Fat Man or Ysander (Pachysandra terminalis) is a very robust plant - as long as the requirements for the location are right and the ground cover is otherwise he althy. If the leaves change color and entire shoots rot, fungal diseases are responsible. How to recognize illnesses and what you can do about them.
What diseases occur in fat men and what can you do about them?
Fat males can be affected by fungal diseases such as Volutella shoot dieback and Phytophthora root rot. To treat these diseases, affected shoots should be removed and discarded and affected plants should be transplanted to a new location. As a preventive measure, optimal location and care conditions should be ensured.
Illnesses that bother the fat man
Fungal diseases can be really dangerous for Ysander. Very moist soils and temperatures that are too mild promote the spread of fungal spores. There are two types of fungi in particular that are more common and cannot always be distinguished diagnostically by laypeople.
Shoot death occurs more frequently than root rot. The first sign of this is discoloration on the leaves. Ring-shaped spots are noticeable. The leaves then turn black while the shoots become soft.
You can recognize root rot because the shoots begin to rot from below, especially after winter. They can be easily pulled out of the ground. The above-ground parts of the plant no longer have any support and simply tip over, which is why root rot is also called damping-off disease.
Treat Volutella shoot dieback and Phytophthora root rot
For both fungal diseases, first cut off all affected parts generously and discard them. Plant perennials that still have enough he althy shoots and roots in a new location.
Volutella pachysandrae, the fungus responsible for shoot death, survives in the soil for a long time. If the infestation is severe, you may need to remove the top soil surface. Sometimes using a fungicide also helps.
Ysander, which is affected by Phytophthora root rot, can usually no longer be saved. There are no fungicides for control that are approved in Germany. Here you can only prevent.
How to prevent illnesses
Ensure optimal location and care conditions:
- Shady to semi-shady location
- permeable, well-drained soil
- don’t fertilize too much
- Take pest infestation immediately
- cut sickly shoots immediately
If aphids or other pests appear, you should take immediate action to combat them.
Tip
Pachysandra terminalis is completely hardy and does not need winter protection. Nevertheless, in very cold winters, individual parts above ground can freeze off. Simply cut off these branches, the plant will recover very quickly.
