Pests and Diseases of Tulips: [Detection, Causes and Solutions]

Tulips are considered one of the most beautiful flowers to decorate the environment, thanks to their shape and multiple colors.

For this reason, many people choose these flowers to beautify their garden and decorate the interior of their homes.

However, its beauty can be seriously affected by some pests and diseases , making it necessary for you to be very careful.

Thinking about it, we have compiled a good amount of information so that you can be forewarned and always maintain the beauty of your tulips.

aphids

Considered one of the most common pests on plants of various types, aphids usually appear during the spring.

They are remarkably adaptable to different environments, so they can be presented both outdoors and in greenhouses.

In general, they usually affect both adult tulips and their bulbs, feeding on the tender shoots and deforming them.

However, this pest can also cause indirect damage, since they are virus transmitters, causing serious damage to tulips.In this case, it is best to take timely preventive measures, preventing aphids from coming into contact with the plant.

For this, the use of insecticides is recommended, both to prevent their appearance and to eliminate them if they are present.Keep in mind that, with the use of these products, it will not be necessary to completely impregnate them, just spray the plant.

snails and slugs

Another very common plague is that of snails and slugs, although they are usually easily recognizable by the traces of slime they leave on the plant.

Their main negative effect is that they eat different parts of the plant and can create problems with the nutrition of the soil.

They are small insects and reproduce quite quickly, so it is advisable to control the pest as soon as it is noticed .In this case you can use some products such as granulated bait , specially manufactured for this type of pest.

Also, the insecticide can work properly, eliminating all traces of these undesirable insects.Lastly, if you don’t want to use chemicals, you can remove them from the plant manually , although this usually takes longer and isn’t as effective.

Red spider

In general, the red spider develops in conditions of low humidity and high temperatures , with less than 50% and about 25 ºC.

Its appearance causes important lesions in the plants, such as yellow dots on the upper part of the leaves, which are not very noticeable at first.

Over time, these spots turn brown and curl, appearing dusty and unhealthy .All this process ends with the drying of the leaves and their fall, making the disease of the plant totally visible.

However, it can be seen, since spider mites usually leave fine cobwebs around the affected leaves .In this sense, one of the remedies that you can use is the increase in humidity in the entire area.

This allows its spread to be prevented, although it is not capable of ensuring, by itself, that the plague disappears.If the plague is very severe, it is best to use chemical products that neutralize its action and development , promoting its health.

Biological control can also be provided, through the use of a predatory mite known as Phytoseiulus persimilis.This mite is widely used for the disappearance of the red spider in different crops and can work very well in combination with chemical products.

thrips

Thrips cause whitish spots on the leaves, which have an easily recognizable leaden silver appearance.

It is also quite typical that these spots are surrounded by black specks, these being the droppings of the plague.

One of the best actions that can be taken against this type of pest is prevention, since they can be difficult to control.Among these actions you can use blue sticky traps, weed removal, use of antitrip mesh, among others.

In the case of having the plague, you can resort to biological elements such as Amblyseius swirskii or Orius, which can be effective.Similarly, there are forms of chemical eradication, very functional and specific for thrips.

tulip fire

This is the most frequent and serious disease that a tulip can suffer from , since it directly affects its development.

In general, it is a disease that is favored by the presence of high temperatures and high humidity.

In addition to causing deformations in the leaves of the plant, it can also create circular gray spots on leaves and flowers.However, the biggest concern of this disease is that it tends to spread quickly from one plant to another.

It is transmitted through infected bulbs, mulches, wind and rain , so you must be very careful about its conditions.For this reason, it is essential that you take adequate time to disinfect each of the bulbs before making the new planting.

Likewise, do not reuse the padding, since they may be contaminated or create environments where the disease can develop.Finally, always remember to carry out a preventive spraying from the moment of the outbreak until the flowering occurs.

fusarium

Another of the most common and serious diseases that tulips can suffer from.Its symptoms are characterized by dry bulbs and roots and a reddish-brown rot .

This causes the plant to lose vigor and finally wither little by little, also presenting chlorosis in the leaves.

It is important to carry out preventive actions such as crop rotation, bulb disinfection and good soil drainage .All this minimizes the chances of presenting the disease, although it does not guarantee total protection from it.

In general, due to the large number of tulip species that exist, it can be said that their pests and diseases are many.However, for lovers of this type of plant, it is important to have a guide that specifies its main ailments .

In this way, you will be able to know how to act in each case, improving the health and beauty of your tulips both indoors and outdoors.