The spindle bush is considered to be quite robust and is rarely affected by diseases, but is often affected by various pests. Take action immediately and you will enjoy your plant for a long time to come.
What diseases occur in spindle bushes and how can they be prevented?
Spindle bush diseases are rare because the plant is robust. Common pests include Pfaffenhütchen spider moth, felt gall mite, spindle tree scale insect, powdery mildew and downy mildew. Prevention includes appropriate care and occasional spraying with nettle broth or field horsetail solution.
However, prevention is even better than any treatment. The ideal location and proper care keep your spindle bush he althy and resilient. You can prevent mildew infestation by occasionally spraying with a nettle broth or a solution made from field horsetail.
What pests occur on the spindle bush?
In addition to mildew and the felt gall mite, which attack various plants, there are also pests that have “specialized” on the spindle bush. On the one hand, this is the Pfaffenhütchen spider moth and, on the other hand, the spindle tree scale insect. The felt gall mite and the Pfaffenhütchen spider moth do not necessarily have to be controlled, but the spindle tree scale insect and powdery mildew do.
How do you treat an infected spindle bush?
If your spindle bush is heavily infested with the spindle tree scale insect, then cut the plant back radically and destroy the affected parts of the plant. It is best to burn the plant cuttings. Dispose of it in the compost, then the pests can survive there and spread to other plants.
If you have a light infestation, try your luck with an oil-based remedy against scale insects (€14.00 on Amazon) and scrape off the visible lice. Many effective drugs have been withdrawn from the market because of their toxicity or for environmental reasons.
Silicic acid-containing agents help against both powdery mildew and downy mildew. If necessary or if the infestation is very severe, you can also use fungicides (agents to combat fungi) to combat the fungus that appears on the underside of the leaves.
In contrast to downy mildew, powdery mildew appears on the upper side of the leaves. Since it even survives the winter on the plant, you should definitely fight it. Remove all affected leaves and shoots and spray the spindle bush every two days with a mixture of water and milk.
The most important pests of the spindle bush:
- Pfaffenhütchen spider moth
- Felt gall mite
- Spindle tree scale insect
- Powdery mildew
- Downy mildew
Tip
A bush that has been invaded by the Pfaffenhütchen spider moth may look spooky, but will not suffer any permanent damage. It sprouts again without any problems.
