The popularity of Zamioculcas among flower growers is explained by the comparative unpretentiousness of the plant. At the same time, the flower has a presentable appearance, so it fits perfectly into the interior of an apartment, at home, and looks organically in the office. Zamioculcas perfectly tolerates dry air, an abundance of sunlight or its lack and does not need regular watering. But, despite these positive qualities of a plant, there are situations when a flower needs human participation. Therefore, it is worth knowing the diseases of Zamioculcas and their treatment (you will find photos and the necessary information in this article).
Yellow leaves
This problem is the most common in Zamioculcas. But not always the yellowness of the leaves indicates the development of the disease. In some cases, this is a sign of the natural renewal of the plant. At the same time, only the lower leaves and small branches turn yellow, but in return the flower produces new strong shoots. Therefore, such a factor should not cause any anxiety in the grower.
And in case of abundant and sharpyellowing of the leaves should be addressed immediately, as this indicates a lack of nutrition in the upper part of the plant. This happens as a result of damage to the root system, so it does not cope with its function.
When growing zamiokulkas at home, diseases often develop due to improper care or inconsistency in the conditions of detention:
- overwatering;
- cold content;
- drafts;
- lack of moisture;
- unsuitable soil composition;
- wrong pot;
- Long absence of transplant.
Often, abundant yellowness of the leaves is provoked by such a zamiokulkas disease as root rot. In this case, the plant can be saved only at the initial stage of the development of the negative process. To do this, you should initially pour Zamiokulkas with Maxim or Previkur according to the instructions, and then transplant the flower into a new substrate. To do this, it is better to use the soil for cacti and succulents purchased at a specialized store. If this is not possible, you can cook it yourself at home.
The optimal soil composition for Zamioculcas will consist of the following elements:
- peat - 1 part;
- leaf land - 1 part;
- turf soil - 2 parts;
- sand - 1 part.
When transplanting, it is necessary to carry out the actions in the following sequence:
- Clean the root system from rotten shoots.
- Processboiling water in a pot and remove the soil from the roots as much as possible.
- In the future, lay a thick layer of drainage 3 cm thick.
- Sprinkle it with fresh soil.
- Place a zamiokulkas bush in the center of the pot without deepening the root neck.
- Fill the resulting voids with fresh soil.
- Water the plant a little, but not in the middle of the bush, but along the edge of the pot.
- Place zamiokulkas in a slightly dark place to adapt.
To speed up the recovery process, it is recommended to spray the leaves and shoots with the Epin preparation and water the Kornevin working solution as the soil dries to enhance root growth.
All these actions are not able to bring a positive result in advanced Zamioculcas disease, as this threatens with irreversible consequences.
Stem rot
In this case, improper care is the cause of the problem. Zamioculcas disease begins as a result of constant waterlogging of the soil, from which rot of the root neck and tubers develops.
To save the plant, you must remove it from the pot. Carefully inspect the tubers for rot and use a knife to remove damaged areas to he althy tissue. After that, sprinkle the sections with "Fundazol" or "Oxychom".
Subsequently, transplant the plant into a new pot and completely replace the substrate. If the damaged tuber cannot be saved, then it should be removed and the upper part used for propagation.
Stem rot is one of the common diseases of zamiokulkas, so watering is recommended taking into account the needs of the flower, that is, in the warm season 1 time in 7-10 days, and in the cold season - 1 time in 2 weeks, but subject to full drying of the soil.
Lack of full growth
This problem is most often caused by improper transplanting of the plant into a new pot. Slow growth or its complete absence is associated with excessive deepening of the root neck of the plant. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the flower from the soil and plant it again, but at the same time, the growth point of the shoots should be located at the soil level.
Another reason may be a lack of trace elements or the lack of timely transplantation into a larger container, which does not allow the plant to fully develop. In the first case, you can correct the situation by using fertilizers for succulents, and in the second - by planting zamiokulkas in a new pot, which will be 2-3 cm wider than the previous one.
Dark spots on stem or leaves
This symptom in some cases should be the reason for the start of therapeutic measures, and sometimes it should not cause alarm. Therefore, it is necessary to figure out when to take urgent action.
Dark spots on the stem are not considered a sign of Zamioculcas disease in the absence of putrefactive signs and pests, as this is a characteristic feature of the plant. In the future, spots can develop into girdle stripes andincrease in size. In this case, the grower has no reason to worry.
Dark spots with Zamioculcas disease may also appear on the leaves, which indicates non-compliance with the rules for keeping the plant. That is, the temperature in the room is below the required 18 degrees. In addition, the cause of this may be the presence of drafts and high humidity in the room. You can correct the situation by adjusting the conditions of detention and treating the plant with the preparation "Skor" or "Fitosporin".
Chlorosis
Sometimes such a zamiokulkas disease (in the photo posted above, you can see how it manifests itself) can be caused by a lack of iron in the plant. This leads to a disruption in the production of chlorophyll and minimizes the process of photosynthesis. In this case, the leaf plates initially lighten a little, and subsequently completely discolor. A characteristic difference is the green veins on the light background of the leaves.
