Phlox - a real decoration of any garden. Light aroma, bright inflorescences of different shades will delight their owners throughout the summer. These flowers do not require special care until they get sick. Unfortunately, phloxes are sick, like people. And they are not always treatable (especially if the first symptoms of the disease are not noticed in time).
Phlox disease can be caused by various reasons - improper farming techniques, viral or fungal infections, garden pests. To solve the problem, you need to know:
- symptoms or signs of illness;
- what are the diseases and how to treat them;
- what should be prevention.
Physiological disorders of phlox, how to eliminate them
Failure of agrotechnics during the cultivation of phlox (soil re-acidification, thickening of the planting, lack of moisture) can easily lead to physiological damage to garden crops.
Did you know? Phloxes originate from North America. There are more than 50 species of perennial phlox in the world, and only one - Phlox drummondii - one-year. The flower received its name in 1737: the bright red color of wild phloxes prompted Carl Linna to call the flower "flame". The legend that walks on the Internet about Odyssey, traveling to the realm of Hades and the torches abandoned by the Argonauts, which formed phloxes, is a fake. Europeans became acquainted with phlox flowers only in the 17th century, and they only got into the Old World in the 18th century.
Drying and leaf fall
The main reason why the leaves of phlox turn yellow and die, - water shortage. Plants with a shortage of water begin to reduce their leaf cover. This process lasts until the resumption of water flow, or until the death of the flower.
Help needed is abundant watering and spraying. If the flower is recently transplanted, it is necessary to shade it.
Cracking stems
During the period of intensive growth of phlox (May-June), the formation of longitudinal cracks on the lower part of the stem is possible.
The wound is gradually covered with a tumor in the form of an influx (callus), the stem grows coarse, loses its elasticity (the severity of the inflorescence and the wind can lead to a fracture of the stem).
Among the causes of cracking - high nitrogen content in the soil, excessive acidity.
Important! The opinion that cold water in hot weather can lead to cracking of the stem of phlox is wrong. Experimental studies have not confirmed this.
Viral diseases of phlox, their treatment
One of the main reasons why phloxes disappear is viral diseases. Viruses cause a change in the appearance of the flower - the size decreases, ugly mutations appear: the shape of the leaves and flowers changes. In viral diseases, there is no treatment as such: infected plants destroy.
There are no special viruses inherent only in phloxes: they are infected by the same viruses that cause tobacco, potatoes, tomatoes, etc.
Viruses can be transmitted to phlox in various ways:
- through garden tools (shovels, choppers, pruners);
- through molehills;
- through the remains of infected plants;
- through pests;
- through cuttings and seeds.
Curly (wrinkled) leaves
As a result of the defeat of the virus (cucumber mosaic, tobacco necrosis), plants are modified:
- leaves are covered with scabs, necrotic spots, curly and covered with bumps, often a black border, yellow mosaic pattern appears on the edge of the leaf;
- the stem is deformed, covered with scabs, its brittleness increases, it often takes a dwarf form;
- habitus bushy and stunted, flowering does not occur, the plant may die.
Leaf spot
The disease is caused by the virus ringing tomatoes. Infection occurs through nematodes (Longidorus) in May and June.
First, there are bright yellow spots on the leaves in the form of a ring pattern. Gradually, the spots become larger, they cover the entire surface of phlox, the leaves begin to deform, then curl.
Phlox ceases to bloom, the plant begins to wither.
Necrotic leaf spotting
Caused by a cucumber mosaic virus. The disease begins with the appearance on the blossoming leaves of small (1 mm) round brown spots.
Spots grow, merge and cover the entire area of the sheet.
Leaf filament
Filamentousness in phloxes is caused either by defeat by nematodes (Ditylenchus dipsaci), or by infection with a virus (cucumber mosaic).
The leaves of the plant mutate - become narrow with teeth on the edge.
Patients phloxes develop poorly, the habitus changes - there is no flowering, the released shoots are fragile and small, dwarfism of the bush appears. The disease ends with the death of the plant.
Rattle
The disease manifests itself in May-June. On the leaves there are spots in the form of rings and half rings, stripes. Their color is from light yellow to green-yellow. Spots increase in size and quantity. Flower growth is inhibited.
Tobacco rattle virus is caused by the disease of the tobacco rattling virus. It is transferred from soil by nematodes. Sometimes phlox can be latent carriers of the disease.
