Reasons for the appearance of a sticky coating on house flowers
If a sticky coating appears on the leaves of indoor plants, then you need to urgently look for the cause and eliminate it. In 90-94% of cases, stickiness on indoor flowers appears from various pests living on flower crops. The product of their vital activity covers the foliage in such a thick layer that an unpleasant substance begins to drip from the flowers.
A layer of sticky plaque, as well as white or brown spots on the green flowers, will “tell” about the presence of pests.
Where does the sticky layer come from:
- Sticky secretions and pinpoint marks are left by aphids and mealybugs;
- Scale insects leave growths and warts on the trunks of indoor plants;
- The stickiness on the underside of the leaf blades is caused by whitefly larvae;
- A sticky, thick white coating is created by spider mites.
Traditional methods of dealing with sticky plaque
Phytosporin for indoor plants: instructions for use
If a white coating appears on indoor flowers, folk methods tell you how to get rid of it.
- You need to prepare a thick composition of soap (tar, green) or detergent. Use a cotton pad, a napkin (if the leaves are hard, you can use a toothbrush) and remove all pests. This condition cannot be neglected. Next, apply the solution to the entire plant, not excluding the stems. Leave for about 20 minutes. and rinse off the soap with hot water. You need to work carefully: if even one individual remains, the outbreak of infection will begin again. You can rid the plant of the pest with regular treatments. To enhance the effectiveness of the measures, after the soap solution is washed off, the flower shoots and the soil in the flowerpot can be sprayed with an insecticide;
- Sometimes the white coating on indoor flowers is so sticky that it is difficult to wash off. Many gardeners believe that it is better to use a concentrated solution of alcohol (10 ml), warm water (1 l), and liquid soap (15 ml). The solution is sprayed and applied to the delicate leaves with a brush.
- Taking 50 g of hot pepper, you should brew it with boiling water, boil, leave for a day and treat the affected flowers.
- Poisonous celandine also helps: pour 250 g of flowering herb into 1 liter of boiling water and leave for about 2 days.
For your information! You can also brew dry celandine.
Dangerous pest
Folk remedies are more often used as preventatives; they can also remove midges, but sometimes their effect against scale insects is insufficient.
Getting rid of scale insects on indoor plants is a long and difficult process, so you need to periodically carefully inspect the leaves of the plant and treat them with a soap solution to protect them from infection and death.
Scale insect - a dangerous insect
If the thyroid gland is active, then expect trouble. This pest is difficult to detect immediately.
How to destroy scale insects on indoor flowers
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Among the many pests of indoor flowers, a special place should be given to the scale insect, this inconspicuous plant killer that sucks the juice from the plant. She does not fly, does not crawl, and therefore we sometimes notice her very late. Only when we are already trying to understand why our pets are oppressed, do not grow, and sometimes simply die. How to often inspect the flowers in the house, find this pest, and how to deal with them - in this film. Look at it carefully
What do scale insects look like?
The adult insect is covered with a hard brown shield, under which hordes of eggs are hidden. The female pests bite tightly into the leaf and use their proboscis to draw juices out of the plant.
If the females sit motionless, then the males move from place to place, infecting the seedlings of the home greenhouse bush by bush. They themselves do not eat foliage, but they can move around and infect.
The scale leaves a sweet sticky trail or honeydew without a break to rest. Females are so fertile that they bear offspring 5-6 times throughout the year.
The tenacious insect does not rest even in winter. Colonies of the pest grow so quickly and abundantly that they can take over the entire home greenhouse. Even poisonous flowers are not spared.
How do they get into the house? They can fly through windows with the wind and get into a house with a plant that was purchased at a flower shop.
These pests are omnivores. They are ready to eat: palm trees, citrus fruits, bromeliads. Females happily live on orchids, lemons, ficuses, ivy, crassula, and cacti.
Why do houseplants have sticky leaves?
Indoor plants are susceptible to a large number of diseases that can be recognized by various signs. One of them is sticky spots that appear on the leaves. Having seen a strange substance on indoor flowers, I attributed this phenomenon to growth characteristics, but over time they began to dry out and turn yellow.
After losing several plants, I realized that I need to start fighting sticky plaque immediately after it appears - this seemingly innocent symptom poses a serious threat to the health and life of indoor flowers.