The disease develops on young shoots at the beginning of the growing season. Initially, this is expressed in small stripes and strokes, which subsequently grow and merge into a single whole.
You can get rid of chlorosis with the help of iron chelate by watering the plant under the root with a working solution at the rate of 5 g of the product per 5 liters of water. Processing should be carried out every 10 days until the plant is fully restored.
Phomosis, or dry rot
This Zamioculcas disease develops as a result of a lack of moisture in the absence oftimely watering. It is manifested by spots of a brownish-gray shade of a round shape. Another reason for infection is close proximity to a diseased plant.
First of all, negative signs appear on old shoots. Subsequently, in the absence of any measures and treatment, Zamioculcas disease spreads to tubers. This leads to the fact that the plant begins to dry from the inside and may die.
To combat phomosis, it is recommended to irrigate Zamioculcas with a working solution of the drug "Maxim" or "Previkur", which will help stop tissue necrosis. Subsequently, it is necessary to transplant the flower into a new soil with the removal of the affected tubers.
Diseases caused by pests
Often the dejected state of a flower can be provoked by the negative effects of insects. This occurs as a result of a decrease in the immunity of the plant. Therefore, the defeat of Zamioculcas by pests and diseases are two interrelated factors. The reason for this is inappropriate conditions of detention or proximity to a diseased flower.
Against this background, many pests feed on the cell sap of Zamioculcas, which significantly weakens its vitality. In addition, as a result of their vital activity, a characteristic sticky coating appears, which provokes the development of a soot fungus in the form of a black dense layer on the leaves. By itself, this fungal disease is not capable of causing serious damage to the plant, but it interferes with full breathing and isolates the leaves fromsunlight, which negatively affects the growth and development of the bush.
Therefore, it is important at the first sign of its spread to wash the foliage and shoots of Zamioculcas with a solution of laundry soap. And then the plant should be treated with special preparations from pests, selecting them in accordance with the type of harmful insect.
Spider mite
Detecting this pest on a plant at the initial stage of infection is very difficult due to its tiny size. But, despite this, it is capable of causing serious harm to Zamioculcas and, if left untreated, can cause the death of the plant.
Characteristic signs of a spider mite:
- small yellow dots along the edge of the leaf plate;
- dejected looking plant;
- slow growth;
- small gossamer on the leaves.
The spider mite prefers to breed in dry air and elevated temperatures, so it is recommended to do a shower for the plant during a particularly hot period of the year as a preventive measure. But with abundant accumulation, it is necessary to carry out the treatment with "Aktellik" or "Fitoverm", evenly spraying the shoots and leaves. After 7 days, the procedure should be repeated.
Shield
The insect first appears on the shoots of Zamioculcas, and then, as it reproduces, moves to the leaves. The shield looks like small brown spots that are easily removed with a fingernail. The insect feeds directly on Zamioculcas juice, which significantly reduces itsimmunity.
The greatest danger is posed by females that have neither arms nor legs, but have a well-developed oral cavity. Young scale insects with a soft shield are still able to move, but when it hardens, they become motionless. The shield sticks on the back of the leaf plate, but over time, negative changes can also be seen from above, which is expressed in yellow spots. In the absence of adequate control measures, the damaged leaf turns yellow completely and disappears. In addition, as a result of the vital activity of the scale insects, sticky drops appear on the shoots, which provokes the development of fungal diseases.
If the plant is not treated, then growth stops completely, the branches become bare, decorative effect is lost, the plant gradually weakens and dies as a result.
To combat the pest, it is necessary to irrigate the plant with the working solution of the Aktara preparation, preparing it at the rate of 1.4 g of the agent per 6 liters of water. Any type of spraying of shoots in the destruction of the pest will be useless, since the shield completely protects the insect. 10 days after the first treatment, watering with insecticide should be repeated.
Mealybug
You can recognize a pest by the characteristic white fluffy lumps under which it hides. The insect feeds on cell sap and thus negatively affects the general condition of the plant.
Most often, the mealybug is localized in hard-to-reach places at the base of the leaves. To destroy the pest, it is necessary to spray with the drug"Aktellik" 2-3 times with a frequency of 1 week until the characteristic signs disappear completely. Additionally, it should be wiped with a napkin soaked in the solution in places of mass accumulation of the insect.
Mushroom mosquito and fools
These two types of insects breed in soil with high humidity. Mushroom gnats are small midges that fly over the pot. But the danger is not the adults, but their larvae in the form of small worms that feed on the young roots of the plant. To combat fungal mosquitoes, it is recommended to use the Dichlorvos or Raid aerosol, and you will also need to irrigate with Aktara (1.4 g per 6 l). In addition, the plant should be transplanted and the soil completely changed.
Podura are also small jumping insects, which testify to the constant overflow of zamiokulkas. It is not difficult to get rid of the pest, it is enough to let the soil in the pot dry well.
Zamioculcas diseases and their treatment (photos of the symptoms of plant diseases are presented in the article) once again prove that the flower, with its comparative unpretentiousness, needs to follow the basic rules of care. Therefore, in order to grow a beautiful and he althy plant, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive maintenance and respond in time to any negative changes in appearance.
