From our roots to our newest blooms, we geraniums face constant challenges from pests and diseases that threaten our vibrant health. While we are resilient plants, understanding these threats from our perspective is key to helping us thrive. Here is a detailed account of our most common adversaries and the treatments that offer us relief.
Our succulent stems and tender new growth are a prime target for tiny vampires that drain our vital fluids.
Spider Mites: These are not insects but tiny arachnids that thrive in hot, dry conditions. From our point of view, the first sign is a subtle stippling of yellow dots on our leaves as they pierce and feed. You might not see them, but we feel their fine, silky webbing, especially on our leaf undersides, which saps our strength and causes our leaves to curl and dry out.
Aphids & Whiteflies: These soft-bodied insects cluster on our stems and the undersides of our leaves. Their feeding distorts our new growth and causes leaves to yellow and curl. Worse, they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts sooty mold, further blocking our sunlight absorption.
Treatment: For a light infestation, a strong spray of water can dislodge many of these pests from our leaves. For more persistent issues, insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils (like neem oil) are very effective. They work by smothering the pests without leaving harmful residues that could damage us. Please ensure full coverage, especially underneath our leaves.
Excessive moisture is our enemy, creating the perfect environment for destructive fungi.
Botrytis Blight (Gray Mold): This fungus appears as gray, fuzzy mold on our aging flowers, leaves, or stems. It thrives in cool, damp, and crowded conditions with poor air circulation. It quickly causes affected areas to become soft, brown, and decayed. From our perspective, it feels like a cold, damp weight causing parts of us to rot while we are still alive.
Root Rot: Often caused by overwatering or poor drainage, this condition attacks us at our very foundation—our roots. In waterlogged soil, our roots suffocate and die, becoming brown and mushy. Above the soil, you will see us wilt, our leaves yellow, and our growth stunt, even if the soil is wet. We cannot take up water or nutrients effectively.
Treatment: The key is prevention through well-draining soil and careful watering. For Botrytis, immediately remove and destroy all infected plant parts and improve air circulation around us. For root rot, you may need to remove us from the pot, trim away any black and mushy roots, and repot us in fresh, sterile, well-draining soil.
This is a serious disease caused by bacteria that can spread rapidly, especially in wet weather or through overhead watering.
From our perspective, it begins as small, water-soaked spots on our leaves' undersides. These spots quickly enlarge, becoming dark brown, sunken, and angular as the bacteria multiply within our tissues. The affected leaves eventually turn yellow and drop prematurely, severely weakening us.
Treatment: There are no effective chemical cures for this bacterial disease once we are heavily infected. Prune and dispose of affected leaves immediately to slow the spread. Always water us at the base to keep our foliage dry, and avoid handling us when our leaves are wet. In severe cases, it is best to destroy severely infected plants to protect other healthy geraniums nearby.