Why does a sticky coating appear on the leaves?
A sticky substance, as well as yellowing, wilting or falling leaves, is a warning sign. Some crops can indeed secrete juice, but its amount is minimal, and it appears on the inflorescences, and not on the leaf blades.
Mealybug
A white sticky coating, similar to a cobweb, is a sign of the formation of a clutch of mealybug eggs. The parasite lays a large number of eggs under the web.
What does an insect look like?
An adult female, no more than 5 mm long, comes in pink, white, and beige colors. Along its body there are small bristles covered with a white powdery coating.
To immediately notice that something is wrong, pay attention to whether sticky drops appear on the plant. This is the first stage of infection of a green pet.
Next, a sticky white coating forms, resembling pieces of cotton wool. At the last stage of infection, a change in the shape of flowers and leaves occurs. The leaves take on a marbled color and are covered with spots of red or yellow.
When leaf blades change, photosynthesis is disrupted and the plant dies.
The reasons for the appearance of this pest: dry air, temperatures above plus 20ºС, unfavorable conditions for development. Most often, the pest multiplies in winter, when there is a lack of lighting, dry air, and excessive watering, leading to stagnation of water in the soil and pan.
The most dangerous phenomenon in winter is waterlogging. Too much water in the soil leads to rotting of the roots, the appearance of parasites and microbes. When watering, you should pay attention not to the interval between waterings, but to the condition of the roots.
What do sticky leaves indicate?
A healthy flower always attracts with its luxury. If a plant suddenly loses its attractiveness, it means that its immunity has weakened. It is at this moment that harmful insects and organisms can appear that damage the entire surface of the leaves. Flower growers are perplexed why indoor flowers have sticky leaves. Juice oozes from the wounds made by uninvited guests, which the pests drink. Gradually, the leaf becomes covered with a layer of sticky juice and pest secretions, liquid, viscous and sticky.
The appearance of scale insects
Florists who deal with plant diseases claim that scale insects leave a white sticky coating on the leaves. It is quite difficult to see the pest: its size is very small. It settles near the veins of the plant. A hard shell, consisting of small scales, the color of which can vary from green to brown, helps the insect to camouflage itself.
Note! If you do not pay attention in time to the fact that growths have appeared on young shoots, the pest begins to multiply, and after a few days, sticky mucus covers all the leaves of the flower.
Pest control must begin immediately.
Scale insect development cycle
Scale insects are viviparous and oviparous. The development cycle of an oviparous individual lasts two months, depending on the ambient temperature. The stages of scale insect development are presented in the table:
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Note! The Californian scale insect is viviparous. It produces 200 wandering larvae. The reproduction process can last up to 60 days.
California scale insect
Harm and possible consequences
Scale insects can attack citrus houseplants, oleanders, ficus and even cacti. The leaves of the flower stick, turn yellow, and the stems develop incorrectly. An infected plant does not bloom. The defeat process has irreversible consequences:
- nutrients and water ooze from microscopic holes in the leaves;
- wounds are an excellent environment for the development of fungal and viral diseases;
- the damaged leaf has clogged stomata, which complicates the breathing process;
- due to lack of oxygen, the process of photosynthesis slows down, which is reflected in the gradual falling of leaves.
Important! The flower, feeling an acute lack of minerals and water, dries up.
What to do if the leaves become sticky
What measures to take if a sticky coating appears on an indoor flower? First of all, you need to inspect the seedling. Sweetish drops may also appear on healthy plants during flowering. This natural function is needed to attract pollinating insects. After flowering ends, the drops will disappear.
Gum disease can affect citrus and other flower crops, even without pests appearing on them.
If an amber sticky liquid appears on the foliage and bark of citrus fruits, the cause may be excess nitrogen, damage to the trunk, fungi, or improper planting.
Sticky droplets can appear on branches, buds and leaves of other indoor plants. You just need to change the fertilizing and maintenance conditions, and treat the fungus with fungicides.
But if scale insects or other pests have taken a fancy to your plant, then you need to urgently take action.
Controlling sticky pests
Any diseased plant should be sent away from the greenhouse, and other crops should be examined. Infected seedlings should also be quarantined.
Treatment of an infected bush:
- Wash the flower with hot soapy water, dissolving a piece of laundry soap in it.
