from one plant to a different.

Probably the greatest methods to maintain pests and illnesses away is to supply the most effective care you’ll be able to in your vegetation. African violets have particular rising circumstances the place they are going to take pleasure in optimum well being, and the nearer you get to those supreme circumstances, the more healthy your vegetation might be.

• Mild – 12 hours of shiny however oblique daylight every day
• Water – Enable soil to dry barely between waterings, water solely after the soil has dried
• Temperature – Heat, between 65°F and 80°F, ideally round 70°F
• Soil – Free, mild, well-drained, with loads of natural matter
• Fertilizer – Fertilize often with African violet plant meals

A well-cared-for African violet is an exquisite plant to take pleasure in and develop. They keep comparatively compact, with neat rosettes of soppy, fuzzy leaves, and so they can bloom all year long with showy, colourful flowers.

In the event you ever discover bugs feeding in your African violet, or in the event you see any indicators of sickness, act rapidly. The earlier you’ll be able to accurately determine the issue, the earlier you’ll be able to assist your violet again to peak well being. Let’s now check out 11 frequent pests and illnesses it’s possible you’ll encounter along with your African violet vegetation.

Ailments

Root Rot

Root rot is likely one of the most typical issues that African violet house owners could expertise. Because the identify implies, root rot begins with the roots however can unfold to the stems, leaves, and flowers. If not corrected promptly, root rot will in the end kill your plant.

Root rot is attributable to a mixture of moist soil, saturated roots, and a fungus that causes the plant to rot. The commonest causes of saturated soil are overwatering, poorly draining soil, and utilizing a pot with little or no drainage.

Identification

Regardless that root rot begins with the roots, wilting leaves are the primary symptom you’re more likely to discover. You probably have any cause to consider that your African violet has been sitting in moist soil, and then you definitely discover limp or wilting leaves, there’s a excellent likelihood your plant has root rot.

Extra superior phases or root rot might be indicated by mushy stems and leaves, and eventually, the complete crown of the plant turns into mushy and jelly-like.

Prevention

Don’t overwater your African violet. Since damp soil circumstances can simply result in root rot, be very cautious to not add extra water in case your plant doesn’t want it. Really feel the soil’s floor along with your fingertip. If the soil feels fully dry, it’s normally time to water.

If it feels damp, maintain off some time longer. You may as well choose up the pot to really feel how heavy it’s. If the pot may be very mild and the soil feels dry to the contact, this can be a good signal that your plant wants water.

Use the precise soil. Select a soil combination formulated particularly for African violets. The soil must be free and lightweight with ample natural matter. Most significantly, use a well-drained soil combine. Heavy soils that maintain onto the water is not going to enable sufficient air to flow into by way of to the roots, and your plant will find yourself sitting in soggy soil.

Use a pot with good drainage. African violets want well-drained soil, however that gained’t matter if the pot doesn’t have a drainage gap. You need to use a pot made from any materials, nevertheless it will need to have first rate drainage. This enables any additional water to empty safely from the underside of the pot.

Treatment

In case your violet has had moist soil and begins exhibiting any signal of wilting leaves, it’s a good suggestion to verify the roots. Gently take away the plant from the pot and look at the roots. Trim off any roots which can be brown and mushy, as these have rotted and won’t get better.

After trimming rotten elements, repot your plant in contemporary soil. Water the soil sufficient to make it damp, then enable it to dry briefly between waterings.

Petiole Rot

Petiole rot, or crown rot, is nearly all the time deadly for African violets. Petiole rot is attributable to a mixture of saturated soil circumstances and a fungus that causes the plant to rot.

The roots are affected first, however the rot rapidly spreads to different elements of the plant and finally to the crown. Whereas petiole rot can’t be cured, it may be prevented by correct care and watering methods.

Identification

In case your plant experiences crown rot, you’ll discover a development of signs:

• Wilting leaves.
• Leaves flip darkish gray-green in shade.
• Gradual or stopped plant progress.
• Leaves develop into mushy and look like dying or useless.
• Middle of plant (crown) turns into mushy, mushy, or floppy.
• The complete plant sags in its pot and appears limp and useless.

Prevention

Before everything, don’t overwater your African violet. Comply with the identical pointers as above below “Root Rot.”

