Aphid, mealybug, scale insects – main Kalanchoe pests. The insects feed on succulent leaves by piercing their tentacles and drawing out cell sap like a hypodermic needle. Let's consider why a plant may not bloom or produce foliage, but turn yellow and darken.
Late blight rot
Poor soil breathability, associated with waterlogging, leads to rotting of the roots. Soil pathogens such as late blight exacerbate the problem.
Late blight is dangerous for many plants, appearing the same everywhere Symptoms of late blight fungal infection:
- growth slowdown;
- soft stem near base;
- brown spots in the branching area;
Mature leaves wither (if most of the plant has withered, then most likely the rot has completely affected the roots and it is extremely difficult to preserve it).
- As the disease progresses, a moldy smell appears.
What to do: prevents the development of late blight rot by replanting Kalanchoe in a permeable, sterile environment. This is a soil containing peat moss and perlite. ( 60:40 or 50:50).
If using an old pot, disinfect it in a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach - 9 parts water). Phytophthora does not survive in dry tissue, but forms dormant spores that survive for long periods without a host plant.
When soil moisture and temperature conditions favored, its development intensifies and can reach an invasive level.
Should not be left in the tray standing water, which flows through drainage holes. The roots are able to reabsorb it. Treating the soil with a fungicide (thiophanate methyl) helps control the fungus.
Methyl thiophanate can help with soil contamination with fungus However, chemicals are effective only if the damage to the root system is not too extensive.
Biostimulating products are used for prevention. The addition of salicylic acid causes upregulation of genes important for the production of jasmonic acid.
Thanks to this method, the flower less susceptible to infection late blight. Significant suppression of symptoms is observed when treated with salicylic acid and silicon or chitosan.
We have already described negative impact diseases on specific varieties of Kalanchoe. For example, .
Gray rot
Causative agent of gray mold– pathogenic (necrotrophic) fungus Botrytis gray. The main factors for its appearance are high level humidity and cold temperature environment.
Symptoms:
- wet whitish spots form on the leaves;
- over time, the spots change in color: grayish growth, which contains spores (reproductive cells) of the fungus;
- the fabric becomes soft.
Once the disease is detected, it is urgently necessary change conditions of detention Kalanchoe. Remove infected areas. Clean the plant with systemic fungicides. Take care of good lighting. You may need to change the soil.
When pruning and replanting, handle with extreme care: germinating spores rarely affect green, healthy tissue, but are able to penetrate through wounds.
Fungal disease that affects wide range plants, including Kalanchoe. It is easily recognizable because the symptoms are very peculiar:
- small chlorotic spots on leaves;
- as it grows, the fungal mycelium covers increasingly larger parts of the plant, appearing as a dusty white or grayish-silver web;
- black or brown spots(fungus fruiting body) on the mycelial surface;
- growth slows down due to impaired photosynthesis, buds do not ripen;
- curling and falling off of the integument (an atypical brownish symptom resembling scab may occur).
Powdery mildew is a fungus that attacks any plants: indoors and outdoors. Conditions favorable to the development of the disease:
Treat with fungicides (benomyl, fenarimol), sulfur-based, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate. The selected product is applied both to the stem and to the axils of the leaves.
An alternative to fungicides is a composition of baking soda, dissolved in water (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water), with which the plant is thoroughly sprayed.
A product that has proven its effectiveness and is even comparable to some fungicides - milk diluted in water(1 part milk to 10 parts water). It is good to use at the first sign of infection or as a preventative measure.
The mechanism of action is ferroglobulin. This whey protein when exposed sunlight produces oxygen radicals, upon contact with which the fungus dies.
Pests: what to do
Aphids: how to stop blooming and dropping flowers
On initial stage infection, any signs of aphids are difficult to detect. The insects are so tiny and located on the back of the leaf that go unnoticed.
The danger of aphids is that they quickly move to neighboring plants. The colony is discovered during reproduction. It has been noticed that aphids quickly reproduce on full-fledged Kalanchoe flowers.
The pest drinks the cell sap and constantly contaminates it with poisonous injections.
Symptoms:
- the plant is polluted and deformed;
- leaves turn yellow;
- the buds don't bloom, drops real flowers;
- the affected parts and the stem are covered with sticky matter.
