We study the diseases of the date palm and how to deal with them
Diseases of the date palm can occur for various reasons, but most often due to improper care. In the 19th century, date palms appeared in greenhouses and in the homes of residents of the northern regions. And they still attract flower growers with their decorativeness and the possibility of creating a spectacular exotic corner in a city apartment. It is not difficult to take care of plants, you just need to adhere to certain rules so that they grow strong and healthy.
The main diseases of date palmss
Diseases of the date palm can be caused by pathogens such as:
- fungi;
- bacteria;
- viruses.
The most common of all is gray spot. The main feature is gray spots, mainly on old leaves. As the disease progresses and covers an increasing area on the plant, blotches of blackish color appear. Fungus spores are disguised under them.
There is only one way to cure the plant - to remove all affected parts before the fungus infects the entire palm tree. After that, the palm is usually treated with special antifungal drugs. Similar treatments are used for another common disease, blight pink.
High soil moisture and too low temperature in the room where the palm tree is located can lead to putrefaction and other diseases of date palms.
They are caused by bacteria. The affected plant has a soft trunk, and the leaves gradually lose color and begin to fall off.
The mosaic pattern on the leaves can serve as a signal of the beginning of a viral infection of the plant. The main source is insects. These can be mosquitoes, flies, various types of moths. Therefore, it is important to destroy all insects in time. To prevent them from entering the room, it is recommended to install mosquito nets, so you can minimize the chance of infection of the plant.
Approximately every six months, date palms need to arrange the treatment of plants with chemistry, this will strengthen them and protect them from diseases.
Why does the date palm turn yellow in the house
To start an unusual and original plant at home, you need to choose the variety that is really capable of surviving in an apartment. Experienced growers recommend the Robelena date, finger or Canarian for this purpose.
Date palm condition can be greatly deteriorated by improper care or the appearance of pests on them, which often lead to serious diseases of the date palm. And only after getting rid of these negative factors can one move on to dealing with the consequences.
The main, most common reasons due to which the leaves of a home palm turn yellow:
- with insufficient watering;
- when using hard water;
- scabbards or false shields wound up;
- the lower part of the stem is affected by thrips.
But sometimes the tips of the leaves dry on the date palm due to insufficient lighting. The plant should be positioned so that bright diffused light falls on all the leaves. If the plant still lacks it, you should additionally include phytolamp... It is advisable to do this in the morning and in the evening.
How to water palms
The date palm is very demanding on the quality of water, as well as its temperature, which should be from +30 to +34 ° C. Water at room temperature cannot be used to water palms even in summer.
In order to prepare water of a suitable temperature, add hot water to a container with cold water.
With proper watering, all vessels of the root system are preserved, which provide the plant with normal nutrition and sufficient moisture supply. When watering with purchased water, you must first familiarize yourself with its composition.
Water in small portions over the entire area. The soil in the pot must be completely saturated with moisture so that the pan begins to fill. Only in this case it can be understood that the entire root system has access to water. The liquid accumulated in the pan must be drained off after 30–40 minutes. Otherwise, the roots, without access to air, may begin to rot. The next watering time depends on the soil condition. The top layer should dry completely, and the soil at the edge of the pot, at a depth of 3 cm, may have a slight moisture.
How to save a date palm from yellowing
In order for the state of an exotic beauty to be sufficiently stable, you need to properly care for her, as well as alternate watering and feeding.
You should follow the advice of those people who have been growing palm trees for many years:
- If the tips of the leaves of a date palm turn yellow, they are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle once a day. To prevent the soil in the container from getting wet, cover it with a film on top.
- Pest infestation can be prevented by taking care of the condition of the leaves. As dust accumulates, they are wiped with a clean and damp cloth, soft sponge or brush.
- It is necessary to regularly feed the palm tree with fertilizers with a sufficient content of essential minerals and trace elements. They will keep the tips of the leaves from turning yellow.
- Hard water for irrigation can provoke chlorosis, growth retardation, and the appearance of brown spot on the leaves.
- The roots of the palm tree must not be allowed to dry out, since due to the catastrophically dry substrate, the leaves will not only begin to turn yellow, but also wilt. Moreover, it will be impossible to restore their former position. The only possible solution would be to tie to the support.
- In winter, in the room where the date palm is located, the air temperature should be kept at 15-18 ° C.
Particular attention is paid to plant transplantation. Young plants need to change capacity and soil annually. Five-year-old plants are transplanted about once every two or three years, but at the same time, the top layer of the soil is carefully removed and replaced with a new one every year.
How are palms transplanted
Transplant the date palm very carefully. Better to do the transfer. It is impossible to violate the integrity of the earthen coma, since any, even the smallest damage to the root system, can negatively affect the further development of the plant. This is the main reason why the date palm does not grow. The transplant container should be deep but not wide. Several centimeters of drainage are laid at the bottom. Charcoal sprinkled with sand, expanded clay will do.
With each subsequent transplant, the proportion of sod land in the total soil composition is increased. Usually they use a special soil "Palm" or make up a soil mixture on their own, for which they use sod, leafy soil, humus and sand. They need to be taken in a 2: 1: 1: 1 ratio. After fifteen years, the palm is rarely transplanted. Not more than once every five years.
One of the most suitable organic fertilizers for date palms is chicken manure. It is dissolved in water (1:20) and slurry (1:10). To supply plants with phosphorus and potassium, an ash solution is often used (25 g of ash per 1 liter of water). From a lack of organic fertilizing, the leaves can also turn yellow.
Date palm pests
If it does not meet the optimal growing conditions, the palm tree can be attacked by various pests. Most often it can be a mealybug or spider mite.As a preventive measure, the plant is regularly examined, sprayed and dried leaves are removed. Pests are the main reason why palm leaves turn yellow.
Among them, the most dangerous:
- Red spider mite - damages not only date palms, but also many indoor plants. The best conditions for this tiny insect, half a millimeter in size, are considered to be low humidity and high temperature in a room with plants. First it starts up in the barrel. The leaves of the infected palm are covered with yellow and gray spots. A spider web appears.
- Thrips - develops rapidly and multiplies no less rapidly, in some cases parthenogenetically. A pest of many indoor plants and flowers, as well as crops. Some species are considered dangerous quarantine items.
- Scabbard - resembles a flat aphid in its appearance. Due to its mobility and small size, it is difficult to detect the pest at the beginning of development. Therefore, the plants should be inspected regularly. False shields are no less harmful and dangerous. These types of insects feed on plant sap. Most often, they can be found on the back of the leaves, in the places where their cuttings adjoin the trunk. One of the main signs indicating the spread of the pest is a fall, a sticky liquid that appears on the leaves, so they begin to gradually turn yellow and dry, and then fall off. If measures are not taken in time, the palm tree will die.
Pests deplete the plant so much that even after their destruction, it is easily affected by various viral and fungal diseases.