Lily diseases: names and symptoms, methods of treatment and prevention measures

The fragrant beauties of lilies that decorate the summer cottage, like all ornamental plants, need agrotechnical care and preventive measures. In their absence, crops are affected by diseases and insect pests. Each of the lily diseases has its own characteristic symptoms, allowing at an early stage of infection to determine the type of pathology and take timely measures to save the plants.

Lily diseases and their treatment

All diseases of lilies are divided into two categories:

1. Fungal. With timely detection, they respond well to treatment with folk remedies and chemicals. Flowers can be saved in most cases.
2. Viral. In this case, ornamental plants are destroyed, since it is impossible to get rid of such diseases. In addition, there is a risk of infection of other crops on the site.

With regular prevention and competent agrotechnical care, diseases rarely affect lilies.

Grey rot (Botrytis)

It is considered one of the most dangerous fungal infections, which not only spoils the decorative effect of lilies, but also, if not treated in time, leads to the death of the flower. At first, the plant changes its color to brown and looks like it has been burned by fire, later the foliage and buds fall off. Favorable conditions for the development of a fungal disease are cool weather with high humidity.

The causative agent of the disease lives in the soil or on plant debris and infects lilies only under favorable conditions. The first sign of the disease is yellowing of the lower leaves of the crop, then the stem and flowers are affected.

To treat lilies from gray rot, systemic fungicides such as Topsin-M and Fundazol are used, plant treatment is alternated with copper-containing preparations. Dilute chemicals according to the instructions on the package.

Recommended for prevention:

1. Plant flowers in sunny areas that are well ventilated.
2. Choose areas with fertile soil.
3. Do not thicken plantings.
4. Do not plant lilies in areas where bulbous plants used to grow.
5. Weeding in time.

Fusariosis

Fusariosis is also a fungal disease. Spores that live in the ground, first affect the bulb of the plant, and then the whole lily. The leaf plates begin to turn yellow, and later dry out and fall off.

Before planting, the culture bulbs are soaked in a highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. If there are suspicious spots on them, they are carefully cut with a knife. After planting, the soil under the lilies is treated with Fitosporin once a week if it is cool rainy weather outside.

Phytium

If the leaves of lilies have changed their color to yellow, starting from the tops, this is a sign of such a fungal disease as phytium. It infects the roots of plants and provokes their decay. If measures are not taken in time, lilies lose their attractive appearance, there is no flowering. Following the yellowing of the leaves, the stem of the culture is deformed, and it dries out completely.

It is possible to cope with the disease only at the initial stages of development, with the help of Fundazol. Damaged parts are removed from the plant. Before planting, the bulbs are treated with fungicidal preparations to prevent the disease, and the soil is disinfected with colloidal sulfur.

Blue mold

Such a fungal disease as blue mold appears on lily bulbs in violation of the rules for their storage in the winter. They are covered with whitish spots, and greenish-blue spores of the pathogen are also clearly visible. Over time, the roots die off, and the bulb acquires a brownish-yellowish tint.

To prevent the disease, plants are provided with suitable storage conditions, at the first sign, the bulbs are treated with the fungicide Fundazol. From folk remedies, an infusion of marigolds is effective, which is prepared according to this recipe:

1. Take 10 liters of water and 500 grams of crushed flowers.
2. Mix and leave to infuse for a day. After that, you can process the bulbs.

Penicillosis

Fungal disease affects all parts of the culture and leads to their decay. Green plaque that appears on flowers and stems, as well as on bulbs, is the first symptom of the development of the disease. Peduncles form weak, lilies slow down their growth.

To avoid such a pathology, follow the rules for storing planting material. When the first signs appear, the bulbs are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate with a concentration of 2%.

Rust

The way the pathology spreads is through already infected plant residues that were not removed from the site in time. Small colorless spots on the leaves are the first symptom of the disease, over time they become yellowish. On the surface of these spots, pads are visible, in which the spores of the pathogen are located. If treatment is not started, the leaf blades and stems will dry out and the plant will die.