Did you know? The word "virus" means "poison" (translated from Latin). For the first time, the tobacco-rattling virus (“rattle-virus”) was discovered in 1931 in Germany. Virions of the virus look like short and long cigar sticks. The location of the virus is soil. The main carriers are nematodes (Trichodorus and Paratrichdorus).
Variegation
The variegation of phlox is a disease about which there are great debates among gardeners. Particularly noticeable this disease during flowering.
Rezu mosaic virus interferes with the formation of antocin pigment. As a result, there appear light stripes with a lilac shade on the petals (the stripes expand towards the end of them). On each flower pattern is uneven, asymmetrical.
In order to exclude the weathering factor on the flowers that have been opened, it is necessary to forcefully unfold the bud of an unopened flower: if the plant is infected, deviations will be visible.
Important! Diagnosis of a lesion with a variegated virus is difficult: it requires a special laboratory. Amateur gardeners can determine the disease by external signs, comparing the color, symmetry of the pattern and other indicators in suspicious phlox with a healthy flower of the same variety. White color phloxes cannot be visually diagnosed.
Damage to the plant threatens the virus:
- the gradual disappearance of varietal signs of phlox (the disease is inherited, and degradation occurs irreversibly);
- contamination of other plants.
Fungal diseases, their treatment
Fungal diseases are caused by pathogenic effects of fungal microorganisms (alternarii, rust fungi, septorii, etc.). Fungal spores, falling into the cracks of the stem or spores of leaves, penetrate the plant. Mycelium grows with spore-bearing bodies. On the leaves begin to appear brown spots, spots that merge, the sheet dies.
The negative effects of fungi on phlox:
- tissue destruction of all parts of the plant;
- violation of regulatory processes;
- intoxication plants.
White leaf spot (septoria)
The disease is caused by the Septoria phlogis mushrooms: numerous brown spots, black dots and a brown border appear on the leaves. Leaves fall.
In this case it is necessary:
- destroy fallen leaves;
- Treat affected plants: but) chlorine oxide (0.5%) or a suspension of basezol (0.2%);
b) Bordeaux liquid (1%), after 10 days, spray again.
Verticillary wilting of stems
This disease occurs infrequently. The disease occurs in the midst of flowering. External signs - healthy leaves and shoots begin to suddenly, without turning yellow, fade and fall.
The disease is caused by the fungus Verticillium albo-atrum (which loves moist and damp places). Mycelium grows on the roots: they are covered with white (later it turns red) bloom. Mushrooms consume nutrient juices, deprive the flower of moisture and poison toxins.
For the treatment of the disease in its advanced form it is necessary:
- remove the bush;
- free the flower from the ground, immerse the lower part with its roots for 20 minutes in a solution of 0.5% Bordeaux mixture ("Maxim" or "Vitarosa");
- spray the entire bush with the same liquid;
- to land on a new place (the old place after treatment with copper sulphate for planting phloxes can be used no earlier than one year later).
Did you know? Among professional gardeners and scientists, there is a point of view that all phloxes contain latent variegation virus in themselves. There is also a genetic "chimera" of varietal phloxes (in the same plant there are cells with different genotypes) - "Fireworks", "Mashunya", "Traces", etc. But the symmetry and uniformity of the pattern are preserved.
Mealy dew
The manifestation of the disease occurs in August. On the leaves (first on the lower ones) white spiderweb spots appear. Spots grow and merge. The bush weakens, its decorative effect decreases.
Among the factors contributing to the disease include:
- wet summer;
- landing thickening;
- plants provocateurs (acacia, forget-me-nots, barberries, delphiniums, etc.).
Rust
Midsummer (July) threatens to infect phlox with rust. This disease affects all above-ground parts of the flower. The name of the disease was due to the appearance on the leaves and stems of red, brown, brown spots, resembling rust. 
The danger of the disease is manifested in the fact that:
- rust fungus feeds on plant cells, disrupts metabolism and water balance. Without treatment, rust-affected phlox is doomed;
- The rust fungus is very fertile: billions of spores ripen on only one affected phlox (the wind spreads them over long distances).
Rust on phloxes actively develops with an excess of nitrogen in the soil, high humidity. Spores can winter in a layer of mulch.
Fighting rust involves preventive maintenance. When the first symptoms are detected, it is necessary to treat with fungicides and preparations with copper (Topaz, Oxyh, Scor, copper chlorine oxychloride (0.7%), iron sulphate (1%), etc.) all phloxes and soil on the site .
Did you know? White phlox is less susceptible to rust.
