Unfortunately, the magnificent delphinium (Latin: delphinium) is very susceptible to various diseases, which always spoils the joy of the beautiful flowers. We would like to introduce you to the most common types of damage here.
What diseases occur in delphiniums?
Dark spur is susceptible to diseases and pests such as powdery mildew, spider mites, leaf miners, rust fungi and root rot. Preventative measures include proper watering, avoiding over-fertilization and good site selection.
Powdery mildew
In hot, dry weather, powdery mildew thrives on leaves, shoots and flowers. The fungal infection is manifested by a white coating that is reminiscent of flour.
Spider mites
Silvery-light speckles initially appear on the leaves; later the leaves turn yellow and the plants appear to be covered with a fine web, which is particularly visible on the undersides of the leaves. Barely visible mites suck out the plant cells, with the arachnids appearing primarily in dry air and warm weather. To prevent this, you should definitely avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
Leather flies
An infestation with leaf miners is manifested by conspicuously serpentine, silvery feeding burrows and white dots on the leaves. The sap-sucking leaf miner fly lays its eggs in the leaf tissue; The larvae eat their way through the leaves and pupate there. Chemical control is usually not necessary, just remove affected leaves.
Rust mushrooms
If the tops of the leaves turn yellow to rusty brown in early summer, then there is probably a rust fungus infestation. The initially small spots later turn into brownish, reddish or orange pustules. Rust fungi mainly occur in damp weather after it has rained for a long time. To prevent this, spray several times with fungicides or an infusion of yarrow.
Root rot
Although the delphinium needs to be watered regularly, especially in dry periods, it is better to prevent waterlogging. This inevitably leads to root rot and thus the death of the plant. Root rot is caused by various fungi that thrive in wet and compacted soil. The first signs usually appear as shoot tips turning brown.
Tips & Tricks
However, harmful symptoms cannot always be traced back to diseases or pest infestation. They also result from incorrect or inadequate nutrition as well as from errors in choosing a location.