- After washing off the honeydew and some of the insects, rinse the window and windowsill, and wash the curtains. Parasite larvae may also remain here.
- Buy “green” soap at a flower shop, beat it into a thick foam, and carefully wipe the leaves with a sponge soaked in a soap solution.
- There is no need to wash off the soap right away. After 15 minutes, rinse the plant under a hot shower, then dry in a warm place.
What to do with brown scales
What to do with adult female scale insects? They look like brown scales or bumps, settling on the trunk in the most inaccessible place.
How to remove pests:
- First you need to cut off all diseased leaves and branches of the seedling;
- Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to remove any insects that can be reached;
- Pour 10 ml of alcohol into the solution (beat 20 g of laundry soap in 1 liter of water);
- Use a cotton pad to distribute the prepared solution over the scales;
- Next, rinse the leaves with the solution, top and bottom, especially along the veins;
- This treatment of the plant must be carried out 3 times every 10 days. After this treatment, the scale insect should disappear.
Important! Insects should not be removed by hand. Damage the scales and the population will multiply at lightning speed.
Lemon treatment depending on symptoms
Weak plants are often susceptible to diseases. Therefore, it is important to create the necessary conditions for lemon to develop. This means proper care and thorough inspections. Already when the first signs of the disease appear, pest control must begin.
White coating on lemon leaves
Increased indoor air humidity and heat can cause the appearance of parasitic whitefly butterflies. The pest often appears in hot and rainy summers.
Signs by which you can quickly identify a pest:
- The whitefly is very small, but can be seen. By shaking the plant a little, the insects usually fly off.
- Upon careful examination, you will notice white-gray formations that resemble mold.
- When an insect is present, the lemon begins to grow slowly. The leaves of the tree curl, then dry out and turn yellow.
When there are not very many parasites, you can try to remove them manually using a sponge soaked in soapy water. Then remove the pot of lemon to a cooler place. It is worth hanging sticky fly tape near the tree.
Another effective method is a sweet solution. To prepare, mix one glass of water with two tablespoons of sugar. Spray the plant. In a week, give lemon a shower.
With a large number of midges, only chemicals will help.
Sticky residue and white lumps
The appearance of a white fluffy coating on the leaves indicates that a mealybug has appeared. The pest attacks the root system, drinks juice from leaves, young shoots and buds. Tree growth slows down. There are different types of mealybug. The size of the parasite depends on the species and can range from 3 to 6 mm.
To prevent mealybugs from appearing on the tree, you need to monitor the air humidity. It should be about 80%. It is also necessary to remove spoiled or diseased flowers and leaves. If there is still a mealybug on the lemon, you need to use the following preparations for irrigation: “Intavir”, “Decis”, “Karbofos”. Or you can wash the stems and leaves of the lemon with garlic infusion.
You will need:
- 5-6 cloves of garlic;
- 0.5 liters of hot water.
Crush the slices, add hot boiled water, leave for 4 hours. Filter and apply to affected areas.
Black plaque on lemon leaves
Sooty plaque or sooty plaque is a common fungal disease. Fungi form on weak plants. After being attacked by scale insects or aphids. The disease interferes with plant growth. Gradually, the entire leaf becomes covered with a black sticky coating similar to soot. To get rid of mobs, it is necessary to carry out measures to remove parasites.
It is the insects that leave the stickiness. Washing all the leaves one by one with fresh beer will help here. And for spraying you can use a tobacco-soap solution.
Preparation : dissolve 50 grams of laundry soap in 0.5 liters of water. Then pour 50 grams of denatured alcohol into the resulting solution, add 20 grams of 1.5% tobacco extract and add 0.5 liters of water to the resulting mixture. The resulting solution is sprayed onto the lemon.
It is recommended to give the plant a weekly shower. Cover the root zone in the pot tightly with film and wash the plant. This hygiene will help you avoid many diseases.
Brown plaque
Most likely it is a spider mite. This pest is difficult to detect. It settles on the back side of the leaves. Its color gives it away - brown with a yellowish tint. First of all, the insect harms young leaves, which are covered with cobwebs, under which the pest lives. An infusion of yarrow will help get rid of it.
Preparation : Brew 80-100 grams of yarrow herb with boiling water, after half an hour add to 1 liter and leave for 2 days. Spray with infusion 3 times a day, 1 time per week.
