Irises are very beautiful plants, a total of unpretentious, and not so much worries with them. But the more refined, sleeker the variety, the more picky it is to the conditions of detention and the higher the possibility of its being affected by pests and diseases. If we grow such irises, then we are obliged to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology. From this article you will learn the main causes of poor health of killers, as well as methods of preventing diseases, combating parasites and ways to treat these colors.
Did you know? The Slavic peoples have such names of irises as "pivnik" ("cockerel" in Ukrainian), "kasatik" (leaves look like a scythe), and also "perunika" (after the old Slavonic god Perun).
How to deal with pests irises
The main condition for healthy growth and the absence of pests in irises is the observance of agrotechnical rules and close observation of flowers during the growing season.
Root (onion) mite
It damages not only irises, but also many other bulbous plants. This pest has a convex, whitish body and 8 limbs, capable of laying 800 eggs per season. For rapid, intensive reproduction, a root mite needs a moist (minimum 60%) and warm environment. Usually affects plants already infected with other pests. Penetrating into the root system, it settles in the cracks of the roots or between the scales. Because of this, the root rots, and the foliage turns yellow. When infecting planting material, it dries out.
As a method of struggle, use the digging of the flower bed in the fall, be sure to remove the still not germinated rhizomes and diseased irises, observe the planting dates. It is advisable for these flowers to choose a place near the carrot bed. Bulb storage should be disinfected with special sulfur checkers, and the bulbs themselves should be dried at ~ 36 ° C and poured with chalk (20 g per 1 kg). Before planting, also use a tick repellent to treat the bulbs.
During the growing season, the treatment of irises from these pests involves spraying with a solution of 0.1% Rogora, 0.2% Trichlormetaphos, 0.2-0.3% Karbofos, or watering 0.2% Keltan, Rogor "and" Chlorofos ". It is also allowed to water the soil with insecticides.
Onion nematodes
This is a dangerous pest of not only irises, but also of many vegetable crops. This 1.5mm white worm infects seeds and plant bulbs, can survive many years of drought, but needs very moist ground for mass distribution. This parasite feeds on the iris juice, retarding their growth, leading to the formation of distorted flowers and swollen stems.
As with the fight against the root mite, it is necessary to decontaminate the storage and dry the onions. For planting pick up a place near the carrot. Using percalcite will destroy the eggs and larvae of nematodes. Suppose also watering with ammonia water and soil treatment with urea.
Important! Do not plant the iris in the same place for several years. During storage, the humidity should not exceed 70%.
Chafer
The larvae of the cockchafer have been living in the ground for several years. They gnaw the roots of irises. Best of all it helps to mechanically remove crunches during deep digging. And since they can be found in manure, before fertilizing the soil, it is worth sifting and removing all the larvae. For the fight also use light traps and the introduction of anhydrous ammonia.
Medvedka
Medvedka has two pairs of wings, front digging feet and strong jaws. It gnaws the roots and stems. Especially dangerous for bearded irises. To protect against the bear, dig deep into the soil, use traps. In the spring, place slate, plywood, etc. on the plot. The insect will crawl under them, and you will need to check such traps and destroy pests. Or place small dung heaps, where the heads will lay eggs, and you can collect insects.
In the autumn, dig several half-meter holes and fill them with manure. Medvedka get there for the winter. And as soon as the frost comes, the manure should be thrown out of the pits. This will lead to the death of the pest. Use of water traps is possible. To do this, fill the jars with water, but not up to the end, but with an indentation of 10 cm and dig them into the ground. Periodically look into the traps and destroy the insects caught there.
Winter scoop
It often hurts on wet lowland soils. As a result of its activity, the stems break off, the foliage turns yellow and fades. In addition, caterpillars scoops can damage the root system, which is then easily affected by disease. At defeat by a scoop on stalks entrance openings at ground level will be noticeable.
To destroy the pupae, dig deeply and periodically loosen the soil. At the beginning of the growing season, spray with 10% solution of Karbofos and repeat the procedure after a week.
Wireworm
Wireworm called the larva of the click beetle. It has a yellow color and can be in the soil for 3-4 years. This pest gnaws passages in the roots, there are bacteria, fungi, and over time, develop diseases of the irises, which can even lead to the death of the plant.
Weeds such as wheatgrass and sow thistles are its main food, respectively, we must regularly pay attention to weeding and loosening the soil. Also, the wire gives preference to acidic soil, so it is advisable to make lime, ash, chalk or dolomite flour. And if you make ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, it will help reduce the number of larvae.
Slugs
Damage not only irises, but also other flower and vegetable crops. Gnaw oblong holes on the foliage, and sometimes the flowers of plants. They are also dangerous because they tolerate bacteriosis. Silver leaves are left on the leaves.
Establishing traps of burdocks and wet rags will help you catch and destroy slugs. In the evening or in the morning, in dry and warm weather, scatter granulated metaldehyde between the irises or use tobacco dust and hydrated lime. The soil around the plant sprinkled with superphosphate will scare them away. Prevention will be the removal of weeds.