The scary thing is that aphids are carriers of more than 100 types of viruses. The insect needs to consume huge amount juice because the sugar concentration is too high relative to the amino acid concentration.
The pest deposits sugar in the form of a sticky secretion on the leaves and stems of plants, which attracts ants and serves as a nutrient solution for fungi. This “nectar” clogs the respiratory pores (stomata), interfering with the plant's ability produce its own nutrients.
Aphids can enter the house with recently brought flowers and even bouquets. This is why new flowers need to be placed in a quarantine area, in other words, in another room.
To get rid of aphids, Kalanchoe is treated with an appropriate insecticide. Treatment is repeated once a week for a month.
Recommended green soap solution(20 g of soap per 1 liter), which is used to wash the plant, having previously covered the soil with polyethylene. Alternatively, use a solution with laundry soap: It also harms aphids, but to a lesser extent.
But the first thing to do is:
Aphids are attracted to Vaseline, which can be rubbed at the base and thus control the population.
Shchitovka
Tiny bugs that resemble brown or orange discs or blobs can be found on the underside of the leaves near the veins, on the stem, at the junction of the leaf and the stem.
Kalanchoe affected by scale insects weakens, the cover turns yellow and falls off. Scale insects can reproduce all year round, and produce large number sugar secretion, feeding on the sap of the plant.
The scale insect has only one advantage - it is easy to notice This "nectar" attracts sooty mold growing on leaves. In general, the process is not that fast, often taking many weeks before you notice that the plant has become a target for the pest.
How to save: Products containing the following chemical ingredients are effective for control:
- pyrethrum;
- natural fatty acids;
- rapeseed oil.
For prevention Check regularly for signs of scale infestation. The soil should be free of weeds, which often contain pests. Ants running up and down and “milking” the sticky secretion is an important signal.
Mealybug
Tiny, oval shaped, with a powdery waxy coating mealybugs look like cotton specks, which are often mistaken for mold. They move slowly, but when they find it for themselves suitable place, then become motionless and form clusters.
Most often found on new shoots, along veins and at the junction with the stem. They suck out the sap, which leads to stunted growth, deformation, yellowing and falling leaves.
When attached to a plant, they secrete a sticky substance that they use for protection, while absorb plant juice.
Mealybugs are as easily identified as scale insects The damage caused by mealybugs is not immediately apparent, but it is destructive over time. As with any pests indoor plants, treatment must begin immediately as soon as a problem is discovered.
Not recommended use synthetic pesticides, since mealybugs are resistant to most chemicals. In addition, it develops resistance to pesticides that are used on a regular basis.
It is best to use safe methods:
- Using a cotton swab well soaked in alcohol, remove insects from the flower.
- Spray on the leaves of an infected flower organic insecticidal soap or a solution of soapy water (at the rate of 1 teaspoon of baby liquid soap per 1 liter of water).
- If the plant is young, it is easier to wash it under running water or in the shower with soap solution.
Ants can be a problem! They transfer insects to houseplants to feed on the remains of the paniflora produced by the mealybug.
In this case, you will also need a product to get rid of ants. This is very important because ants protect these pests and move their waste from one plant to another.
Diagnosis of symptoms: questions and answers
Doesn't bloom, only produces foliage
The reason is that Kalanchoe does not bloom, despite the fact that the leaves are succulent and healthy, maybe in excess of fertilizers. Kalanchoe is a short-day plant and blooms depending on how long it is in the dark.
If it is exposed to sunlight every day for more than 12 hours, it may not bloom.
Why do the leaves curl?
Kalanchoe is sensitive to thrips, cyclamen mites and leaf rollers, which cause curling. If this is the problem, then treatment with an insecticide or miticide will be needed.
Additional ultraviolet radiation can be stressful and cause morphological and biochemical changes: leaf curling and brown spots.
The fact is that Kalanchoe is rich in flavonoids, which are considered protective against UV.
Ultraviolet radiation negatively affects the health of the flower, causing painful symptoms. Appearance of black spots
Most likely, it is caused by a fungal disease. This means that Kalanchoe is suffering from low temperature and excess humidity.
In addition to being unsightly, black spots can cause damage at the cellular level, resulting in leaf drop (defoliation).