Chemicals
After treating with a soap solution, you can finish the fight with the help of chemicals. They act more effectively in May-July, when the females are still without protective shields. The best preparations for spraying: Fitoverm, Aktara (KS, VOP).
Processing stages
- After spraying with insecticide, the flower should be covered with a bag and left for 40 minutes.
- Then rinse the seedling in the shower to remove the chemical and dead individuals.
- After 2 weeks, repeat spraying to destroy hidden beetles.
- Check all indoor flowers regularly using a magnifying glass.
Efficiency of Aktara
"Aktara" is a new generation insecticide. It has characteristics such as high efficiency and versatility in use.
This drug is toxic, so all precautions must be taken when using it. It is especially dangerous to inhale the vapors of this product. While working, you must wear gloves, a protective mask and goggles.
If home vegetation is attacked by parasites, then “Aktara” will help cope with them.
"Aktara" is a fast-acting insecticide with enteric contact action. The product is available in granules and suspensions. Its substances have a detrimental effect on many insects.
Advantages of "Aktara":
- It has a high degree of absorption, so the drug is capable of destroying more than 100 types of pests;
- The impact on pests is rapid. After an hour, you can notice the death of the parasites;
- Plants can be treated at any time and in any weather;
- The drug can act for 1 to 2 months;
- Without accumulation effect, therefore does not harm crops.
Disadvantages of Aktara:
- Harmful to bees, wasps, hornets;
- It is not recommended to store in a diluted state.
Dilute the drug only according to the instructions. Treat only trunks, leaves and roots, avoiding flowers and ovaries. After treatment, the flowers should stand for 24 hours, preferably under a bag. Dilute the product only with warm water.
If pests have dug into the root zone, then watering with Aktara will help protect the entire plant. The root system will begin to promote the drug substances throughout all cells of the culture, and the parasites will quickly become saturated with poison.
“Aktara” will destroy their digestive tract, as a result the nerve endings of the parasite will be paralyzed, so the insect will no longer want to suck the juices from the plant. Without food it will soon die.
How to cure white bloom on indoor flowers? Causes and methods of control
When growing flowers at home, gardeners often encounter some difficulties, the most common of which is a white coating on the flowers themselves and in the pot.
In order to approach treatment correctly, you need to understand the reasons for the appearance of plaque, of which there may be several. The main reason for the development of diseases of indoor plants is the organization of improper care. As a result, favorable conditions are created for the life of parasitic insects, fungi and other diseases.
Why sticky plaque is dangerous for indoor plants
If the leaves become sticky, take immediate action. First of all, armed with a magnifying glass, inspect the plant. Perhaps there are dangerous parasites among the foliage.
Let's look at leaf diseases and treatment of different flowers.
Sticky leaves on an orchid
Owners of orchids strictly monitor the health of their pets, but these luxurious flowers are also attacked by pests. Sticky leaves on an orchid may indicate a mealybug infestation.
To prevent the orchid from being affected by scale insects, it is necessary to perform the following actions:
- Inspect flowers frequently;
- Create favorable conditions, that is, illuminate and humidify the air in winter by placing a bowl of water next to the flower;
- Wipe the orchid leaves with a solution of laundry soap;
- For transplantation, buy an uncontaminated substrate or disinfect it after purchasing it at home;
- Dry the homemade bark for 15 minutes in the oven at 60 ℃.
- Cut off affected leaves and flowers.
Often sticky drops of nectar appear on the leaves of the orchid. This is a natural process, the flower seems to “sweat”. Drops are simply washed off with water.
Other reasons for the appearance of stickiness on leaf blades: excessive watering, excessive fertilizing, infection with scale insects or aphids.
Phalaenopsis orchid
Flowers of the Phanelopsis variety are distinguished by a variety of colors, and therefore are in a special place among gardeners. In the process of growing phalaenopsis, many problems also arise that cause anxiety to the owner. One such problem is sticky spots on leaves.
Stickiness is a distress signal, or it may be a natural process. As a flower grows, moisture moves through the plant, forming nectar. Thus, the leaves of the phalaenopsis are covered with a sweet substance or nectar.
Droplets on leaves attract pollinators or ants. In nature, ants are excellent at destroying aphids, so the sticky coating is useful for this crop.
