How to Treat Homemade Lemon Diseases

It would seem, what diseases do indoor lemon have? The plant is grown in favorable conditions, and not in the open field, where it is many times more likely to pick up an invasion. But no, growing lemon at home is also not easy. Aphids, spider mites, gommosis, root rot - this is not the whole list of problems that can be encountered if the rules for caring for the plant are not followed.

Causes of the appearance of diseases in homemade lemon

When growing subtropical plants in an apartment, it is important to observe their biological characteristics, otherwise the plant begins to hurt.

Diseases of lemon leaves at home can be provoked not only by the activity of pathological organisms and pests, but also by the banal dry air in the room, non-compliance with agricultural technology. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, it is worth checking the microclimate in the apartment. Perhaps it is solely in him and it is possible to prevent the wilting of the lemon without the help of medicines.

For reference. Lemons love warmth and moisture. With proper care, the plant will bear fruit every year, bearing 10-30 fruits per season.

Diseases of homemade lemon more often arise due to the activity of pests of viral and fungal infections, less often due to errors in care and improper maintenance. In any of the cases, the plant will signal its discomfort with the following signs:

• yellowing of the leaves;
• the appearance of dots and spots;
• dropping or curling the leaves.

Signs may differ depending on the type of disease.

Some care errors provoke the development of diseases. For example, mycosis occurs with excessive watering, and non-observance of the rules of agricultural technology does not exclude the spread of infection from other plants.

Also, lemonaria disease can be provoked:

• incorrectly selected substrate;
• lack / excess of fertilizing with fertilizer mixtures;
• improper soil drainage system.

What diseases do indoor lemon have and their treatment

The causes and treatment of lemon diseases are different: if a fungal infection can be cured with special drugs, then a viral disease does not lend itself to drugs and other treatment options. The only way to resist such diseases is through competent prevention.

Root rot

An insidious disease of a fungal nature with hidden symptoms. Affects the root system. The first signs can be seen with massive leaf fall:

• shedding of ovaries;
• wilting of leaves and branches;
• oppressed view of the tree.

It is necessary to carefully examine all the roots of the plant, remove rotten and dead areas with a knife. Remove the remnants of old soil from the root system as much as possible, treat the cuts with charcoal or activated carbon. For additional disinfection, you can treat the roots of the plant with weak manganese solutions or treat a new substrate. Also among the mandatory recommendations is pasteurization of new soil in an oven or over a steam bath.

Important. When transplanting lemonaria, you should avoid deepening the root collar into the ground.

To exclude the return of mycosis, the transplanted plant is watered as needed, preventing stagnation of water in the substrate.

Gommoz

Another name is gum therapy.Drops of gum (a viscous substance that solidifies in air) form on the surface of the trunk. Distinctive symptoms of the disease:

• the appearance of red-brown spots on the trunk and branches;
• necrosis and cracking of the bark under the affected areas.

The emergence of gommosis is a kind of plant reaction to damage, activity of pests or diseases. Gum flow can also occur with hypothermia, strong deepening of the trunk, potassium deficiency, excess nitrogen in the soil.

Completely deformed branches are removed. From the bark of the trunk, the affected areas are cut off. The cut sites are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate and covered with garden varnish. Repeat until the spots disappear completely.

For reference. Among gardeners, about ten options for making a garden varnish are practiced. If you do not want to bother, the tool can be found on sale.

Next, you need to identify the root cause of the disease. With a lack of fertilizers, the crop is regularly fed with potassium and phosphorus. If the rules of agricultural technology have been violated, the plant must be transplanted into a new substrate and a good drainage system must be provided. In case of pest infestation, carry out symptomatic treatment with drugs.

Sooty fungus

It occurs against the background of the activity of pests, as an independent disease, it is rather rare and that is due to high humidity and insufficient ventilation in the room. Belongs to the category of molds, another name is black (because of the characteristic black plaque on the leaves, comparable to stove soot). Among the distributors, aphids, scale insects and mealybugs are distinguished. These pests secrete a sticky substance that is favorable for the development of the mob.

The result of the activity of the fungus is the disruption of the process of photosynthesis, which leads to the death of leaves and a deterioration in plant immunity.

