the essentials in brief
- Sooty mildew is a fungal disease.
- This always occurs as a result of a pest infestation.
- The hose fungi that cause soot dew feed on honeydew, the sweet excretions of plant pests.
- The fungal disease itself does not have to be combated, but the triggering pest infestation does.
What is sooty mildew?
Sooty mildew is a plant disease caused by different types of hose fungi that always occurs in connection with a pest infestation. The sooty fungi feed on the sweet, sticky excretions, the so-called honeydew, of leaf, scale, mealybugs and other pests. The pathogen does not attack the leaves of the affected plant directly - after all, it feeds not from this, but from the honeydew - although the black coating affects it Photosynthesis. In addition, fungi and plaque clog the leaf pores of the plant.
also read
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Tips
The disease also often occurs on indoor plants, which are weakened, especially in winter, and are therefore at risk from pest infestation.
Is sooty the same thing as soot?
In damp weather there is more soot build-up
Star soot is also a plant disease caused by cucumber, but it mainly occurs on outdoor garden plants. This disease, you can recognize it by the irregularly black spotted and later yellowing and massively sloping leaves, occurs mainly in damp weather. Plants whose leaves cannot dry properly after watering or after rain are particularly at risk. In contrast to soot dew, the black star fungus does not feed on the honeydew, which is why the infection occurs independently of a pest infestation.
Distinguish between soot and star soot
You can use the information in the table below to help you distinguish between diseases.
| Sooty mildew | Star soot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pathogen | different mushrooms | Diplocarpon rosae |
| Synonyms | Blackness sickness | Black spot disease |
| Plants particularly endangered | no specific plants (since these fungi do not feed on plants but on honeydew) appear in the wake of honeydew-producing pests | especially roses, oleanders and bay leaves, but also other plants |
| Damage image | sticky Toppings on the leaves, which are covered with a blackish, wipeable layer | initially spreading in a star shape, black-brown, round spots, leaves yellow and fall off |
| root cause | Pest infestation, especially aphids and other plant lice | Fungal spores that spread on the leaves mainly through rain or irrigation water |
Fight sooty mildew successfully
The faster you act, the better the chances of recovery
To successfully combat sooty mildew, the first thing you need to do is get rid of the pests. The use of insecticides or Fungicidal is not necessary here - in contrast to star soot - because the fungus dies without available honeydew. And so it goes:
- Isolate the infected / diseased plant from the others (if possible).
- Cut off heavily infested parts of the plant with sharp, clean scissors.
- Fight the pests with suitable home remedies.
- For example, self-made sprays based on soapy water or vegetable broths (e. B. Horsetail, tansy).
- Wipe the black mold from the leaves with a damp, soft cloth.
- Repeat the treatment if necessary.
Tips
In contrast to soot, star soot is much more stubborn and harder to fight. Prevent infection by regularly tipping endangered plants with horsetail tea and watering with nettle manure.