Sweet nectar also serves as a trap for harmful microorganisms. Getting entangled in the sweet substance, they simply die.
Reasons for the appearance of nectar:
- Excessive watering;
- The accumulation of moisture in the pan or in the substrate causes the plant to emit evaporation;
- Low temperature;
- Excess fertilizing with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
Oversaturation with fertilizers and moisture leads to the release of excess sugars. Even this seemingly natural process can have a detrimental effect on the health of the flower. Dark spots appear on the leaves, which interfere with photosynthesis. To save a blooming pet, it is necessary to completely replace the substrate, otherwise the death of the flower rosette and the flower stalks themselves will occur.
The nectar that appears on the leaves of the flowers can be wiped off with a wet sponge and put the flower in the shower. It doesn’t hurt to take a good look at each leaf under a magnifying glass so as not to miss pests.
Ficus
If this large indoor flower gets sick, sticky leaves will be the first symptom of the disease. Stickiness just confirms the presence of pests attacking the flower crop.
Let's consider the reasons for the appearance of a sticky substance on the ficus. Ficus can be affected by spider mites. If the leaf blades are covered with white dots, and the rest of the ficus is covered with a thin cobweb, then start fighting spider mites. Spider mites develop quickly in dry air and high temperatures.
But thrips can also cause sticky leaf blades. These pests are very similar in appearance to small flies. They feed on plant sap and live in large colonies. By sucking the sap of a plant, they can destroy it.
Scale insects and aphids can also attack ficus plants. If your ficus has sticky leaves, don't rely on luck. Without eliminating pests, the problem will not be solved.
Drugs such as Actellik, Vermitec and Flumite will help get rid of spider mites. To completely destroy the insect, 3 treatments will be needed at intervals of 5-7 days. Thrips are killed by the same insecticides as spider mites.
The ficus benjamina also produces sticky leaves. If there are few insects, then it is enough to wipe the ficus leaves with a sponge dipped in a soap solution.
Large colonies and scale insect larvae die after treatment with an insecticide, for example, Actra. It will be necessary to treat the diseased seedling three times, allowing an interval of 7 days between treatments. In order for the pests to die, after treatment the plant must be covered with a bag and kept under cover for a day.
Important! After destroying the parasites, the Ficus Benjamin needs to create better conditions: increase lighting, raise the temperature and humidity, establish the correct watering regime so that the pests do not return.
Begonia
Begonia is a favorite flower of many gardeners. Begonias and sticky leaves don't seem to go together. But it can also be attacked by the same pests.
Begonia can be destroyed by pests such as thrips, scale insects, and spider mites. The appearance of pests can be noticed by changes in the stem of the plant. It begins to shrink and age quickly. At the same time, the state of the begonia does not confirm the presence of parasites: the leaf is shiny, the color is lush.
Thrips are the most dangerous for begonias. To get rid of this parasite, many gardeners cut off clean, uninfected shoots from the plant, wash it with water, root it and plant it in a clean pot. The mother bush can also be saved by treating it with Fitoverm.
Anthurium
A blooming anthurium brings many pleasant moments to its owner. It blooms with incredibly attractive flowers of pink, white, bright red, and purple.
Often this flower is attacked by various parasites, affecting the beautiful leaves. White sticky coating, dark or light spots, cobwebs under the leaves - all this indicates that the flower is damaged by pests.
If you wash the tops of the foliage and under the leaves with a soapy solution, most of the insects will be removed. If the disease is advanced, more stringent measures will have to be taken.
The plant can be saved from aphids using a folk remedy: leave 15 grams of chopped onion or 6 grams of dry scales in 1 liter of water for 5 hours. Spraying is carried out three times, with an interval of 5 days.
In advanced cases, you will have to treat with Fitoverm, Actellik, Karbofos, Biotlin. Treatment with Fitoverm will save you from thrips and spider mites.
Chinese rose
The lushly blooming Chinese rose is a real decoration of a home greenhouse. Flower growers treasure this beautiful flower. One of the unpleasant aspects of breeding is the appearance of sticky leaves on Chinese roses.
There is no need to despair; it is worth understanding the reasons for the stickiness of the leaves. A careful inspection of the flower crop will help eliminate or detect pests. A sticky coating is created by aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies.