Treatment

Sadly, if the crown of your African violet has rotted, there isn’t any option to save your plant. As soon as the crown has develop into mushy and jelly-like, the one hope you might have is to attempt to salvage a wholesome leaf. If any leaves nonetheless look contemporary, agency, and shiny inexperienced, you’ll be able to take a leaf slicing, enable it to develop roots, and begin a brand new child violet.

Botrytis Blight

Botrytis blight, also called grey mould, is a fungal an infection that may have an effect on African violets. This fungus thrives with a mixture of excessive humidity and poor air circulation.

It’s simpler to forestall Botrytis blight than remedy it, so take note of the environmental circumstances and any early indicators of fungal progress. An untreated case of Botrytis blight will finally kill your plant.

Identification

Vegetation contaminated with Botrytis blight will rapidly develop a grey fuzzy mould on leaves, stems, and flowers. As well as, it’s possible you’ll discover that flowers and leaves wilt, develop into mushy, or develop brown spots. Leaves will finally lose their wholesome inexperienced shade and develop into darker and weak-looking. If allowed to progress, the plant progress will sluggish, and the plant will finally flip brown and die.

Some signs of root rot and Botrytis blight are related. Botrytis blight will trigger your plant to develop a fuzzy grey moldy-looking progress, whereas root rot causes leaves to show mushy and mushy with out seen mould.

Prevention

The easiest way to forestall Botrytis blight is to maintain your vegetation in a brightly lit and ethereal location. Enable loads of area between vegetation to extend air circulation. Promptly take away any useless or dying leaves in your plant to maintain it in high type and reduce decaying plant matter which might appeal to fungal progress. Maintain your planting instruments clear, and all the time use clear pots when transplanting.

Treatment

In case your vegetation are affected by Botrytis blight, isolate any contaminated vegetation promptly to assist forestall the unfold of illness. Take away any useless and dying leaves, stems, and flower stalks. Some fungicides may be useful in controlling extreme circumstances. In the event you go for chemical remedy, all the time fastidiously comply with the utilization instructions on the product label.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal an infection generally identified to gardeners. Happily, it doesn’t usually have an effect on African violets, however it may well rapidly develop into an issue if the circumstances are proper for it. Powdery mildew is most prevalent in humid circumstances with poor airflow; as soon as it develops, it may be tough to take away.

Identification

Powdery mildew will trigger patches of grayish-white mould in your African violet’s leaves and flowers. A gentle case could also be arduous to acknowledge, whereas a extreme case might be very apparent. Search for a powdery-looking coating on leaves and flowers.

It could seem as small inconspicuous patches or cowl the complete leaf floor. It could seem as tiny white speckles on the floor of a leaf, or it might look extra like a thicker white mould, relying on how lengthy it has been current.

Mildew is not going to solely be seen on the plant but in addition have an effect on plant progress. Your African violet could decelerate or cease rising altogether. Contaminated leaves will lose their vigor and switch yellow or barely brown. Contaminated flowers could flip brown and die prematurely.

Prevention

Powdery mildew is attributable to a fungus that thrives in heat, humid circumstances. Maintain your vegetation in an space that has first rate air circulation. You may as well enhance airflow by permitting some area between every of your vegetation or offering a mild fan to assist flow into the air.

Crowded vegetation in a moist setting generally is a breeding floor for fungal progress. In the event you do discover any fungus on a plant, isolate the contaminated plant instantly to forestall the unfold to close by wholesome vegetation.

Treatment

Powdery mildew may be handled, however it might take some persistence. First, isolate any contaminated vegetation and deal with them individually out of your wholesome vegetation. All the time wash your fingers and instruments after dealing with contaminated vegetation as a result of powdery mildew can unfold simply.

You’ll be able to create your personal anti-fungal answer by mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 gallon of heat water. Spray your vegetation with this answer till the mold seems to be gone, which can take just a few weeks. Take away any badly broken leaves and deal with serving to the healthiest elements of your plant get better.

Water Spots

Water spots on the leaves of your African violet are ugly, however they aren’t an indication of a pest or illness. It will possibly, nonetheless, be simple to confuse water spots with one thing extra severe.

African violets are very delicate to chilly water, and splashing chilly water on the leaves may cause your plant to develop spots or blotches the place the tissue turns brown and dies. As soon as your plant has useless spots, these is not going to get better, however the excellent news is that it is vitally easy to forestall water spots.

