Dr. Phyto

African violet

Saintpaulia ionantha

Diseases & pests on this plant

• cyclamen mite (broad-host tarsonemid)Phytonemus pallidus

  New leaves and buds are stunted, crinkled, thickened and often curled downward with a dull bronzed or purplish cast; flower buds fail to open or are distorted and discoloured; growth at the centre of the plant looks scarred and stalled. The mites are microscopic and invisible — the distorted new growth is the only clue.

• Pythium damping-off + root rot (multi-host)Pythium ultimum

  Seedlings rot at soil line + collapse (damping-off), brown mushy roots when plants pulled up, plants stunted + yellow despite watering, sudden plant collapse during stress periods, foul earthy smell from rotted tissue.

• grey mould (Botrytis)Botrytis cinerea

  Fuzzy grey mould on leaves and stems.

• powdery mildew (ornamentals)Golovinomyces sp.

  A white-to-grey powdery coating spreads over the upper leaf surface, shoots and flower buds; under it the tissue yellows, and young leaves may pucker, curl or be stunted; severe attacks brown and shrivel the leaves. Unlike downy mildew the growth is on the UPPER surface and rubs off; worst in warm days with cool, humid nights and crowded, shaded plants.

• lavender root rotPhytophthora nicotianae

  Wilting despite moist soil, brown lower stem.