If parasites are found, then they must be combated with the help of chemicals. You will have to treat both the plant itself and the soil.
If no parasites are found, but there are still sticky drops, it’s worth looking into this phenomenon. Often, especially in hot weather, small sticky droplets appear on the back of Chinese rose leaves. They usually appear after watering during hot periods. The plant seems to “sweat”. This is a normal natural phenomenon.
The unpleasant thing is that drops of nectar drip and stain everything around. How to get rid of this phenomenon? You can get rid of it if you give the plant “bathing” under a hot shower more often. It has been noticed that the rose loves water treatments!
It's worse when pests are discovered. If brown tubercles are found on the trunks, then these are sucking insects - scale insects and false scale insects draw sap from the plant.
The leaf under the scale is lighter than the rest of the leaf blade. This sign can also help identify the parasite.
Mealybug - also leaves stickiness and spoils the plant. It looks like a fluffy, round insect, and when crushed it releases an orange liquid.
Thanks to the waxy coating, the bug is protected from the effects of contact drugs. It must be combated with intestinal drugs.
Treatment with Aktara will help get rid of these pests. Dissolve 4 g of the product in 5 liters of water, spray the flower, and then spill the soil with this solution: 1 g per 10 liters. Carry out the treatment 4 times with an interval of 7-10 days.
If the plant is not neglected, it will require treatment (after 1-2 days) with acarin, agravertine, and fitoverm.
Citrus
Growing citrus fruits is not just fashion and delicious fruits, but also purifies the air in the apartment.
Much to the regret of many flower growers, indoor lemons are plagued by harmful insects, whose activity causes a sticky coating to appear on the trunk and leaves.
Sometimes indoor lemons have sweet droplets on the leaves, as if syrup had been sprinkled on it. One of the reasons is considered to be excessive watering. Lemon should not be watered so much that the soil is always moist.
If watering is adjusted, and stickiness appears on the lemon leaves again, then look for scale insects. This insect can blend so well with the bark of a lemon tree that you won’t immediately notice it.
Signs of scale insect infestation:
- dry spots of brown color;
- sticky coating on the trunk and foliage of a tree.
Scale insects most often attack weakened young trees. It is necessary to feed citrus seedlings with complex fertilizers 4 times a year.
If you do not get rid of this insect, it will quickly increase its habitat area. But spraying with chemicals can cause the fruits of the current and next harvest to become poisonous and cannot be eaten.
Therefore, insects must be detected as early as possible and sprayed with less aggressive means:
- Dilute 10 ml of 70% alcohol and 15 ml of laundry soap in 1 liter of water;
- Protect the soil from contact with the solution;
- Apply the product directly to the affected areas.
If the scale insects have not disappeared, then every 3 days you will have to spray with “Confidor” or “Aktar” until the pest completely disappears. When spraying, pay attention to the root zone and the underside of the leaf blades.
The harvest of this year, as well as the next season, cannot be eaten.
Warmth and high humidity can attract whiteflies. It is signaled by a white coating on the foliage, similar to mold. Wipe the leaves with a sponge dipped in soapy water.
Spraying with a sweet solution works well. For 1 glass of water you will need 2 tbsp. spoons of sugar. A week after the sweet spray, put the lemon in the shower.
Try to get rid of mealybugs by rubbing the stems and leaves with garlic infusion: crush 6-7 cloves of garlic and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, leave for 4 hours.
Mandarins can also be attacked by sucking insects. The treatment is the same as for lemon. And it is best to carry out preventive measures: often examine the trees under a magnifying glass, arrange a hot shower, and create favorable conditions for growth.
Calathea
The calathea flower attracts attention with its beautiful large leaves. But sometimes sticky streams appear under the leaves. This is a warning sign. Perhaps the flower was attacked by dangerous pests: scale insects or spider mites.
Due to the fact that the flower has large leaves, you can limit yourself to wiping them with a sponge dipped in a solution of laundry soap.
The most dangerous pest for calathea is the spider mite. It can be detected by a dense white web and the appearance of white spots on the leaves.
It attacks calathea if the air in the room is too dry. Therefore, it is necessary to achieve normal air humidity. Place a container of water near the flower, arrange a shower, and wipe the leaves on both sides more often.
Why is plaque on leaves dangerous?