The appearance of black spots may be a sign of a secondary complication, for example, after a mealybug infestation.
Brown spots on leaves
Formed as a result of dropsy (edema) or fungal infection. The best way keep the leaves healthy, avoid wetting them. Although succulent leaves are thick, fleshy, and filled with sap, it is does not mean that Kalanchoe needs to be watered more often than other plants.
On the contrary, the soil should dry out between waterings. Kalanchoe is sensitive to excess fertilizer and usually needs rare and diluted supplements (light fertilizer once a year).
If there is an excess of salts contained in the fertilizer, they accumulate in the soil and can burn the roots. And as the salt solution moves upward, it affects the leaves, causing formation of brown spots.
curled leaves Dark spots on the cover White coating Opal foliage Yellowed foliage Fading flower
White coating on leaves
Powdery mildew prefers the same type of habitat as Kalanchoe: warm, relatively dry areas. It may seem harmless at first and the plant may even thrive for some time.
The infection spreads, causing significant damage (leaves lose color, turn pale green, then yellow and become deformed).
Leaves fall: causes and care
The reason is most likely in the weakness of the plant. In the cold season this happens due to the proximity to central heating. Most likely, the plant is on the windowsill near the radiator, and the air around it is too dry.
It is better to move your pet to a room with a lower temperature according to the following recommendations:
Leaves turn yellow and dry out
All flower growers dream that Kalanchoe will always please the eye with green leaves. But it happens that the stem stretches, lower leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. These problems indicate improper lighting.
Direct sunlight can be harmful to indoor plants Kalanchoe prefers bright indirect light for summer period, respectively eastern or western exposure. During winter, the plant needs more light, so it is better to move it to a southern exposure.
The flower withers
Sometimes this problem occurs after flowering, when the plant begins to deplete. To stop: urgently needs replanting or feeding with fertilizers.
When caring for Kalanchoe, it is important cut off old shoots in time. Then it will make you happy beautiful shape And abundant flowering for a long time.
How to help Kalanchoe bloom
As the days get shorter and the Kalanchoe experiences long periods darkness, more and more flowers appear on the plant. But flowering can be induced by simulating darkness for six weeks.
Try imitating dark conditions to make Kalanchoe bloom Between October and early March, the days are short and the buds appear naturally. At other times, the plant is placed in the dark and left for 14 hours every day and in daylight for 10 hours.
Home watering is reduced by half. Optimum temperatures for flower formation are 7 degrees at night and 16 degrees during the day. Kalanchoe will bloom in 5-7 weeks.
After which they resume regular care. Withered flowers are removed, stimulating the appearance of new ones.
Kalanchoe prefers warm temperatures – between 15 – 25 degrees. At low temperatures (less than 4 degrees), the plant may die within a few hours.
The best way to prevent Kalanchoe diseases– comply with simple conditions.
Keep plant leaves dry and provide well-drained and aerated soil. To get a blooming specimen, you need to remove the flower into the house in a timely manner.
Although Kalanchoe is considered healing plant, its flowering looks very beautiful In summer it can be taken outside in a slightly shaded place, and return indoors before the first frost or 3 months before the desired flowering time. Although it must be remembered that outdoors The plant attracts ticks, scale insects and aphids.
Kalanchoe, like most indoor plants, came to us from the tropics. natural environment habitat of these plants tropical forests Asia, America and Australia. In nature, there are more than two hundred species of Kalanchoe, among them you can find both herbaceous shrubs and succulents.
You can distinguish the species from each other, first of all, by the leaves; each species has its own leaf shape, they can be either thin or thick, strongly or weakly dissected, with or without a petiole.
The species can also be distinguished by the type and color of the flowers, the colors of which can be very diverse; there are species that bloom very rarely, and there are those that bloom profusely.
Kalanchoe Benta is a rather powerful plant; it belongs to the subshrub species. IN room conditions adult species can grow up to one meter in height. The leaves of the plant are thick and elongated, large, like the plant itself, and can reach a length of up to fifty centimeters. It blooms with an umbrella inflorescence, the flowers are white, the flowering time occurs in the middle or end of spring. This species prefers cool conditions; when growing it, you will have to take care of the temperature not exceeding 20⁰C.
