As a nipper grow up in Delaware , I was always fascinate by agapanthus , a plant I was only conversant with from ogling book filled with pretty pictures of unlike flush .
I still vividly remember my excitement on my first trip to California when I saw them produce outside , with their rounded flower heads and farsighted , strap - comparable leaves .
And now , I am rosy to live in Zone 9b , where I can grow them in my own garden !
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Agapanthus plants are generally resistant to most pestilence and disease .
So resistant , in fact , that if you search the scientific literature for common pathogens that infect them , you mostly happen articles relating totheirproduction of fungicidal chemical substance .
In their aboriginal South Africa , scientists study extracts from agapanthus plant as potential controls for a variety of plant diseases .
In ourguide to growing agapanthus , we cover how to tame these easy - care ornamental in the garden . They thrive in a full sun placement with organically - rich , well - enfeeble soil .
But what hap when things go wrong ?
sealed growing condition can predispose agapanthus to a few diseases , and in this article I will insure five of the most common :
Common Agapanthus Diseases
1. Anthracnose
If you are in the habit of reading about flora diseases , there is a unspoiled chance you are familiar with anthracnose – a serious disease in plant such ashydrangeas , triggered by an ubiquitous worldwide group of pathogens in theColletotrichumgenus .
These fungi are very usual in humid temperate mood – waiting to hit when environmental conditions are right . Overwatering and too much moisture on the leaves can contribute to this contagion .
Symptoms include brown spots on the leaves that can sometimes have royal edge . In the typesetter’s case of a severe infection , the spots turn fatal as the tissue paper dies and foliation can turn white-livered , finally drop from the plants .
Since the fungus distribute well via infected plant tissue paper , immediately prune the affected leaf and dispose of the debris somewhere other than on your compost pile !
Remember to disinfect your pruning shear as you go to keep spreading the infection to other plants . you could use 70 percent rub inebriant or 10 percent blanching agent .
Applying alayer of mulchcan prevent the spore from splash from the ground onto the foliage of your plants .
If your plant have a serious transmission , with a prominent amount of leafage affected , you may need to apply a fungicide , since the disease could potentially kill your plant – or propagate to other ornamental .
You have several options , fungicides containing maneb , chlorothalonil , copper , or sulfur are effective .
Bonide Fung - onil dressed ore
If you desire to order online , you’re able to buy chlorothalonilfrom Tractor Supply as Bonide Fung - onil Concentrate .
You will need to spray the plant every 10 - 14 Day , according to package instruction .
An organic choice for fungous control is a copper - based fungicide .
Bonide Copper Fungicide
Arbico Organicsoffers a current formulation of the traditional Bordeaux mixture as Bonide Copper Fungicide Dust . put on every hebdomad to 10 days during juiceless condition , consort to parcel instructions .
It is a good idea to jump the antimycotic that you utilise , so the fungi wo n’t explicate resistance . Learn to rotate fungicides in our guide .
2. Gray Mold
Also bed as Botrytis blight , the fear grey mold ( Botrytis cinerea ) is a potentially withering disease , typically appearing when the weather is cool and humid .
It unremarkably only affects agapanthus plants that are in funny locations and those that are overwatered , or planted in soil that does n’t drain well .
This pathogen is widespread and has an tremendous emcee range , so there is a practiced chance that it is present in your plant ’s environs if you live in a humid location .
symptom start as a gray , hazy mold on the leaves , peak shuck , flowers , and bud . The fungus take shape a celluloid over the top of the infected portion , and the leaves may become slimy and eventually return off .
Your first footprint is to bump off all of the infected tissue paper and flush it from your garden , so it wo n’t disseminate spore .
alas , this fungus is known for rapidly developing resistivity to fungicides – often in the same season that a new chemical is introduced .
As before long as you notice symptom , you ’ll require to treat your plant with a fungicide – but first you should check over with yourlocal university extension serviceto ascertain out what fungicides are recommended for use in your area .
The University of Florida ’s IFAS Extension advocate growing resistant varieties of agapanthus if you live in a humid climate such as Florida .
3. Leaf Spot
A number of fungi throughout the human beings have been regain to cause folio spot on lily of the Nile plants . While these are not typically fatal , they can cause unsightly discoloration on the foliage .
One of the more plebeian fungal infections is red leaf blotch disease , get byStagonospora curtisii(Phoma narcissi ) . This fungus is principally known as a pathogen ofHippeastrumamaryllis plants grown in gardens , but it can also infect agapanthus .
It causes bar of red or reddish - brown splodge on the leaves .
This fungus is not usually calamitous and can easily be treated with the fungicide thiophanate - methyl .
Bonide Infuse ™ Systemic Disease Control
you’re able to buy thiophanate - methyl group as Bonide Infuse ™ Systemic Disease Controlfrom Home Depot .
This antifungal is take in by the roots , protecting the plant systemically . Apply allot to package program line when you first see signs of the disease .
Repeat every 14 days as needed .
Other species of fungi that have been found to make folio spots on agapanthus plants throughout the world include :
Most of these will resolve on their own without any indigence for treatment , but you may choose to apply a antifungal such as chlorothalonil ( see our recommendation above ) .
4. Powdery Mildew
As with many other plants , agapanthus that is grown in suspect spots may contract powdery mildew , known for the white , powdery coat it causes on the leave .
due to century of different species of fungi , powdery mold can be a annihilative disease on some plant life , but thankfully it is not a common job on agapanthus .
fortuitously , there are anumber of place remediesyou can use to care for this disorder .
5. Root Rot
A act of unlike fungi and water molds ( Oomycetes ) can cause root rot .
Fortunately , you could usually displace this upset by insure that your plants have unspoiled drainage and are not overwatered . Saturated , waterlogged soil deprives the roots of oxygen , and in their weakened state , they are vulnerable to attack .
plant affected by solution putrefaction may display stunted outgrowth or wilting foliage , but in many case they wo n’t salute any symptom until it ’s too late to save up them .
You may not fuck your agapanthus is infected until it crock up and dies . Dead plant should be uprooted and discard .
Agapanthus Is Usually the Aggressor
Unlike many plants that have to be pamper , agapanthus is typically disease - repellent and even produce antifungal compounds that are presently the subject field of inquiry .
to boot , it mature so well in some position that it is sometimes considered a weed !
you could keep off most diseases by planting in full Lord’s Day , offer good drainage , and water at the nucleotide of the plant alternatively of on the leave of absence .
However , if you experience in a humid area , you may have to plant change that are resistant to gray mold .
And for more data aboutgrowing agapanthusin your garden , determine out these templet next :
© require the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . production photos via Arbico Organics , Home Depot , and Tractor Supply . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra committal to writing and editing by Clare Groom .
About
Helga George , PhD
