Even the robust pansies are not completely spared from disease and pest infestation. However, given the short lifespan of the plants, the damage is usually limited and the effort involved in saving them needs to be considered.
What diseases and pests can affect pansies?
Pansies can be attacked by diseases such as gray mold, powdery mildew, downy mildew, root rot and leaf spot, or pests such as aphids, spider mites and cutworms. Home remedies such as garlic or onion decoction and the scent of lavender can help contain the infestation.
The pansies are not only very popular because of their flowers. They decorate our gardens and balconies with their cheerful, colorful colors in the dull autumn days and in early spring. The small plants are also easy to care for, hardy and not susceptible to disease. They owe their robustness to their origins as meadow and arable plants.
Detecting diseases and pests
In rare cases, pansies can be affected by the following diseases and pests:
- Gray mold (gray coating on the leaves),
- Powdery and downy mildew (powdery coating on the top and bottom of the leaves),
- Root rot (rot of roots, leaf discoloration, plants deteriorate or die),
- Leaf spot (dried spots and discoloration of leaves),
- Aphids (drifted leaves),
- Spider mites (bright, dried leaves speckled with white dots),
- Caterpillars (sudden disappearance of entire plants due to nocturnal caterpillars).
Remedy
If individual plants or parts of plants are affected, hobby gardeners have various home remedies available as “first aid”. Spraying the plants with a decoction of garlic or onions can sometimes provide quick relief from powdery mildew. The aphids can be repelled with the strong scent of lavender or the taste of coffee. In the rarest case - if an entire plantation is affected - one will have to consider whether rescue measures such as: B. Treatment with sprays is worthwhile or only immediate removal and destruction can help.
Grow resilient pansies yourself
The home-grown outdoor pansies are more robust than the potted ones grown in greenhouses. Pansies sown in autumn in particular are characterized not only by their longer flowering duration and abundance, but also by their vigorous growth, frost resistance and insensitivity to diseases. The pansies can be sown yourself with little effort. To have pansies blooming in early spring, sow seeds outdoors in August/September or in a cool room in the winter months.
Tips & Tricks
Mostly only the severely neglected plants are attacked by diseases and pests.