Kalanchoe Blossfeld
Kalanchoe Blossfeld
Kalanchoe Blossfeld is a very common species, and all thanks to its small stature and compact appearance. Plants very rarely grow to a height of more than 30cm.
The leaves are ovate, lush green in color and small size, up to 7cm long and up to 4cm wide, along the edge the leaf is coming bright red border. The flowers are collected in umbrella inflorescences, bright red in color, and bloom for quite a long time.
Kalanchoe Kalandiva
Typically, the flowering period for this species lasts from late winter to early autumn. IN lately this species is represented by hybrid forms with orange, yellow, white and pink flowers.
Kalanchoe Kalandiva — hybrid form Kalanchoe Blossfeld. These are compact plants that differ from other species in their more abundant flowering.
Kalanchoe tomentosa
Kalanchoe tomentosa
This species received this name due to its pubescent shoots. Kalanchoe tomentosa is a subshrub with erect shoots. The leaves have no petioles and are attached directly to the trunk or shoots, have an elongated ovoid shape, the color of the leaves is green, the edge is not cut. The flowers are small, the inflorescences are collected in an umbrella.
Kalanchoe Degremona
Kalanchoe Degremona
This species is classified as herbaceous perennial plants, adult plants reach half a meter in height. The leaves are gray-green in color, the edges are uneven, the surface of the leaf is not pubescent.
The leaves themselves have an elliptical shape; the leaf length can reach 10 cm.
Leaves may have spots on their surface purple. It blooms in paniculate inflorescences, the color of the flowers is pink. This type of Kalanchoe has excellent medicinal properties, popularly called indoor ginseng.
Kalanchoe grandiflora
Kalanchoe grandiflora
Kalanchoe large-flowered or marbled, belongs to the semi-shrub species and can reach a height of about 50cm. The leaves are green, when constantly exposed to bright color acquire a reddish tint, may be covered with spots, and are attached to the trunk and branches with short petioles.
The shape of the leaves is rounded ovoid, with large, pronounced teeth. It blooms with umbrella inflorescences, the flowers are light yellow and have a pleasant aroma.
Kalanchoe pinnate
Kalanchoe pinnate
Kalanchoe pinnate is classified as herbaceous perennials, the plants are quite tall, reaching a height of about a meter when mature.
The leaves on one plant can be either ovoid or pinnate, green in color. It blooms in paniculate inflorescences, the flowers are red-green in color. This species has medicinal properties and is often called domestic Kalanchoe.
Kalanchoe propagation at home
Reproduction of Kalanchoe is not difficult even for inexperienced gardeners. These plants can be propagated by stem and leaf cuttings, pups and seeds.
Seminal Kalanchoe propagation used quite rarely.
Reproduction of viviparous species
Babies on the edge of the leaf are ready to plant
The most in a simple way reproduction is considered to be reproduction by children; this is possible only in viviparous species. In some species of Kalanchoe, brood buds or, as they are popularly called, babies, form directly on the leaves. To reproduce in this way, you just need to wait until the children grow up and fall off the leaf themselves. Typically, when the baby is separated from the mother plant, it has a small rosette of leaves and roots, and young plant immediately ready for planting in the ground.
Leafy and stem cuttings planted in one pot
Kalanchoe propagation by cuttings and leaves
This method of reproduction also cannot be called complicated.
For cuttings, you can take both young shoots of Kalanchoe and adult leaves of this plant. The length of the cutting should not exceed 15cm, and the leaf should be mature and show no signs of disease or damage.
Cuttings or leaves are cut from the mother plant with a sharp knife. If you use a cutting, the lower leaves should be removed.
After cutting, the cuttings are left to wither in the air for 2-3 hours, and only after that they are planted in the prepared substrate.
Plants obtained by cuttings
The substrate for planting cuttings, both regular and leafy, can be prepared independently. To do this, just take peat and sand in equal quantities and mix well.
For stem cuttings, the planting depth should not exceed 5 cm, and leaf cuttings immerse approximately half into the substrate.
It is allowed to plant several cuttings in one pot.
After the cutting is planted, you should thoroughly crush the substrate around it and water it.
Kalanchoe cuttings do not need to create a greenhouse, the main thing is that the soil does not dry out and there is no stagnation of water. It should also be observed temperature regime within the range from 20 to 25⁰С.
