Lantanas are quite robust and don't require too much care. However, these pretty balcony flowers can also get plant diseases that need to be recognized and combated in good time.
What diseases are common in lantana?
Lantana can be affected by root rot, powdery mildew, downy mildew and sooty mold fungi. Depending on the type of disease, you should fight the causes, clean the roots or use natural or chemical treatment methods.
Root rot
Lantana are very sensitive to waterlogging. This fungal disease causes rotting of the root tissue from the root collar. The plant begins to wilt and dies because the supply of nutrients is no longer guaranteed.
Prevention
- Introduce a drainage layer of expanded clay into the planter.
- Mix the substrate with a little sand or cactus soil.
- Only water when the top centimeters of soil feel dry.
Treatment
- Unpot the plant and carefully remove all damaged roots so as not to damage the still he althy root mass.
- Repot the flowering plant as described above.
However, this treatment does not always bring the desired result, as the lantana is often so badly damaged that it does not survive.
Powdery or downy mildew
In contrast to many other plants, the lantana is rarely affected by powdery mildew. If this occurs, regardless of whether it is powdery mildew or downy mildew, consistent action is required.
Treatment
- Sprays with horsetail broth are very helpful for mild infestations.
- Treatment with milk or whey not only combats the disease but also helps the plant build up resistance to the fungus.
- If you have a very severe mildew infestation, you can use chemical preparations (€11.00 on Amazon).
Soot mold fungi
This fungal disease often occurs when aphids have settled on the lantana. They form a brown-black fungal turf on the honeydew that the animals excrete.
Treatment
- Wipe fungus with a cloth soaked in detergent.
- Fight aphids consistently so that the sooty mold fungi do not spread again.
Tip
Check the plant for diseases and pests at least once a week. This allows you to detect them early, so that treatment with chemicals is not necessary in most cases.