First of all, the affected leaves are cut and burned. The remaining parts are treated with Prognosis, and phosphorus-potassium supplements are also regularly used. Bulbous plants in an area affected by rust are not recommended to be planted for 3 years.

Cucumber and tobacco mosaic viruses

If, with the development of fungal diseases, timely treatment can save plants, then with viral infections, lilies will have to be dug up and destroyed. The carrier of the cucumber and tobacco mosaic virus is considered to be aphids. At first, light strokes and annular spots appear on flowers and leaf plates, later the stem of the culture is deformed and stops its growth.

Preventive measures help not to face the disease. The flowers are constantly inspected, and if suspicious spots appear, the leaves are removed. Also, only disinfected material is used for gardening. If an aphid is noticed on the site, they begin to get rid of the pest with the help of chemicals.

Tulip variegation virus

Most often affects tulips, but aphids can also be transferred to lilies, penetrating into plant cells. Symptoms are expressed by a violation of the pigmentation of the buds, a noticeable weakening of the plant and the degeneration of the variety.

In time, already affected plants are removed from the site and fight aphids.

Rosette disease

Pathology provokes a whole complex of viruses. In lilies, the stem thickens, it acquires a yellowish color. Flowering never comes. Culture weakens and dies. When the first signs of the disease are detected, the affected plants are immediately destroyed to prevent infection of other flowers in the area.

Flower pests and how to deal with them

With the observance of agricultural technology and regular preventive measures, insect pests rarely infect lilies.

Red beetles, or rattles

Red beetles are characterized by great activity and incredible voracity. If you do not start a fight with them in time, they almost completely eat the leaves of plants. Preventive spraying is recommended in the spring, otherwise the larvae emerging from the laid eggs in early June will completely destroy the crops.

They use a mechanical method, in which the bugs are shaken into a jar of water and then destroyed outside the garden plot, and a chemical one. Among broad-spectrum insecticides, Sonnet deserved positive feedback - the drug is diluted according to the instructions for use and plantings are treated.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars hibernate in the soil and with the advent of spring, getting out, they begin to eat stems and flowering shoots. To combat the pest, they use chemicals and get rid of weeds in time, because it is there that butterflies lay their eggs.

Crack beetle larvae

The most dangerous for lilies are adult larvae, which gnaw out passages on the bulbs, as a result, the flower dies. Signs of damage are leaf curl and wilting of the crop. To combat the pest, insecticidal preparations are used - Medvetoks or Provotoks.As a preventive measure, the soil is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate and the soil is limed, as its high acidity is an ideal environment for the development of larvae.

Daffodil fly

It is not the narcissus fly itself that causes harm to lily plantings, but its larvae, which it lays in the soil. The larvae feed on the pulp of the bulbs, which leads to the weakening and death of flowers. As control measures, drugs such as Aktara or Decis are used, breeding them according to the instructions and watering the soil around the lilies. As a preventive measure, the soil around the plants is mulched with peat.

Spider mite

Food for the spider mite is the juice of young lily shoots, which leads to a weakening of the plant. For minor lesions, a soapy solution is used; in case of a pest invasion, they resort to the help of acaricides - Apollo or Antiklesch.

Thrips

Cell sap of plants serves as food for thrips. Loss of attractiveness, slow growth and development are the first signs of pest damage. Agravertin or Fitoverm are used for destruction.

Slugs

Slugs eat the leaves, causing the plant to lose its attractiveness. To combat them, beer traps are used, if there are a lot of pests, Thunderstorm or Slug-eater drugs are used.

Mice

In winter, mice often eat juicy lily bulbs. To scare away the pest, a rag soaked in kerosene is buried next to the flowers. You can also use ultrasonic repellers.

Prevention measures

Prevention reduces the risk of developing diseases and prevents pests from appearing on the site. The set of activities includes:

1. Timely weeding.
2. Compliance with the irrigation regime.
3. Soil disinfection with formalin solution.
4. Compliance with crop rotation.
5. Using potash-phosphorus fertilizers for top dressing.

It must be remembered that all work in the garden is carried out only with disinfected tools.

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