Under the right conditions, the busy Lieschen is a relatively undemanding plant with a very long flowering period. However, various factors can lead to weak growth, a low number of flowers or even complete failure of the plants.
What diseases and pests can occur in the busy Lieschen?
The diseases affecting busy Lieschen include damping-off disease and downy mildew, which are usually fatal for the plant. To prevent this, we recommend correct watering behavior and avoiding waterlogging. Pests such as snails, aphids, whiteflies and spider mites can also occur.
Recognize and properly treat illnesses in busy Lieschen
Basically, busy lizards are no more affected by diseases than other popular balcony plants. However, there are two diseases in which the plants can usually no longer be saved: damping off and downy mildew. In the case of damping off (a fungal disease), dark and constricted areas initially become visible at the base of the stem, and shortly afterwards the plants die after being twisted. Before planting new busy Lizzies, the substrate must be changed. Downy mildew usually appears on the underside of leaves after cool periods of rain and can spread quickly. Affected plants should be removed as quickly as possible and placed in a closed plastic bag.
Illness-like symptoms often result from care and location errors
The most common deficiency symptoms in busy Lieschen are not due to illness, but rather to incorrect location and care conditions. There can be different reasons for this:
- too much or too little sun
- a too exposed and wet location
- temperatures too cold
- Waterlogging at the roots
Full sun locations are just as poorly tolerated by the busy Lieschen as extremely dark corners in the garden or on the balcony. If there is too little light, elongated stems with only a few leaves often form. When watering, water that is as low in lime as possible should be used. With a drainage layer made of fine gravel in the pots and balcony boxes, you can ensure optimal prevention of waterlogging at the roots of the busy lizards. This can sometimes lead to the death of the entire plant.
Pests on the busy Lieschen
In gardens with a snail problem, the busy Lieschen can definitely become a target for the slimy pests. This problem does not exist if you cultivate the Busy Lizzies hanging in a hanging basket. Other possible pests on the busy Lieschen are:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
Most of the time, the infestation with these pests is so limited that it is usually not necessary to resort to chemical treatment.
Tip
So that your busy Lizzies do not become susceptible to downy mildew, you should pay attention to the correct watering behavior. Do not spray the plants, but water as close to the ground as possible. In addition, watering in the morning is preferable to watering in the evening, as damp parts of the plant can then dry out throughout the day.