Azaleas are often found in gardens and parks as colorful flowering shrubs. Here you will find out how you can recognize the dangerous wilt disease in good time and save your plant.
How do you recognize and treat wilt disease in azaleas?
The wilt disease in azaleas is manifested by yellowish leaves and dried shoots. To save the plant, infected parts of the plant should be cut off, the azalea with roots dug up and the old soil thoroughly removed. Then replant in fresh soil.
What is wilt disease?
Wilt disease, also known as verticillium wilt, is afungal disease in the soil. In fact, the fungal disease is often initially confused with dry disease because the symptoms are similar.
How do you recognize wilt disease on the azalea?
The wilt disease manifests itself withyellowish leaves and dried shoots. The first signs usually appear in early summerat the beginning of the first heat waves. You can recognize the fungal disease on your azalea by the following symptoms:
- Initially you will only find dried leaves, noticeably bright foliage or dead parts on individual parts of the plant.
- The bark becomes wrinkled.
- In the worst case, the plant will die partially or completely.
- The fungus spreads gradually and can even go unnoticed for years until the plant finally dies.
What causes cause wilt disease on the azalea?
The pathogen is oftenintroduced through new plantsHowever, it can also lie dormant in the soil as apermanent sporefor years. If it has found a newvictim, for example aweakened plant, it will break out again.
In addition, the spores canalso spread via water, wind and infected garden toolsThe fungus spreads through the plant's water ducts. It clogs them so that the water supply is severely impaired or stopped. Therefore, the symptoms are particularly noticeable on hot days.
How to save the azalea if it has wilt disease?
If you notice wilt disease on your azalea, you shouldcut off the affected parts of the plant as quickly as possiblewith a disinfected knifecut offThen you mustDig up plant with rootsThe pathogen is in the soil. Therefore, you mustthoroughly free the roots of the azalea from the old soil and replant them with fresh new soil. When keeping it in a pot, you should rinse the pot carefully before replanting. When planting beds, it is best to choose another suitable location.
How do you protect azaleas from wilt disease?
He althy plants are less susceptibleto diseases. CareTherefore, give your azalea a regular supply of water according to its type. It is best to use rainwater or low-lime tap water as irrigation water. Avoid waterlogging. Fertilize once a week in summer to ensure adequate nutrient balance. Also regularly remove wilted flowers and leaves and at the same time check whether the plant shows any signs of disease.
Tip
Other plants can also infect the azalea
Over two hundred ornamental and useful plants can be affected by wilt disease. These include peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, as well as rhododendrons, maples, chestnuts, lilacs and trumpet trees. For example, walnuts, willow, pears, birches, conifers, oaks and beeches are considered resistant. If an infestation occurs in your garden, make sure that you work cleanly and do not plant any potentially endangered plants in this area.