An important stage of treatment is the elimination of the root cause. Recommended insecticides: Aktara, Aktellik. Treat the plant with drugs every 4-5 days. At least 3-4 times. Fungicides do not need to be used; after the pests are eliminated, the fungus will disappear.

Symptomatic treatment includes:

• processing the leaves with a solution of potassium soap, the frequency of the procedure is once every 2-3 days;
• removal and destruction of yellowed and wilted leaves.

How to treat powdery mildew

Also applies to fungal diseases. Of the characteristic features is the appearance of a powdery white coating on small areas of the leaf plate. When the current is running, it spreads to the stems and peduncles. Affected foliage turns yellow and withers, new shoots are deformed.

Among the provoking factors are the lack of pruning, a high percentage of moisture in the air and soil, and an excess of nitrogen fertilizers.

First, the provoking factors are eliminated:

1. Thinning the thickened crown.
2. Watering is normalized.

Choose a well-lit and ventilated place for the plant. Start treating with fungicides 3-4 times every 6-7 days. The most effective representatives for the fight against powdery mildew: "Topaz", "Previkur", "Fundazol".

At the time of treatment, it is worth giving up any mineral fertilizers.

Scab and wart

They belong to the group of fungal diseases. With wart, small bumps form on the lemon leaves, which over time transform into gray warts. Warty formations can completely cover the leaf plates and fruits of the plant.

Among the signs of scab is the formation of rounded spots and growths on fruits, leaves and branches. As the disease progresses, the growths turn brown, and the spots on the fruits grow and turn red.

Important. High humidity contributes to the spread of diseases.

Scab and wartiness provoke the shedding of the ovary, which postpones the fruiting of the plant indefinitely. Without treatment, the lemonarian dies.

To prevent dissemination of the fungus, all diseased areas of the lemon are excised and burned. Mandatory treatment with fungicidal agents. The greatest efficiency is shown by a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. To completely eliminate the fungus, you need to process the plant 3-5 times with an interval of 5 days.

Viral diseases

Viral diseases of the lemon tree are considered the most dangerous. It is mainly transmitted from a diseased plant to a healthy one. There is no effective virus control measure.

Tristeza

The tristesis virus spreads through the phloem, one of the components of the vascular system of the plant, leading to disruption or complete cessation of the transfer of photosynthetic products from leaves to parts of the plant.

It is transmitted by insect vectors and by means of infected grafts during vaccination. The main and most dangerous vector of the virus is the citrus brown aphid. The favorable temperature for the development of the disease is + 20 ... + 25 ° C.

Scientists have identified a number of strains of the virus, which are characterized by different symptoms, both individually and in different combinations:

• retardation of the plant in growth;
• yellowing of growing shoots, leaf discharge;
• the appearance of light veins on the sheet plates;
• shrinking fruits;
• ulceration of the wood of the tree (the appearance of convex grooves or "honeycombs");
• the contour of the cut of the trunks and branches of diseased trees acquires an uneven shape.

The diseased plant is destroyed.

Mosaic

The appearance of rounded, concentric or annular chlorotic spots and streaks of white or light yellow color on lemonaria leaves is a typical pattern for viral mosaics. The disease spreads through tools, soil and pests... It cannot be treated, but with proper agricultural technology and good conditions, the infected plant can live for several more years.

With insufficient care, the virus depletes the lemon, bringing it to complete death. To avoid contamination of other plants, the diseased tree is destroyed along with the soil.

Cancer

The disease is determined by small dark brown spots, visually resembling a tumor. Each such formation is surrounded by a yellow halo, inside there is a small depression. First, spots appear on the leaves and shoots, as the virus spreads, the formed ovary is affected. Despite the fact that cancer affects only the skin of the fruit, they fall off before they have fully matured.

The disease develops slowly, but leads to the death of the plant: the shoots twist and disfigure, leaves fall and the ovaries, branches and trunk of the plant are covered with cracks and growths. A diseased lemon must be destroyed.

Important. A large amount of nitrogen fertilizers can accelerate the development of the disease.

