White bloom on indoor violets: causes and treatment

Saintpaulia, or Usambara violet, is one of the most common indoor plants. It is worth noting that this genus does not belong to violets, and the name stuck because of the external similarity of the flowers. Saintpaulia is able to surprise with a wide range of colors, as well as abundant beautiful flowering. However, to obtain healthy and flowering plants, proper care is important, which is sometimes not followed due to the negligence of the owners. One of the consequences is the formation of white bloom on flowers.

The reasons for the formation of a white coating can be divided into two groups.

1. Shortcomings in the care of the violet.
2. Fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. In this case, a fungal disease will be considered, since it is most typical for Saintpaulia.

There can be several problems in daily care.

If the soil is excessively heavy, then it does not pass and absorb liquid well enough. What has not been absorbed evaporates over time from the surface of the soil, leaving it in the upper layer of salt. Also, the cause of stagnation can be inoperative drainage system, so excess water cannot come out and collect in the pan.

Solution: completely change the soil, it is better to purchase it specifically for violets in a flower shop.

Ordinary tap water is rich in heavy metals, various compounds and salts. These substances gradually accumulate on the surface and form a white coating.

Solution: it is better to choose filtered water for irrigation or let the tap water settle. If possible, you can use rain or melt water.

Fertilizers are an irreplaceable means for additional saturation of the soil with valuable microelements. Top dressing is especially important during the period of plant growth and flowering. However, in the autumn-winter period, when all vital processes slow down in the violet, ordinary additives can cause oversaturation of the soil.

A too dry environment leads to accelerated evaporation of water and the formation of deposits. Excessive watering and waterlogging of the air lead to the same result.

Solution: it is important to adjust the temperature in the house to 21 - 23 degrees Celsius, and keep the humidity at 50%.

If the violet leaves have become as if sprinkled with flour, then the cause of the white bloom is fungal spores of powdery mildew (ash). They are capable of being and spreading in rooms, in liquids, and transmitted through hands, if they have had contact with an infected plant before. Small ulcers appear on the leaves of Saintpaulia, a mealy plaque develops, which begins to transfer to neighboring flowers. An infected violet loses its leaves, and inaction can lead to the death of the plant, since the entire root system is ultimately affected.

A diseased flower can be identified from the first days, when the mycelium of powdery mildew begins to grow... Gray balls are formed on the leaves, similar to lumps of dirt, they must be removed immediately, avoiding deformation of the sheet plates. When the disease has gained strength and the leaves are covered with brown spots, the deformation becomes irreversible, the reverse side is also covered with a gray film. The process of photosynthesis is disrupted and the leaves die off, flowering and growth of young shoots stop.

This is exactly how true powdery mildew behaves, but there is also a false one, which proceeds differently. Instead of a film, spots with a reddish-brown and light green tint appear on the violet.

If all natural factors are in order (light, substrate, humidity, temperature), and there are signs of the disease, it is important to start fighting the fungus as soon as possible. A sick violet must be isolated from healthy plants.

There are folk recipes for processing violets.

1. Ordinary iodine, which is always in the home medicine cabinet, will help. We prepare a solution, we take 3 milliliters of iodine per liter of water. Spray the plant with the resulting medicine.
2. To remove powdery mildew from the leaves, you need to do additional processing. For a liter of water, you need to take 1 milliliter of liquid soap and a level teaspoon of baking soda. With this tool, treat the surface of the affected leaves.
3. A solution of milk whey in a ratio of 1 to 10 has proven itself positively.

You can use preparations of the fungicide group:

• Bayleton;
• "Topaz", which, unlike all the substances presented, is safe for the health of people and pets;
• Fundazol.

Before processing the flowers you need to prepare:

• remove all affected leaves, flowers;
• let the substrate dry out, temporarily reducing watering;
• put a pot with a violet in a more lighted place;
• adjust the temperature regime (air temperature is not lower than 18 degrees);
• remove the top layer of the substrate, replacing it with a new one.

But better completely transplant the plantas the old earth may contain spores.

The disease is always easier to prevent, so when growing saintpaulia some recommendations should be taken into account:

• observe all conditions for the normal development and growth of the flower;
• make sure that the water does not stagnate after watering;
• from time to time to process pots with flowers and places where they stand with "Topaz";
• saturate the soil with phosphorus and potassium;
• keep new flowers separate from other plants at first to make sure they are not contaminated.

You can read about problems with violets and how to get rid of them below.