Aphid bean
This insect, settling on the leaves, young shoots and buds, has a black-green or brown color. It feeds on the sap of plants, which is why the shoots are deformed, and the foliage becomes discolored and twisted.
Regular phosphorus-potassium supplements and weeding are used as control measures. If the aphids did not have time to multiply, then it is removed manually, and when severely infected, they use domestic and chemical insecticides, alternating them every 10 days.
Important! The best remedy that can be used to treat irises in the spring from diseases is manganese solution. Such disinfection should last 20 minutes.
Thrips
Thrips - inconspicuous, small, up to 1 mm, insects. There are black, gray, brown, and the larvae - pale yellow, green and gray. They consume cellular sap, as a result of which the leaves become discolored and deformed, and the damaged rhizome is covered with brown spots. Usually hiding in buds and stamens or leaf sinuses.
For prevention and control, dig up the soil, remove weeds and water the irises in hot and dry weather. In case of numerous lesions with thrips, process the plants every 7-10 days with organophosphate solutions.
The main diseases of irises, their treatment
Irises are more resistant than other perennials, but they are still affected by both viral, and fungal, and bacterial pathogens. Next, we consider the main diseases of irises and ways to combat them.
Alternaria
This is a fungal virus, in which a black bloom forms on the edges of the leaf plates, and then they dry up and fall off. The infected plant should be removed, because the infection is able to remain in the ground. Use a regular spraying of Bordeaux blend before and after flowering (or its equivalent) as a medicine.
Ascohitosis
Ascochitis, also called mushroom leaf spot, leads to the appearance of watery brown marks of a rounded shape, located along the edges. If the disease progresses, the affected foliage dries prematurely. During treatment, it should be borne in mind that the infection can remain both in the soil and in plant residues. To fight use drugs with copper, such as Bordeaux mixture or substitutes, before and after flowering.
Heterosporiosis
Heterosporia, or leaf spotting, is activated from mid-July and feels best when the weather is warm and humid. Defeat begins on extreme, aging leaflets. Whitish-gray areas with a watery edge appear and become larger. Over time, all outer leaves dry out, and the infection infects the inner ones. It is very important with this disease to regularly remove dried, aging leaves and plant debris. You can also use fungicides with copper and zinc.
Mosaic
Mosaic irises usually suffers aphid. It appears medium-sized stripes and bright spots on the foliage. Since an effective means of dealing with mosaic has not yet been found, efforts should be made to take preventive measures. They include: the proper farming practices, the control of aphids and other sucking insects with the help of chemicals, the immediate destruction of diseased specimens.
Spotting
As a preventive measure against all types of blotches, spraying flowers with a 1% Bordeaux mixture is used.
Did you know? The word "iris" is translated from the Greek as "rainbow", because the flower is named after the ancient Greek goddess Iris, who descended to earth on a rainbow.
Rust
With such a disease of irises, like rust, brown leaves appear on the leaves, around which the fabric dies, and with time the foliage dries, twists and dies. Stems are deformed. Spores can persist in soil and plant debris.
You also need to comply with the culture (plant the iris again at the same place after 3-4 years), drain the soil, destroy all the infected leaves and treat the rest with the solution with sulfur (repeat every 2 weeks until the symptoms of the disease disappear).
Wet rot (bacteriosis)
Wet or soft rot is a bacterial disease that can be recognized as early as early spring, if you pay attention to specific brown spots on the overwintered leaves. They begin to grow brown from the ends and eventually dry up. The base of the stalks smell unpleasant. The inner part of the affected rhizomes looks like a white mass with a putrid odor.
Important! The disease spreads due to high humidity and planting density, freezing of rhizomes and the introduction of fresh manure. Lack of calcium and phosphorus, as well as an excess of nitrogen, are also stimulants of bacteriosis.
The affected tissues must be removed with a knife and the cut cut with potassium permanganate. For breeding, use only quality material. Remove infected leaves from the site and destroy, and in the fall, collect and remove all remnants of plants.
Gray rot
Appears because of two types of mushrooms. The first is activated at high humidity and acts on the ends of the leaves and stems. Ultimately, the foliage rots and is covered with gray bloom. The second leads to dry rot of rhizomes.
To prevent such a disease from affecting your irises, plant them on drained soil, use healthy material, promptly remove the damaged parts and do not forget to collect and burn all residues in the fall.
Dry rot (Fusarium)
Dry rot spreads from the roots, where, growing, clogs the vessels of the plant. Rhizomes dry. During the growing season it has the appearance of rapid drying of flowers and leaves. Dead plants need to be removed from the site, and their places of growth treated with copper oxychloride. Spray the healthy irises with a fungicide.
Methods of prevention from diseases and pests
As you can see, the best prevention from any diseases and pests will be compliance with the rules of agricultural engineering, proper and timely fertilization, watering, digging the soil, removing weeds, as well as the choice of high-quality planting material and processing of special means as needed.
We hope that this article about pests, diseases of irises and their treatment was useful for you. Pay attention to these colors and provide proper care, and you will only need the information provided as a preventive measure.
