If the leaves of the anthurium turn black, this can signal improper care, as well as the appearance of pests and diseases. Initially, these are small spots, and later the leaves completely blacken and fall off. If you do not identify the cause and do not start treatment, the process can lead to the death of the flower.
Anthurium: why leaves and flowers turn black and dry
The causes of blackening of the leaves can be different: from diseases to poor nutrition and watering. If spots are found, you need to determine as quickly as possible why the leaves of the anthurium turn black. The further course of action will depend on this.
Leaf blackening
Disease
Most often, the flower is susceptible to the following diseases:
- Fusarium wilt. This disease adversely affects leaves and stems, and also affects the root system. Initially, the natural shape of the stem changes. Later, the leaves begin to blacken.
- Anthracnose. The disease is caused by a fungus. The beginning on the leaves appear small dots - spores of the fungus. Then they turn into brown spots, which grow over time and can turn black. Holes appear in the center of the spots. A prerequisite for the development of the disease is excessive soil moisture and high (about 27-29 ° C) ambient temperature.
- Septoria This fungal disease also actively develops in the presence of moisture and high temperatures. The development of the disease is indicated by the appearance of yellow spots with brown edges. Leaves quickly darken and dry out, and fast-growing spores can easily infect nearby plants.
Fusarium on Anthurium
Pest attack
In addition to diseases, pests can have a negative effect on the plant. Most often, anthurium affects aphids and scale insects.
Aphid is a tiny pest that multiplies at high speed, forming large colonies. The insect eats vegetable juice and punctures the tissue. Aphids settle on the inside of the leaf, so it cannot be detected immediately. The consequences of its activity are twisted leaves, dry parts of the plant, growth retardation.
Note! To combat aphids, biological and chemical pesticides are used - Fitoverm, Actellik, Karate and Decis. From folk remedies, an infusion of onions and garlic can help.
Scabbards are small sucking pests that are reliably protected by a dense shell. They suck juice and inhibit the development of flowers. When insects appear, the leaves of the anthurium are covered with brown or beige convex elliptical nodules, which can be lifted with a needle or a toothpick.
Contact insecticides do not help cope with aphids, therefore, they destroy pests with systemic drugs - Confidor, Bankol or Biotlin. Their active substances penetrate the plant and poison the juice, which when they get into insects kills them.
Scarf stains
Dry air
Due to insufficient air humidity, the leaves of Anthurium are first curled, and then change color. As a result, this can cause the death of the plant. To prevent problems, you should regularly (preferably every day) spray water on the leaves and in the air.
Fertilizer errors
An overabundance of nitrogenous fertilizers is dangerous for the leaves and root system of anthurium, as it slows down the ripening of the flower, and all the nutrients go to the formation of green mass. If there is a lot of calcium in top dressing, this leads to a lack of magnesium, potassium, iron and other useful substances. In both cases, the leaves of the anthurium begin to blacken. To prevent the occurrence of a problem, when using top dressing, you must clearly follow the instructions, observing the dosage and timing.
Wrong watering
Anthurium does not like waterlogging of the soil. This means that when watering the plants can not be zealous. Moisturize the soil only when it is completely dry. Hard or cold water also harms anthurium. The temperature should vary depending on the season: in spring and summer - 22 ° C, in autumn and winter - 18 ° C. For watering, boiled water should be used.
Automatic drip irrigation option
Important! Excessive exposure to moisture on the roots can lead to rotting and death of the bush. Watering the plant is necessary only when the topsoil has dried to a depth of 2-3 cm.
How to save a plant
To protect the anthurium flower from any disease, it is necessary to provide adequate care for it. To eliminate the wilting and blackening of the leaves, it is necessary to use fungicidal preparations.
Plant treatment methods:
- If fungal diseases, bacteria or viruses are found on the anthurium, the probability of cure is very small. All infected leaflets must be removed immediately.
- When blackness appears, spray the leaves from the sprayer with a fungicide containing a lot of copper. If rust occurs, it is necessary to spray it on healthy bushes to increase humidity, and affected green leaves with spots should be completely removed and burned.
- To destroy anthracnose, the amount of water and the number of irrigation are reduced, and the roots of the anthurium are irrigated with preparations with copper. The soil mixture in the pot must be treated with Abiga-Peak. If the flower cannot be cured, it must be burned whole so that the disease does not spread to other cultures.
Additional Information. To eliminate wilting, you will have to treat the plant with pesticides with copper and irrigate the soil substrate with glycyrrhizic acid. It is best to dig anthurium from the ground and hold it in a dilute solution of potassium permanganate. Then grow the plant in fresh soil.
Rust on anthurium
Preventative measures
Prevention of blackening of anthurium consists in proper care and ensuring favorable conditions for his life.
Useful tips for proper care
In order for the anthurium bushes to bloom all year round, and the flowers to be beautiful and bright, it is necessary to properly and timely care for it. Key recommendations:
- The choice of premises. In the room, the anthurium must be placed on a southeast or western window so that the flower can receive enough sunlight. So on the plant does not appear burns due to direct light at noon. In winter, the flower should be placed away from the equipment for heating the room. If it is impossible to transfer the plant to another part of the house, a tray of water is placed next to the pot. When it evaporates, air humidity will increase.
- The choice of soil and capacity for planting. Rhizomes may suffocate due to a lack of oxygen. To avoid this, you need to use a soil mixture that allows air to pass through. River sand and oak bark, as well as ground peat, are added to it. The pot is better to take a plastic one.
- Humidity. In order to provide comfortable conditions for anthurium, it is necessary to create a tropical climate for it. For this, the leaves of the flower are sprayed daily with water and checked to see if it drips onto the surface of the inflorescences. In addition, experts recommend regularly installing a flower pot in a pot of water for several minutes.
- Watering. In hot summers, along with water, it is recommended to add nutrients to the soil. This should be done no more than 2-3 times a week. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to once a week. It is better to irrigate the plant with a watering can or sprayer. After watering, it is recommended to wait until some of the water is absorbed, and remove the rest.
Placing a flower indoors
To determine the cause of blackening of the leaves of anthurium, you need to constantly monitor the plant. Identified problems are better eliminated at an early stage of staining than to tear out and throw away infected bushes.