The cuttings also do not need spraying. Rooting usually occurs in two to three weeks.
Result of water stagnation
Pests and diseases, treatment of Kalanchoe
The plant is so unpretentious to growing conditions and resistant to diseases and pests that it can only get sick from the negligence or inattention of its owner.
Main problems of insufficient care
Root rotting
This problem occurs when there is prolonged overflow or stagnation of water in the pot. If you notice this problem in time, there is a chance to save the plant from death by cuttings.
The plant dies from excess moisture
Rot and mold on leaves
The appearance of rot or mold on leaves can be caused by excess air humidity at low temperatures. For a quick recovery, external negative factors should be eliminated, otherwise scale insects, mealybugs or spider mites may settle on the weakened plant.
If only the lower leaves rot, this may be a sign fungal disease, again due to excessive air humidity. Treat the plant with a systemic fungicide, reduce air humidity, and ventilate the room more often.
Fungal disease on leaves
Problems with leaves
If your plant's leaves are starting to wilt, it's most likely to blame. low temperature or excess moisture in the soil. Watering should be reduced and the air temperature increased.
If a few of the lower mature leaves on your Kalanchoe have begun to wrinkle and dry out, there is no need to worry, it is most likely natural process aging, and such leaves should simply be removed.
Growing problems
If the Kalanchoe stretches too high and drops its lower leaves, it means that the plant does not have enough light, you should increase the illumination of the flower, just move it to a brighter place.
The plant grows very slowly and looks depressed and weak, most likely it lacks nutrients. For good development Kalanchoe set the feeding mode.
Result of insufficient lighting
How to make Kalanchoe bloom at home
Perhaps this problem is the most common when growing flowering species Kalanchoe, and very often the question is asked, why not Kalanchoe blooms?
Kalanchoe flowering does not bloom again due to lack of care. If the flowering period falls on autumn-winter period, and the pot with the plant is in conditions elevated temperature, then the Kalanchoe will not bloom. To eliminate this problem, move the pot to a cooler place, and the plant may still bloom this season.
Violation of the conditions of maintenance and care of the plant is the main cause of flower disease. Adverse conditions for the plant, they cause diseases, for example: spots, plaque, powdery mildew and many others.
Important! Also, due to non-compliance with these conditions, pests may appear, which harm the plant no less than any disease.
You can read more about why Kalanchoe does not bloom.
Diseases and control methods
- Powdery mildew– the leaves have characteristic white spots with a mushroom coating. Reason: excessively dry and warm air. Water the plant more often and move it to a cool place. For treatment, spray with fungicides. If you react in time, the plant's health will be restored. Remember that powdery mildew spreads very quickly to other plants. Therefore, act immediately.
- Leaf ring spot– the stem of the plant rots and circular spots appear on the leaves. In this case, the flower begins to die and it is impossible to save it.
- Gray rot – sticky leaves With gray coating, which later turn into mush. Replace the soil, water regularly, stick to proper ventilation. For treatment, use fungicides and good temperature conditions.
- Late blight or late blight rot– brown spots or brown coating on the plant. This occurs due to poor ventilation and excess water in the soil. You need to reduce watering, select the right fertilizers, carry out preventive procedures and treat the plant with fungicides.
Reference. The plant is also often subject to stem rot - the trunk or stem turns black. This happens because your plant is frozen. Optimal temperature for a plant in winter 15°C. It is important to calculate watering at this temperature.
Common Pests
- Aphid- the most dangerous enemy of Kalanchoe. Appears mainly in spring. If measures are not taken in time, it will spread to neighboring plants. Aphids are small green or black insects that appear on leaves or stems. She takes the sap of the plant and infects it with her poison. Damaged areas are covered with a sticky substance that prevents the plant from breathing.
At the initial stage, it is difficult to notice the infestation, since the insects are very small and settle on back side leaf. It can only be detected due to the unhealthy appearance of the plant. It becomes dirty and deformed. To get rid of aphids, you need to trim off the affected areas and burn them. Treat the remaining plant with an insecticide. Repeat once a week for a month. You can also use green potassium soap: dilute it in water and wash the plant with the solution. Can be replaced with laundry soap.