Identification

Yellow or brown spots, blotches, strains, or streaks seem on the leaves of your African violet. Leaves are in any other case inexperienced and wholesome, stems and leaves are agency, and the plant continues to flower usually.

You’ll see water spots on the leaves solely in case you have watered your vegetation from the highest or by accident splashed water on the leaves of your vegetation. If the plant leaves haven’t been instantly uncovered to water, they won’t develop water spots.

Prevention

The easiest way to forestall water spots is to water your vegetation from beneath with tepid water and never enable any water to splash onto or sit on the leaves.

• Chilly water – African violets are delicate to chilly water, so be particularly cautious of splashing chilly water on the leaves (and don’t water your vegetation with chilly water).
• Chemical publicity – African violets are delicate to chemical substances like chlorine, so enable water to face for twenty-four hours earlier than utilizing it to water your vegetation.
• Moist leaves burn within the solar – Don’t enable moist leaves to be uncovered to shiny daylight, as this may trigger burn spots.

In the event you do by accident splash water on the leaves, don’t fear. Enable your vegetation to dry completely in a well-ventilated place. Use a tissue or towel to softly blot the water from the leaves. Transfer a moist plant away from shiny daylight till the leaves have dried fully.

Treatment

Sadly, as soon as a leaf is broken by chilly, chemical substances, water, or solar, you’ll be able to’t repair the injury that has been achieved. Take away any severely broken leaves and stems, particularly in the event that they develop into mushy or mushy. Take precautions to maintain moisture off the leaves to forestall additional injury sooner or later.

Insect Pests

Cyclamen Mites

Cyclamen mites could also be some of the frequent insect pests to contaminate African violets. Sadly, these microscopic mites can’t be seen with the bare eye. The primary signal of a cyclamen mite infestation is when the plant begins to indicate seen injury. Control your vegetation so you’ll acknowledge early warning indicators that one thing could be flawed.

Identification

Since you’ll be able to’t see cyclamen mites, you’ll have to diagnose an infestation by wanting fastidiously at your plant’s signs. Contaminated vegetation could start to look dwarfed, deformed, or in any other case misshapen.

The youngest and smallest central leaves flip brown, wither, and die. Generally the smallest central leaves die fully whereas the outer leaves nonetheless look comparatively wholesome and contemporary. In extreme circumstances, the complete plant will finally die.

Treatment

In the event you suspect cyclamen mites, isolate contaminated vegetation as quickly as doable to forestall additional unfold. Cyclamen mites may be very tough to regulate, and badly infested vegetation must be discarded. If you wish to take away the mites, you have to buy an insecticidal cleaning soap or miticide spray.

Whichever product you select, comply with the instructions fastidiously and wait till you will have eradicated the mites earlier than transferring your contaminated vegetation close to some other houseplants.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are acquainted houseplant pests which can be pretty simple to determine. Mealybugs pierce the plant’s outer protecting layer and suck the juices from inside. Contaminated vegetation will seem stunted and will develop slowly. Heavy infestations can finally result in plant demise.

Identification

Search for little white fluffy bugs clinging to leaves and stems. They could appear to be little oval balls of cotton. They notably prefer to be in corners and bends however may be discovered on any plant floor. As they feed, they secrete a sticky, wet-looking, sugary substance.

In the event you see shiny spots in your plant, accompanied by tiny cottony-looking bugs, your plant has an infestation of mealybugs.

Treatment

Isolate any contaminated vegetation as quickly as you see mealybugs. Insecticidal soaps are comparatively secure to make use of and likewise efficient in opposition to mealybugs. Comply with the directions on whichever product you select. As a result of you’ll most likely be spraying droplets in your plant, take additional care to maintain your plant away from the chilly and away from direct daylight throughout remedy.

As soon as you’re certain the mealybugs are gone, you may give your plant a mild bathe in heat water to take away any soapy residue and the residue left from the mealybugs themselves.

Scale Bugs

Scale bugs are one other all-too-familiar insect pest that generally assaults houseplants. Though tiny, scales can do appreciable injury to your African violet. These pests suck the juices from the plant’s leaves and stem, draining the plant of power. Affected vegetation will begin to look sickly and might finally die if the bugs are allowed to persist.

Identification

Scale bugs are very small, about ⅛ inch lengthy, clean, and flat. They appear to be little waxy ovals caught to the leaves and stems of your plant. As they feed, they excrete a sticky substance that seems as shiny moist spots on the leaves.

