With its intensely coloured, fiery red and lush green foliage, the glossy medlar is a real eye-catcher that can be used in a variety of ways in the garden, on the patio and even on the balcony. However, although it is extremely easy to care for, Photinia Devil's Dream® can also occasionally suffer from diseases. Driven by unfavourable weather conditions, an unsuitable location or a lack of nutrients, pathogens can spread and cause very different clinical pictures. However, even if the diseases affect the appearance, they rarely have serious consequences. Nevertheless, it is advisable to combat the fungal infestation of the loquat, as some variants can spread to other plants. However, with home remedies, tried-and-tested tips and a little care, your loquat will soon be fungus-free again. We reveal what to do.
In order to combat a fungal infestation on a loquat, you must first identify the pathogen in question. The easiest way to do this is to look at the damage pattern. Does your Photinia Devil's Dream® have grey to purple discolouration on the underside of the leaves and yellow spots on the upper side? Then it is suffering from downy mildew. A white, mealy coating, on the other hand, indicates powdery mildew. Brownish-reddish to black spots on the leaves are a sign of leaf scald, while apple scab is characterised by dark, scab-like spots.
Once you have identified the culprit, it can be kept in check with the right measures and eventually eliminated completely. You can use these home remedies to combat your loquat fungus infestation without harming the environment:
Downy mildew
Powdery mildew
Leaf browning
Apple scab
Even if the remedies for a disease vary, the triggers that open the door to the fungus are very similar. These include high humidity, excessively moist soil and weakened plants. To avoid having to fight a fungal infestation in the first place, you simply need to ensure that the plant has the right conditions at its location and is well supplied with nutrients.
Photinia Devil's Dream® prefers sunny to semi-shady conditions. This keeps its leaves dry and waterlogging is rare. If you only water your loquat from below, you can also help to prevent the leaves from becoming too moist. And don't plant the individual Photinia too close together. A distance of 30 centimetres is ideal so that the shrubs have enough space and the air can circulate sufficiently between them.
Fertilise your Devil's Dream® regularly to ensure an optimum supply of nutrients. This is particularly important in spring, as your Photinia will produce new shoots during this time. This costs the plant a lot of energy! If it cannot draw on sufficient reserves during this time, it is weakened and offers pathogens a welcome target. In addition to fertilisation, natural tonics such as horsetail or nettle make the plants more resistant. If you then water regularly (from below) during dry periods and ensure that no waterlogging can occur, fungi and the like will hardly stand a chance.
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