Parasites on homemade lemon

These are insects that are quite dangerous for the plant. In addition to the fact that parasites feed on plant juices, worsen its general condition, they are also carriers of many diseases. It is difficult to deal with them. Folk methods are not effective, the help of insecticides is required.

Aphid

A small green insect that prefers juice from young shoots and leaves. The peak of pest activity occurs in the spring. The first signs of aphid invasion are deformation and twisting of leaf plates. If you carefully examine the underside of the leaf, you can see small insects. As the colony grows, the rest of the lemonaria is also affected.

Aphids not only damage the plant, but also release a sticky substance that interferes with the gas exchange of the plant and provokes the development of fungal diseases.

Mechanical destruction of parasites is permissible at the initial stage of infection (soap solution can be used). The affected areas are cut off.

When insects reproduce in large quantities, insecticide treatment is required (Fitoverm, Aktara). The number of treatments is 3-4 times, the frequency is every 5-7 days.

Shields

These insects have protective shields on their bodies, so they look like plaques on a plant. In the shortest possible time, the larvae settle throughout the tree and drink its juice. The leaves are completely covered with shields, red or yellow spots appear on the damaged areas. The plant dries up, its immunity decreases, and as a result, its resistance to various types of infection.

It is recommended to alternate insecticides during treatment. Infected areas of lemon are cut off, the cut sites are treated with garden varnish. The remaining leaves are moistened with soapy water.

Spider mite

The mite also feeds on the cell fluid of the plant, lives on the lower part of the leaf plate. Looks like little spiders of light yellow or brown color... Their characteristic features: the appearance of cobwebs around the folding foliage. The provoking factors are insufficient air humidity.

To destroy pests, use a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid. 4-5 treatments are enough. Folk remedies help well against spider mites. You can use an infusion of garlic, onion, or dandelion. If the tried methods are not effective, it is worth using chemical agents ("Actellic", "Anti-tick", "Apollo").

For reference. When working with chemicals, protective clothing, gloves, and a respirator are required. The solution is prepared outdoors, and after processing the room is ventilated for 30-60 minutes.

Mealybug

The appearance of the pest is given by the general lethargy of the plant, white mealy blotches on the soil, small white insects. In places of their accumulation, it seems that dirty cotton wool has adhered to the leaves. Insects secrete honeydew - favorable conditions for the development of a sooty fungus.

Due to the fact that there are adults, larvae, and eggs on the plant, processing should be cyclical. Efficiency in the fight against parasites is shown by Fitoverm, Aktara, Tanrek, Calypso.

Nematode

It is a small worm of transparent or white color. Like other pests, it prefers to feed on plant sap, but settles in the roots, which makes it difficult to identify them in a timely manner. If you suspect a citrus nematode, examine the lemon's root system. Small swellings or growths that turn into necrosis indicate the correctness of the assumptions.

Temperatures above 40 ° C are detrimental to pests, so one of the methods of treatment is heat treatment of the roots. The tree is carefully removed from the soil, the roots are washed under running water and "bathed" in hot water. Then the lemon is transplanted into a fresh substrate and a small dose of contact poison is added.

Prevention and proper care of the lemon tree

For indoor citrus culture, proper care is required, only in this case the plant will delight you with the harvest. Lemons love intense lighting, regular feeding and proper irrigation. When the fundamentals of agricultural technology are violated, the plant weakens, becomes vulnerable to external attacks. Compliance with the conditions of care minimizes the possibility of invasion.

To maintain health, flushing insects, the plant must be washed abundantly in the shower. The soil is preliminarily covered with a film, branches and leaves are thoroughly moistened with water. The procedure is repeated no more than once a month.

Also, in the process of growing citrus fruits, it is important to observe preventive measures:

1. Inspect regularly for pests and signs of disease.
2. Treat the crown with soapy water or copper oxychloride solution for periodic disinfection.
3. Repot the plant every 2-3 years.
4. In winter, provide additional illumination for at least 5 hours.
5. Feed with complex fertilizers to improve plant immunity.

It is important to choose the right substrate for the lemon tree, since it grows for several years in the same soil.

Conclusion

Be patient if you want to grow a healthy houseplant. The care, though painstaking, gives excellent results.If all of the above conditions are met, the lemon will grow, bloom and bear fruit throughout the year.