From our perspective, fungal infections are a constant battle, often exacerbated by our environment. Powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery coating on our leaves and bracts, blocking sunlight and hindering our photosynthesis. It thrives in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Similarly, leaf spot diseases manifest as unsightly brown or black spots with yellow halos on our foliage. These spots are areas of dead tissue, which weaken us by reducing our leaf surface area for energy production. To help us, you must improve air flow around our branches by pruning and avoid wetting our leaves during watering. For treatment, remove and destroy the badly affected leaves and apply a suitable fungicide, ensuring thorough coverage.
Perhaps the most dreaded condition we face is root rot, often caused by the water mold Phytophthora. This is almost always a result of our roots being forced to sit in saturated, oxygen-poor soil. From down here, it feels like suffocation. The roots turn brown, mushy, and decay, preventing us from taking up water and nutrients. Ironically, this causes our upper parts to wilt and our leaves to yellow as if we are thirsty. The key to preventing this is providing us with exceptionally well-draining soil and resisting the urge to overwater. If caught early, you might save us by removing the affected roots and repotting us in fresh, dry medium.
While not diseases in the strictest sense, infestations by pests like aphids and spider mites leave us vulnerable to secondary infections and cause significant distress. These tiny creatures pierce our tender stems and the undersides of our leaves to suck out our vital sap. This direct loss of nutrients stunts our growth and causes our beautiful bracts and leaves to curl, yellow, and drop prematurely. Furthermore, they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts sooty mold fungus, further blocking our sunlight. A strong spray of water can dislodge many of these pests, and insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils are effective treatments that suffocate them without causing us undue harm.
Our best defense against all ailments is robust health, which comes from you providing ideal growing conditions. Plant us in full, intense sunlight; we thrive on it and it helps keep fungal issues at bay. Ensure our soil is loose, slightly acidic, and drains perfectly. Water us deeply but only when the top few inches of soil are dry to the touch. Feed us with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to support our vigorous growth and prolific blooming, but avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes weak, succulent growth that is more susceptible to pests. Regular, careful pruning to maintain our shape and improve air circulation within our canopy is immensely beneficial. Finally, always sterilize your pruning tools between cuts to prevent accidentally spreading any pathogens from one part of us to another.