- Multi-clawed mites- small glassy mites. When it appears, the leaves and petioles become covered with scabs. brown, plant tissues harden and become distorted. Wash off the insects with soapy water and treat the plant with an insecticide.
- Scale insects and false scale insects- insects with a two-millimeter body covered with wax on top. They form a coating (in which sooty fungus is formed) and an accumulation of insects on the plant. The leaves turn yellow, fall off, growth slows down, and flowering stops. For treatment, immediately remove all insects and wash the plant with soapy water. Before removing insects, treat them with alcohol. You can use folk remedies (wipe the plant with a cotton swab and alcohol, use garlic or an old toothbrush).
- Mealybug - an insect that feeds on the sap of Kalanchoe. It propagates the fungus “black mold”. If measures are not taken, the plant will die. The appearance is determined by the appearance of white waxy discharge. For treatment, use mineral oil to spray the leaves.
And this is how leaf diseases and flower pests look in the photo.
Preventive measures
- Avoid drafts.
- Beware of sudden changes in temperature.
- Avoid excess moisture and warmth.
- Do not keep the plant in dry air.
Proper care
- Proper watering is to water in small doses, avoiding excess water. Water no more than once every three days and after the soil dries out slightly.
- Spraying is not recommended. The plant does not like high humidity.
- The plant needs to be replanted at least once every two years (about how to do replanting Kalanchoe, read in
Leaf ringspot virus. Light ring-shaped spots are visible on the leaves.
Control and prevention measures:
Growth is depressed. 
Abnormal growth, Kalanchoe virus. Young leaves are light, old leaves are coarse, convex, ugly.
Control and prevention measures:
Affected plants are isolated and destroyed. 
Greening of petals. Flower petals become smaller and greener.
Control and prevention measures:
Affected plants are isolated and destroyed. 
Multi-clawed mites. A brown scab forms on the leaves and petioles. The leaf tissue hardens and becomes distorted; leaves do not grow, the edges often bend down. The appearance of small (0.3 mm) glassy white mites is favored by heat and dampness.
Control and prevention measures:
Mother plants are constantly inspected for mites. For mild damage, you can treat the plants with soap or mineral oil. If severe, treat with Fitoverm, Akarin, Vertimek, Molniya, etc.
Powdery mildew. White appears on the upper and lower sides of the leaves. powdery plaque. The disease also affects flowers. The plant tissues under the coating are brown in color.
Control and prevention measures:
Choose varieties that are resistant to powdery mildew. For mild damage, you can try the biological fungicides Fitosporin-M, Alirin-B. In case of severe damage, treat with Topaz, Strobi, Thiovit Jet, Skor, Chistotsvet. 
Gray rot. The affected tissues become soft and watery. At high humidity a gray coating forms in the air.
Control and prevention measures:
Old leaves and other dying parts of plants are removed. During the winter months, reduce air humidity. Plants are kept dry, do not spray and do not allow dew to form. From chemicals drugs Fundazol, Skor, Chistotsvet. 
Ticks. Yellowish specks appear on the leaves, later - extensive discolored and dried areas. Deformation of young leaves and shoots may also occur. Small (0.2-0.5 mm) mites live on the underside of leaves among the cobwebs. Promotes the appearance of ticks high temperature and dry air.
Control and prevention measures:
For mild damage, you can treat the plants with soap or mineral oil. If severe, treat with Fitoverm, Akarin, Vertimek, Molniya, etc. 
Stem rot. Watery black spots of rot appear on the shoots and sometimes on the leaves. The shoots die off. On the affected areas, under a magnifying glass, small sporangia are visible, initially white, then turning black.
Control and prevention measures:
The sick plant is isolated. You can try Rovral or Saprol. If spraying does not help, then the affected plants are destroyed. Indoor air humidity is reduced and leaks are eliminated. 
Late blight. Individual parts of the plant wither and dry out. The rot spreads from the base of the stem to the leaves.
Control and prevention measures:
Sick plants are destroyed, the rest are kept as dry as possible. 
Aphids. The leaves curl, turn yellow, and when severely infested, sticky secretions of aphids are visible on them.
