Names and symptoms of lily diseases and pest attacks, treatment and prevention
The fragrant beauties of lilies that adorn the summer cottage, like all ornamental plants, need agrotechnical care and preventive measures. In their absence, crops are affected by diseases and insect pests. Each of the lily diseases has its own characteristic symptoms, which make it possible to determine the type of pathology at an early stage of infection and take timely measures to save the plants.
Lily diseases and their treatment
All diseases of lilies are divided into two categories:
- Fungal. When detected early, they respond well to treatment with folk remedies and chemicals. Flowers in most cases can be saved.
- Viral. In this case, ornamental plants are destroyed, since it is impossible to get rid of such diseases. In addition, there is a risk of contamination of other crops in the area.
With regular prophylaxis and competent agrotechnical care, diseases rarely affect lilies.
Gray rot (botrytis)
It is considered one of the most dangerous fungal infections, which not only spoils the decorative effect of lilies, but also, if not treated in time, leads to the death of the flower. At first, the plant changes its color to brown and looks like it was burnt by fire, later foliage and buds fall off. Favorable conditions for the development of fungal disease are cool weather with high humidity.
The causative agent of the disease lives in the soil or on plant debris and infects lilies only under favorable conditions. The first sign of the disease is yellowing of the lower leaves of the culture, then the stem and flowers are affected.
To treat lilies from gray rot, systemic fungicides are used, such as Topsin-M and Fundazol, treatment of plants is alternated with copper-containing preparations. Dilute the chemicals according to the instructions on the package.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended:
- Plant flowers in sunny, well-ventilated areas.
- Choose areas with fertile soil.
- Do not thicken the planting.
- Do not plant lilies in areas where bulbous plants used to grow.
- Weed in time.
Fusarium
Fusarium also belongs to fungal diseases. The spores that live in the ground first affect the bulb of the plant, and then the entire lily. The leaf plates begin to turn yellow, and then dry up and fall off.
Before planting, the culture bulbs are soaked in a highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. If suspicious spots are present on them, they are carefully cut off with a knife. After planting, the soil under the lilies is treated with Fitosporin once a week, if it is cool, rainy weather outside.
Fitium
If the leaves of the lilies change their color to yellow, starting from the tops, this is a sign of a fungal disease such as phytium. It attacks the roots of plants and provokes their rotting. If measures are not taken in time, lilies lose their attractive appearance, there is no flowering. Following the yellowing of the leaves, the stem of the culture is deformed, and it dries out completely.
It is possible to cope with the disease only at the initial stages of development, with the help of Fundazole. The damaged parts are removed from the plant. Before planting, the bulbs are treated with fungicidal preparations to prevent the disease, and the soil is disinfected with colloidal sulfur.
Blue mold
A fungal disease such as blue mold manifests itself on lily bulbs if the rules for their storage in winter are violated. They become covered with whitish spots, greenish-blue spores of the pathogen are also clearly visible. Over time, the roots die off, and the bulb acquires a brownish-yellowish tint.
To prevent the disease, plants are provided with suitable storage conditions; at the first sign, the bulbs are treated with the fungicide Fundazol. From folk remedies, an infusion of marigolds is effective, which is prepared according to this recipe:
- Take 10 liters of water and 500 grams of crushed flowers.
- Mix and leave to infuse for a day. The bulbs can then be processed.
Penicillosis
Fungal disease affects all parts of the culture and leads to their decay. A green bloom that appears on flowers and stems, as well as on bulbs, is the first symptom of the development of the disease. Peduncles are weak, lilies slow down their growth.
To avoid such a pathology, the rules for storing planting material are observed. When the first signs appear, the bulbs are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate with a concentration of 2%.
Rust
The way the pathology spreads is through already infected plant residues, which were not removed from the site in time. Small colorless spots on the leaves are the first symptom of the disease, over time they acquire a yellowish tint. On the surface of these spots, pads are noticeable, in which the spores of the pathogen are located. If you do not start treatment, the leaf plates and stems will dry out and the plant will die.