Sticky coating on the leaves not only spoils the appearance of plants (dust, dirt and debris remain on them), but is also dangerous to their health. This unpleasant phenomenon can lead to the following consequences:
- plants lose moisture and nutrients;
- pathogenic microorganisms and fungal spores settle on damaged tissues, causing new diseases;
- The sticky coating clogs the flowers' respiratory organs, causing vital processes to deteriorate and the intensity of photosynthesis to decrease.
The result of constant plaque on the leaves is a deficiency of nutrients, as a result of which the plants begin to dry out and eventually die.
Sticky drops on Aglaonema leaves
Sticky drops on the leaves of your favorite flower can be very alarming for a novice gardener. However, experienced flower lovers have learned to distinguish when dangerous drops appear on Aglaonema, and when they do not pose a threat to their beloved plant.
Why sticky drops appear on Aglaonema leaves
There are plants on the leaves of which sticky droplets, like dew, may appear. Aglaonema is one of them. What is it? We need to figure it out. Only one thought immediately comes to mind: the plant is sick and there are several reasons for this:
- powdery mildew;
- high nitrogen content;
- “false” dew;
- scale insect;
- this is how the flower removes excess liquid.
Are sticky drops on plant leaves dangerous?
If such drops appear from pathogenic fungi, then it is necessary to treat, as they can quickly spread to other indoor flowers.
Drops may appear in the form of ordinary dew. In this case, there is no need to worry about the plant.
What to do if sticky drops appear
Aglaonema comes from the tropics, where humidity is known to be high. If the plant is in a different climate, then there should not be such drops on the flower; we need to look for the reason.
Powdery mildew
Mushrooms contribute to its appearance. They can cover the entire stem with a white coating, which disrupts the internal flow of nutrients. When such a disease appears, the plant’s stems may wither and dry out. And, if such droplets have already appeared, first you need to create conditions like in the flower’s homeland:
- sufficient lighting;
- high humidity;
- good ventilation in the room.
If it doesn't help, you need to think further.
High nitrogen content
there are a lot of nitrogen-containing substances in fertilizers, and, accordingly, in the soil. Simple procedures will help in reducing them: treat:
- soda solution (0.5 teaspoon per 0.5 liter of water);
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Wipe affected areas. And water for a while with just clean water.
Downy mildew
A solution of copper sulfate (0.5 tablespoon per 2.5 liters of water) will help you compete for the flower. Copper works well. Treat the plant and the soil underneath it. Or buy drugs:
Always remove affected areas of leaves.
Shchitovka
Scale insect larvae are convex tubercles that differ from the color of the leaves. Sticky spots can be mistaken for “vagrants” - scale insect larvae that have not yet become associated with the plant. The larvae secrete toxic substances that are harmful to the flower. They need to be removed and these places wiped with a damp cloth, you can moisten them in a weak solution of vodka or garlic infusion and be sure to buy medicine:
You also need to remove the top layer of soil from the pot, because there may also be larvae there. The process of getting rid of scale insects is long, wiping alone will not be enough, you need to be patient.
Attention! Aglaonema can remove excess fluid this way. Eliminating the problem is just watering less and that’s it.
Of course, prevention is better than cure. Powdery mildew fungus likes to grow in dense plants, with high humidity and when there are a lot of young shoots. There is no need to oversaturate with organic fertilizers and water as little as possible for a tropical plant.
Whatever the reason for the appearance of such droplets, you must conscientiously care for the plants and promptly eliminate the cause of the flowers’ ailments, and then they will thank everyone with their beauty.
What to do if sticky spots appear on the orchid?
Before proceeding with active measures to treat the plant, a visual inspection is required. First of all, we pay attention to the condition of the foliage.
- If, in addition to sugar drops, black spots are visible, this is a sign of powdery mildew. These dark spots can also be covered with a white coating, and every day the places of dislocation only increase (we talked about the causes of spots on phalaenopsis leaves here).
- Yellow areas on the leaves may indicate an excess of mineral fertilizers.
- There may be harmful insects on the reverse side of the leaf. If they are there, they are visible to the naked eye. It happens that insects stick to extrafloral nectar, as a rule, these are aphids.
The appearance of drops of any nature on orchid leaves is an unnatural phenomenon . And if you delay the process of diagnosis and treatment, you may soon lose your phalaenopsis.