It will be a decoration of the yard: how to save petunia from yellowing and diseases

Petunia is one of the easiest flowering ornamental plants to grow outdoors. It is quite easy to care for, but to get a really nice flower bed or a cache-pot with a beautiful cascade of flowers, you still need to meet certain requirements.

According to fans of this flower, it can suffer from some diseases and react poorly to both drought and overflow with yellowing leaves. OBOZ.UA tells you how to properly care for petunias so that they look their best.

How to care for petunias

The main thing to remember when caring for a flower is that it is sensitive to any deviations in watering. It also does not tolerate cold water. The best water for petunias is settled water at room temperature. You can choose a watering mode that is convenient for you: abundant, but once a week or daily, but in small portions of water.

When watering, it is important to avoid getting water on the leaves of the plant, otherwise it may begin to suffer from fungal infections. The best time to water the plant is at sunset.

The flower should not be planted outdoors until night temperatures consistently exceed 10 degrees Celsius. It dies quickly in the cold.

What to do if petunia leaves start to turn yellow

If you notice that the leaves of the plant have begun to turn yellow, check the condition of the soil underneath - most likely you have overwatered your petunia. Stop watering until the soil in the container or flowerbed is about 1-2 cm dry. You can also loosen the soil around the perimeter of the pot to help the moisture evaporate faster. In the meantime, start rehabilitating the flower.

Remove any damaged shoots. It is also a good idea to pinch the tops of the plant. This will help its side shoots recover better. If the plant does not start to turn green again in 3-4 days, look for another cause of the problem.

For example, yellowing can occur due to a lack of space for the flower's root system. Then it needs to be moved to a larger pot. In any case, the container for petunia should be at least 3 liters in volume.

If the petunia has black leg disease

If the stems of the plant begin to blacken in the lower part, lose elasticity and density, you are most likely dealing with blackleg. This disease can quickly lead to the death of petunias. However, it mostly affects seedlings, not adult flowers.

This problem can be caused by fungi and bacteria that multiply in the soil under high humidity and heat. To avoid the development of a black leg, experts advise sprinkling the flower seeds with sand during germination. This way, water, which is necessary for the development of pathogens, will not be retained near it.

If you notice signs of blackleg on petunias, reduce watering the flower. Also, treat the soil with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or a phytosporin-type preparation.

What diseases affect petunias

Several diseases are common to petunias. All of them require immediate treatment as soon as you notice the first signs on the plant.

Powdery mildew. The causative agent of this disease is transmitted from the ground or through the air. It manifests itself through a white coating. At the same time, metabolic processes in the plant begin to be disrupted.

Gray rot. This disease is caused by a fungal infection that develops due to a damaged root system. In this case, brown spots begin to appear throughout the plant, which increase over time.

Iron chlorosis. This disease leads to discoloration of the leaves, deforms the buds and causes the apical shoots to dry out.

Spider mite. The infection manifests itself in the form of a thin web on the plant, which is woven by aphids of a certain type. The parasite sucks the sap of the plant and disrupts its photosynthesis. Over time, the buds dry up and the leaves begin to deform.

Each of these diseases needs to be treated with special preparations. An agrochemical store will help you choose a specific product. But do not delay your visit. And be sure to take a few photos of the signs of infection so that the consultant can better understand what exactly will help your petunia recover.

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