Control and prevention measures:
On single plants or in case of weak aphid infestation, wash off with water and soap solution; in case of severe damage, they are treated with Antitlin, Tobacco dust, Actellik, Fitoverm, Akarin, Aktara, Decis, Tanrek, Iskra, Zubr, Biotlin, Komandor, etc.
Scaleworms. White waxy secretions appear on the leaf veins and petioles, in which colonies of scale insects live.
Control and prevention measures:
Affected plants are removed. When spraying foliage with mineral oil (M-30, M-50), the scale insects suffocate under the oil film. This treatment is carried out with protection from the sun and not too often.
One of the most dangerous pests Kalanchoe can rightly be called aphid. She develops vigorous life activity in spring period. If you don’t start helping the crop, aphids can move to nearby indoor flowers. Even a beginner can visually determine the infestation of aphids - small insects painted black or green will be visible on the stems and leaves.
Aphids can carry more than 100 types of dangerous infections. It is best to burn the diseased parts and treat the surviving parts with an insecticidal agent. This procedure is performed once a week for a month. A folk remedy known to many gardeners is green potassium soap. It treats the plant if 20 grams of the product are diluted in 1 liter of water. The soil should be wrapped before the procedure plastic film, then rinse the flower with the solution. Alternatively, regular laundry soap will do.
False scale and scale insects
What other control measures will help? It is recommended to wash the plant with soapy water and treat it with an insecticide. From folk remedies Wiping the plant 3-4 times a week with a cotton swab soaked in vodka or diluted with alcohol is considered effective. An infusion of garlic will also help. To prepare it, grind about 5 cloves and pour 1 glass of water over them. You need to leave it for 2 hours in a dark place, then filter it and you can spray it. Scale insects are removed from the surface with an unnecessary toothbrush.
Video “Treatment of indoor plants. Kalanchoe"
Why does Kalanchoe lose leaves?
Problems with leaves in your loved one indoor flower may arise for a number of reasons. One of them is a lack of lighting, as a result of which the plant will begin to stretch upward. It can really help if you add some lighting or move the pot to a brighter place. Lack of light also leads to yellowing and drying of the lower leaves. Stagnant air in the room can also lead to leaf fall. This is where regular ventilation comes to the rescue. If the plants are exposed to direct sunlight or the pots are placed very close to each other, unpleasant spots may be found on the surface of the foliage.
You should arrange the containers and provide shade to the flowers. If your pet lacks nutrients, it may stop growing and begin to shed its leaves. This is relevant after the end of the flowering period, and is usually treated by fertilizing or replanting the crop in nutritious soil. An excess of nitrogen or peat in the soil will be signaled by the curling of the leaves. In this case, it is necessary to transplant the flower into another substrate. If your Kalanchoe has become all yellow, this indicates a large number sun rays that fell on him.
Other diseases
Among other ailments of Kalanchoe, late blight rot should be mentioned. This unpleasant fungus appears in the form of brown spots at the branching point of the shoots. As a result, culture lags behind in development. The causes of this disease are excessive watering, elevated temperatures, lack of regular ventilation, and a large amount of nitrogen in the soil. Late blight is treated with the use of fungicides. It is recommended to replace the soil with new soil and water the plant less often. An excellent preventive measure would be disinfecting the soil before planting a flower, using clean tools, and constantly inspecting the crop.
When affected by gray rot, Kalanchoe becomes covered with a gray coating and weeping spots. Then the flower rots. The disease spreads to other crops in the room - by air, by touching, by working with tools. The appearance of gray mold is often associated with insufficient ventilation, bad system lighting, excessively moist soil and air. The plant must be treated by treating it with a special fungicide.
If you find mealy on the surface of the leaves white coating, then you are dealing with powdery mildew. With such a disease, the foliage will inevitably fall further. The disease develops due to elevated temperature and dry air in the room. As in the case of gray rot, treatment with fungicidal preparations is considered effective. Ring leaf spot is also dangerous for your pet. When it appears, the culture stops normal growth. Then the leaves become discolored and become unnaturally shaped. This disease cannot be cured, so the affected areas are simply destroyed.
Stem rot is characterized by the appearance of watery black spots on the stems and foliage. It spreads quickly if there is excessive humidity in the room. You can treat the crop with insecticides. If this does not help, the diseased plant must be destroyed.