Search for flat-bodied scales, in addition to wet-looking shiny spots. Mealybugs additionally launch secretion as they feed, however the bugs look distinctly totally different, though they’re one other sort of scale.

Treatment

On the first signal of scales, isolate any contaminated vegetation. Scales may be tough to take away as a result of their flat our bodies are nicely protected by a waxy coating. They are often handled with focused houseplant pesticides or by dipping a cotton swab in soapy water or rubbing alcohol and eradicating every scale you see. Repeat this remedy often till all scales are gone.

The complete elimination course of can take a number of weeks as a result of eggs will proceed to hatch. Wipe down the pot and surrounding space with rubbing alcohol to assist kill any eggs or wandering bugs.

Aphids

Aphids are a well-recognized pest to many gardeners. Aphids are remarkably frequent on outside vegetation and infrequently come indoors to feast on houseplants.

These bugs are extremely cellular, however they like to assemble in massive numbers on their favourite vegetation, making them very simple to see and determine.

Identification

Search for particular person bugs or clusters of aphids gathered on leaves and stems. Aphids are small, about ⅛ inch lengthy, and may be inexperienced, pinkish, or brownish coloured.

They are often discovered on all plant surfaces however typically congregate on the undersides of leaves and in tight locations resembling crotches and bends. Aphids will seem as tiny bugs sitting on the plant floor, however they’re additionally extremely cellular and can transfer when disturbed.

Treatment

In the event you see any aphids in your vegetation, isolate contaminated vegetation instantly to reduce unfold. Aphids may be killed with insecticidal cleaning soap, however you should be persistent and spray repeatedly for a number of weeks to kill all life cycle phases.

Wipe down the pot and surrounding space to kill off any wandering bugs or egg clusters.

Thrips

Thrips are as a lot a nuisance as a trigger for concern. Thrips may be extremely ample, though virtually microscopic in dimension. These are tiny sucking bugs that may trigger an excessive amount of injury if not managed.

Identification

Thrips are not apparent to the bare eye, however they are often seen. These bugs are tiny (1/16 inch or smaller) with very slim our bodies. They’ve wings and might fly, however simply as typically, they scurry from one location to a different. Place a bit of paper below your violet and provides it some mild shakes. Search for thrips falling onto the paper beneath.

Proof of thrips might be sightings of tiny bugs transferring about on the leaf floor, notably when disturbed. You may additionally see pollen spilling from flowers onto the leaves as thrips nibble on the pollen sacks. In the event you discover pollen scattered about on the leaves, leaves with white or brown spots on them, and broken flowers, you may be fairly certain you’re coping with thrips.

Treatment

Thrips may be very tough to regulate. They’re extraordinarily quite a few, multiply rapidly, and are extremely cellular. You probably have one plant with thrips, all vegetation within the neighborhood are seemingly contaminated. As a result of thrips love African violet flowers, you can begin remedy by eradicating all of the flowers.

You’ll most likely must spray your vegetation with both neem oil or an ordinary insecticide that targets thrips. Comply with instructions fastidiously and use your chosen product till you’re certain that the thrips have been eradicated. Additionally, disinfect all pots and trays which have are available contact with the contaminated vegetation.

Foliar Nematodes

Foliar nematodes infect the leaves of African violets. These microscopic worms unfold from contaminated vegetation and from soil contaminated with nematodes or their eggs. These tiny worms feed on the plant juices and can trigger pale, wilting leaves and sluggish progress. If left untreated, contaminated vegetation will die.

Identification

You gained’t really see a nematode, however you will note proof that they’re harming your plant. Harm begins with pale-looking or brownish patches on the leaves that slowly enlarge and unfold.

You’ll first discover these shiny brown spots on the undersides of the leaves, and particularly, alongside the veins. If allowed to progress, the complete leaf will look broken, and different leaves will quickly develop into contaminated.

Treatment

Nematodes are very tough to eradicate. As a result of these pests spend their lives contained in the plant, pesticides are ineffective. One of the best remedy, sadly, is to discard contaminated vegetation. You’ll be able to strive taking a few healthy-looking leaves to begin new vegetation from cuttings.

Use leaves provided that they present no indicators of nematode injury, and hold the rooting leaves separate out of your different vegetation for a number of weeks till you may be certain they aren’t contaminated. In the event you see any indicators of nematode injury, discard the leaves and the soil.

Closing Ideas