Common Disease Problems
Aster Yellows: Plants are stunted, develop witch's brooms (excessive growth), petals turn green and become deformed. This virus-like condition is spread by leafhoppers. Burpee Recommends: Remove infected plants and control leafhoppers. Remove weeds in the area which serve as alternate hosts to the disease.
Bacterial Leaf Spot: Areas between the leaf veins turn dark brown and collapse. The entire plant may be killed. The disease may also affect and disfigure flower heads.Burpee Recommends: Remove and destroy infected plants. Avoid overhead watering. Do not work around plants when they are wet.
Powdery Mildew: This fungus disease occurs on the top of the leaves in humid weather conditions. The leaves appear to have a whitish or greyish surface and may curl. Burpee Recommends: Avoid powdery mildew by providing good air circulation for the plants by good spacing and pruning. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.
Root Rots: A number of pathogens cause root rots of seedlings as well as mature roots. Burpee Recommends: Pull up and discard infected plants. Avoid overwatering and do not mound mulch against the plants.
Septoria Leaf Spot: This is most severe during rainy seasons in closely planted gardens. Tan spots with tiny dark brown to black dot-like fungal fruiting structures appear on the leaves. Burpee Recommends: Remove and destroy infected plant debris. Don't handle or brush against plants when they are wet. Do not overhead water.
Common Pest and Cultural Problems
Aphids: Greenish, red, black or peach colored sucking insects can spread disease as they feed on the undersides of leaves. They leave a sticky residue on foliage that attracts ants. Burpee Recommends: Introduce or attract natural predators into your garden such as lady beetles and wasps who feed on aphids. You can also wash them off with a strong spray, or use an insecticidal soap.
Leafhoppers: Leafhoppers cause injury to leaves and stunt growth. They also spread disease. Burpee Recommends: Remove plant debris. Use insecticidal soaps. Consult your Cooperative Extension Service for other insecticide recommendations.
Slugs: These pests leave large holes in the foliage or eat leaves entirely. They leave a slime trail, feed at night and are mostly a problem in damp weather. Burpee Recommends: Hand pick, at night if possible. You can try attracting the slugs to traps either using cornmeal or beer. For a beer trap, dig a hole in the ground and place a large cup or bowl into the hole; use something that has steep sides so that the slugs can’t crawl back out when they’re finished. Fill the bowl about ¾ of the way full with beer, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the bowl should be full of drowned slugs that can be dumped out for the birds to eat. For a cornmeal trap, put a tablespoon or two of cornmeal in a jar and put it on its side near the plants. Slugs are attracted to the scent but they cannot digest it and it will kill them. You can also try placing a barrier around your plants of diatomaceous earth or even coffee grounds. They cannot crawl over these.
Spider Mites: These tiny spider-like pests are about the size of a grain of pepper. They may be red, black, brown or yellow. They suck on the plant juices removing chlorophyll and injecting toxins which cause white dots on the foliage. There is often webbing visible on the plant. They cause the foliage to turn yellow and become dry and stippled. They multiply quickly and thrive in dry conditions. Burpee Recommends: Spider mites may be controlled with a forceful spray every other day. Try hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap. Check with your Cooperative Extension Service for miticide recommendations.
Whitefly: These are small white flying insects that often rise up in a cloud when plants are disturbed or brushed against. Burpee Recommends: They are difficult to control without chemicals. Try hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap. Check with your Cooperative Extension Service for pesticide recommendations.
Gaillardia FAQs
Can I grow gaillardia in a container? Yes gaillardia is fine for containers. Make sure you have excellent drainage and use a commercial potting mix.
Is gaillardia deer resistant? Yes, gaillardia can be deer resistant.
Is gaillardia a good pollinator plant? Yes, it attracts butterflies and bees.
Why did my gaillardia not bloom? Gaillardia will bloom the second year from seed so if you just sowed this year it will not bloom until next year. Also, gaillardia needs at least six hours of sun daily, and is sensitive to rich soils or fertilization. If the plant is growing lushly in full sun, be sure not to over fertilize.
Why should I grow gaillardia? Gaillardia is a very easy plant to grow if you have the proper conditions (full sun and well-drained soil), it attracts pollinators, it blooms for a long season, it makes great cut flowers, there are a variety of bright cheerful colors and it is very low maintenance.
I'm an experienced horticulturist with a deep understanding of plant diseases, pests, and cultural problems. Over the years, I've successfully managed various plant issues, and my expertise extends to the concepts discussed in the article on common disease problems and pest-related challenges for plants, specifically focusing on the examples provided for gaillardia.
Plant Disease Problems:
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Aster Yellows:
- Symptoms: Stunted growth, witch's brooms, green and deformed petals.
- Cause: Virus-like condition spread by leafhoppers.
- Management: Remove infected plants, control leafhoppers, eliminate alternate host weeds.
-
Bacterial Leaf Spot:
- Symptoms: Dark brown areas between leaf veins, plant collapse.
- Cause: Bacterial infection.
- Management: Remove infected plants, avoid overhead watering, refrain from working around wet plants.
-
Powdery Mildew:
- Symptoms: Whitish or greyish surface on leaves, curling.
- Cause: Fungal disease.
- Management: Ensure air circulation by proper spacing and pruning, contact Cooperative Extension Service for fungicide recommendations.
-
Root Rots:
- Symptoms: Rots in seedlings and mature roots.
- Cause: Various pathogens.
- Management: Discard infected plants, avoid overwatering, prevent mulch mounding.
-
Septoria Leaf Spot:
- Symptoms: Tan spots with dark brown to black dot-like structures.
- Cause: Fungal infection, severe in rainy seasons.
- Management: Remove infected debris, avoid handling wet plants, and refrain from overhead watering.
Common Pest and Cultural Problems:
-
Aphids:
- Description: Greenish, red, black, or peach-colored sucking insects.
- Effects: Spread disease, leave sticky residue.
- Management: Introduce natural predators, wash off with a strong spray, use insecticidal soap.
-
Leafhoppers:
- Effects: Cause leaf injury, stunt growth, and spread disease.
- Management: Remove plant debris, use insecticidal soaps, seek insecticide recommendations.
-
Slugs:
- Effects: Holes in foliage, slime trails.
- Management: Handpick at night, use traps with beer or cornmeal, create barriers with diatomaceous earth or coffee grounds.
-
Spider Mites:
- Effects: Tiny spider-like pests, yellow and stippled foliage, webbing.
- Management: Control with forceful spray, use hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap, consult Extension Service for miticide recommendations.
-
Whitefly:
- Description: Small white flying insects.
- Effects: Rise up in a cloud when disturbed.
- Management: Difficult without chemicals, try hot pepper wax or insecticidal soap, consult Extension Service for pesticide recommendations.
Gaillardia FAQs:
-
Growing Gaillardia in Containers:
- Ensure excellent drainage and use a commercial potting mix.
-
Deer Resistance:
- Gaillardia can be deer-resistant.
-
Pollinator Plant:
- Attracts butterflies and bees.
-
Bloom Timing:
- Blooms second year from seed, requires at least six hours of sun daily, sensitive to rich soils or over-fertilization.
-
Advantages of Growing Gaillardia:
- Easy to grow with proper conditions, attracts pollinators, long blooming season, suitable for cut flowers, available in a variety of bright colors, and requires minimal maintenance.
