It's not just care errors that are responsible for ivy turning brown or even dying. Fungal diseases in particular cause problems for the climbing plant. But pests also occur more frequently, especially if you care for ivy as houseplants. Detect and combat diseases and pests.
What diseases and pests commonly occur in ivy?
The most common diseases and pests for ivy are leaf spot, ivy canker, spider mites and scale insects. Fungal diseases manifest themselves as brown or yellow leaves, while pests often cause sticky deposits or yellowish leaves. Control is carried out through pruning and targeted treatments.
Diseases and pests of ivy
The most common diseases and pests that affect ivy are:
- Leaf spot disease
- Ivy crab
- Spider mites
- Scale insects
Leaf spot and ivy canker are fungal diseases that are caused by fungal spores that get onto the plant.
How to recognize fungal diseases on ivy
If brown or yellow leaves appear on the ivy leaves, you should pay attention. In this case it is usually one of the dreaded fungal diseases.
Leaf spot disease is noticeable through brown spots, while with fungal canker the initially brown spots turn black and then dry up. The spots fall off and leave holes in the leaves.
Treat fungal infestation
If the ivy is infected with fungal spores, cut off all affected parts of the plant. Avoid watering the plants from above to prevent the spores from spreading even further.
All plant remains must be destroyed. Do not throw them in the compost, but rather put them in the household waste bin. Otherwise the mushrooms will spread throughout the garden.
The cleanliness of garden tools is crucial, especially when it comes to fungal diseases. Fungal spores are transmitted through knives and scissors. Therefore, clean all garden tools carefully before and after use.
Effectively combat ivy pests
Pests are particularly a problem with houseplants. Therefore, you should watch these plants carefully. If spider mites appear, the leaves of the ivy initially turn yellowish and then turn brown. If the infestation is severe, they fall off. You can recognize scale insects by the fact that a sticky coating forms on the leaves. The leaves often turn brown later.
Examine the leaves on the underside. The pests can usually be seen there with the naked eye.
Cut off severely affected shoots immediately and dispose of them. Then spray the plant with a solution of dish soap, water and alcohol to eliminate the remaining pests.
Prevent pest infestation
Pests primarily appear when the humidity is too low. Set out bowls of water. Basically, you should never place ivy in the house in close proximity to radiators so that the air does not become too dry.
Occasional spraying of the leaves also helps prevent pest infestation.
Tip
If the leaves of ivy turn brown, poor care can also be a possible cause. Make sure that the root ball never dries out completely. Be sure to avoid waterlogging.