Fomoz
This disease often manifests itself during the budding and flowering of phlox. Affects the stem:
- at the base (15 cm) changes color - turns yellow, turns brown;
- the structure of the stem changes, resembles a cork, the degree of fragility increases;
- lower leaves dry up.
LThe treatment of such plants is difficult (almost impossible). You can save a healthy planting material - cutting the upper parts, process the cuttings with antifungin. Sick flowers to burn, and process the soil "Thiazone" (100 g per 1 sq. M).
Phlox pests, how to deal with them
Phlox pests include dozens of insect, nematode, gastropod and other species.
Caterpillars scoop and butterflies
Caterpillars garden shovels, cabbage moth, other butterflies are characterized by increased voracity. They eat all the leaves, flower petals. A flower can be completely destroyed by these pests.
Fighting against caterpillars involves:
- the destruction of weeds in the area of phlox growth;
- manual collection of caterpillars;
- spraying "karbofos" or "Inta-vir".
Cruciferous black flea
In the spring of cruciferous beetles - black cabbage fleas, are a great danger for phlox. They eat green leaves and young shoots of phlox. Folk agrotechnology has developed its own methods of pest control:
- sprinkle leaves on both sides with wood ash (three times in 4-5 days);
- powder the plant and the earth with a mixture of ash, tobacco, slaked lime or ground black pepper;
- spray fleas mixture: 10 liters of water and 2 tbsp. spoon vinegar solution (70%).
Did you know? Flea shampoo for dogs is effective in the fight against flea. To do this, prepare a solution (2 caps on a bucket of water) and spray the plant.
Nematodes
Phloxes are often affected by round (0.8–1 mm) small filamentous worms — leaf and stem nematodes. This is a real scourge of flowers. Parasites feed on plant sap.
When sucking juices, the phlox stalks become crooked, blooms appear, the flowers become smaller, threadlike leaves appear on the top. The plant often dies. Signs of defeat by nematodes on phloxes appear only by the end of June - the beginning of July.
With a strong infection of the site, diseased plants are dug and burned, the site is treated with bleach or formalin.
Known nematodicides are very poisonous, and it is better not to use them in the garden.
The fight against the disease includes the manual selection of the affected plants, as well as cutting the healthy branches of the bush (before planting for rooting, wash the cuttings in running water).
Gardeners are advised to carry out cuttings of valuable varieties in the spring (when the soil temperature is below 10 ° C and the stem height has not reached 5 cm).
Slugs
Cultivated slugs are most dangerous for phlox, they cleanly eat young shoots, leaves, flowers. Very fertile (slug can lay up to 400 eggs over the summer and autumn). During the day they hide in shelters, at night and in rainy weather in the daytime they go out to feed.
The best measure to deal with slugs - trapping. Catch both manually and with the help of traps: boards on the site, boards on the tracks, trays with beer. The area with phloxes and approaches to it can be sprinkled with ashes, lime, superphosphate - slugs will not overcome the obstacle, until the rain does not wash them away. After the rain - repeat.
Important! We must not forget to decontaminate your garden tools, work surfaces, containers, etc. more often.
Drooling pennitsa
From May to June there is a great threat to phlox from the larvae of the penny bug bed drooling (settle on the underside of the leaf, where they emit frothy substance). The larvae suck the juice from the leaves, the plant languishes and does not bloom.
In case of single lesions, the leaves can be plucked along with the larvae (the larvae may try to hide, jump off the leaf). In case of mass infection, treat with Inta-Vira solution (especially the inside of the leaves).
Prevention of phlox diseases and pests
Carrying out regular maintenance will help keep your collection of phloxes. To protect phlox from disease, you need:
- in spring and autumn dig the soil on one bayonet;
- Replace phloxes to a new location every 4 years;
- regularly weed, clean weeds, fallen leaves;
- in the spring to spray the earth with copper oxychloride, Bordeaux mixture;
- perform preventive treatment ("Maxim", "Vitaros", etc.) of planting material;
- for the prevention of powdery mildew, 2-3 times per summer, treat the fungicides Topaz, Skor, etc .;
- in order to prevent nematodes from planting traps (peas, parsley, marigolds, etc.), nematodes especially love them and accumulate in them).
Important! In the initial stages of the disease, phlox may be hidden. According to external signs, it is also problematic to distinguish a disease - a flower can have a whole bunch of diseases. Therefore, it is advisable to just buy phlox planted separately (in quarantine), at least once every two weeks to inspect.
