Hemp palms, like all types of palm trees, are quite robust. With proper care and in a favorable location, neither diseases nor pests occur frequently. Which diseases affect the hemp palm and how do you combat pests?
What diseases can affect hemp palms?
Potential diseases and pests on hemp palms include sooty mold, root rot, red spiders and aphids. Sooty mold is caused by aphids, while root rot is caused by waterlogging. Red spiders and aphids appear when the humidity is too low.
What diseases and pests can occur?
- Sootdew
- Root rot
- Red Spiders
- Aphids
Sooty mold is caused by aphids
If there is a black coating on the leaves of the hemp palm, it is sooty mold. It is not life-threatening for the palm tree, but it does prevent it from growing properly. This fungal disease is caused by aphids.
Simply wash off the coating. Fight all aphids so that they cannot leave any further droppings.
Root rot occurs due to waterlogging
If many leaves turn yellow or brown, waterlogging may be the cause. The root ball is then always too moist or there is often water in the saucer.
Water a hemp palm only moderately so that the root ball never completely dries out.
Fighting red spiders
Red spiders are noticeable through small webs on the leaf axils. Usually only hemp palms that are grown indoors in dry room air are affected. If the infestation is not treated, the leaves dry up.
Shower the hemp palm thoroughly in the shower. Don't forget the undersides of the leaves.
These pests mainly occur when the humidity is too low. Spray the hemp palm regularly with water. The water should be as low in lime as possible.
Repel aphids
If the leaves of the hemp palm show a sticky coating, aphids are responsible. They leave behind excretions also called honeydew. Aphids suck out the leaves and cause them to die.
Try to wash the aphids off the palm tree using a hard jet of shower. Remove any residue with a soft sponge.
Then treat the hemp palm for several weeks with soapy water (€3.00 on Amazon) with which you spray the leaves. Special plant sticks that you simply stick into the substrate are also a good way to combat aphids.
Tip
If the leaves of the hemp palm turn brown or yellow or if the leaf tips turn brown, this is usually not a disease. These discolorations are caused by locations that are too dark or frost damage.