First of all, the affected leaves are cut and burned. The remaining parts are treated with the Forecast preparation, and also regularly use phosphorus-potassium supplements. Bulbous plants in the area affected by rust are not recommended to be planted for 3 years.
Cucumber and tobacco mosaic viruses
If, with the development of fungal diseases, the treatment started on time allows saving the plants, then with viral lesions, the lilies will have to be dug up and destroyed. Aphids are considered to be the carrier of the cucumber and tobacco mosaic virus. Initially, light streaks and annular spots appear on flowers and leaf plates, later the culture stem is deformed and stops growing.
Preventive measures help not to face the disease. Flowers are constantly examined, and leaves are removed when suspicious spots appear. Also, only disinfected material is used for gardening. If aphids are seen on the site, they begin to get rid of the pest with the help of chemicals.
Tulip variegation virus
Most often it affects tulips, but aphids can also be transferred to lilies, penetrating into plant cells. Symptoms are expressed by a violation of the pigmentation of the buds, a noticeable weakening of the plant and the degeneration of the variety.
Already affected plants are removed from the site in time and are fighting aphids.
Rosette disease
The pathology is provoked by a whole complex of viruses. Lilies have a thickened stem, it acquires a yellowish color. Flowering never comes. Culture weakens and dies. When the first signs of a disease are detected, the affected plants are immediately destroyed in order to prevent infection of other flowers on the site.
Flower pests and how to deal with them
Subject to agricultural practices and regular preventive measures, insect pests rarely infect lilies.
Red beetles, or rattles
Red beetles are very active and extremely gluttonous. If you do not start a fight with them in time, they almost completely eat up the leaves of plants. Preventive spraying is recommended in the spring, otherwise the larvae emerging from the laid eggs in early June will completely destroy the crops.
A mechanical method is used, in which the bugs are shaken off into a jar of water and then destroyed outside the garden plot, and a chemical one. Among insecticides of a wide spectrum of action, Sonnet earned positive reviews - the drug is diluted according to the instructions for use and the plantings are treated.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars hibernate in the soil and with the arrival of spring, getting out, begin to eat stems and flower-bearing shoots. To combat the pest, chemicals are used and get rid of weeds in time, because this is where the butterflies lay their eggs.
Clicker Beetle Larvae
The most dangerous for lilies are adult larvae, which gnaw out passages on the bulbs, as a result the flower dies. Leaf curling and crop wilting are signs of damage. To combat the pest, insecticidal preparations are used - Medvetox or Provotox. As a preventive measure, spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate and lime the soil, since its increased acidity is an ideal environment for the development of larvae.
Daffodil fly
The damage to the plantings of lilies is caused not by the daffodil fly itself, but by its larvae, which it lays in the soil. The larvae feed on the pulp of the bulbs, which leads to the weakening and death of the flowers. As control measures, drugs such as Aktara or Decis are used, diluting them according to the instructions and watering the soil around the lilies. As a preventive measure, mulch the soil around the plants with peat.
Spider mite
The spider mite feeds on the juice of young lily shoots, which weakens the plant. In case of minor lesions, a soap solution is used, in case of an invasion of a pest, they resort to the help of acaricides - Apollo or Anti-tick.
Thrips
The plant cell sap serves as food for thrips. Loss of attractiveness, stunted growth and development are the first signs of being hit by a pest. For destruction, Agravertin or Fitoverm are used.
Slugs
The slugs eat the leaves, which makes the plant lose its attractiveness. To combat them, beer traps are used, if there are a lot of pests, they use Thunderstorm or Slime-eater drugs.
Mouse
In winter, mice often feed on juicy lily bulbs. To scare off the pest, rags soaked in kerosene are buried next to the flowers. You can also use ultrasonic repellents.
Preventive actions
Prevention reduces the risk of disease and prevents pests from appearing on the site. The complex of activities includes:
- Timely weeding of weeds.
- Compliance with the irrigation regime.
- Disinfection of soil with formalin solution.
- Compliance with crop rotation.
- Use for fertilizing potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
It must be remembered that all work in the garden is carried out only with a disinfected tool.
